Shanghai
is still strongly leaning towards building a Disney theme park,
government sources say, and construction could begin in 2010 if
negotiations proceed well.
"The Shanghai municipal government has set up a special team with
the United States-based Walt Disney Co that will study a theme park
plan,'' said Li Wei, a spokesman for the Shanghai municipal
government.
"Once the team reach a consensus on relevant requirements, the
Shanghai municipal government will formally raise the theme park
plan to the central government for approval,'' Li said.
The office also revealed the Shanghai municipal government will
invite staff members involved in the current design and
construction of the Hong Kong Disney theme park to join the
project.
Walt Disney Co could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but a
Hong Kong-based Disney spokeswoman, Irene Chan, told local media
early the company has so far focused its attention on the Hong Kong
park due to open in 2005.
Chan admitted there is a possibility of a second theme park in
China. The Hong Kong park will cost around US$3 billion and
hopefully attract 5.6 million visitors in its first year.
Shanghai has been in contact with Disney to build a theme park in
its Pudong District since the late 1990s.
Media reported last July Shanghai officials had signed a
non-binding letter of intent on a Disney park project.
A park would be located in western part of Chuansha Town in
Shanghai's Pudong District, media reports have said.
But the government and Disney have denied the reports.
Zhu Qing, an official with the Chuansha local government said
Wednesday the 660 hectare of land in the western part of the town
is still undeveloped and restricted to ordinary businesses.
"We have no right to approve the land, even the (Pudong) district
government has no right to deal with it,'' said Zhu. "Unless it is
a super large project, the land will not be used.''
According to Zhu, the town has been very short of land for
industrial uses.
Shanghai, the country's major economic powerhouse located in the
prospering Yangtze River Delta, is nonetheless determined to build
theme parks.
Last year, Shanghai clinched a deal with the US-based Universal
Studios, to build a theme park in Sanlin area in Pudong, adjacent
to the site of Shanghai World Expo 2010.
The park, with its first phase covering an area of 0.85 square
kilometers, is due to formally open in 2006.
(China Daily November 13, 2003)