The opening of Hong Kong Disneyland with its excited throngs has prompted discussion of the "Disney effect" on Hong Kong's other major park, Ocean Park, a marine theme park.

Though the spotlight has been on Disneyland, Ocean Park says there's no competition -- they complement each other. But a major redevelopment for Ocean Park has been in the works for a long time.

Ocean Park, a 28-year-old world class theme park, has been taking stock of the "Disney effect" and plans to upgrade and broaden its appeal with more attractions and more species.

"Disney is all about castles, fantasy, cartoons, while we are showing the nature, sea world, animals, ecology and providing education. We have real animals and people can touch and feel them," said Allan Zeman, chairman of Hong Kong Ocean Park.

Zeman repeatedly has said Ocean Park and Disneyland are not competitors but complement each other.

Since the two parks have different styles and provide different kinds of fun, there is little conflict with both of them in Hong Kong.

"We are not fighting with Disneyland but we are going to upgrade and redo the park," Zeman said, "We hope when people think of a sea-world park, they will first think of Hong Kong Ocean Park."

In March Hong Kong Ocean Park announced a HK$5.5 billion master plan for redevelopment, aiming to make the park the world's best marine theme park.

The redevelopment is scheduled to begin next year and to be completed in 2010.

The new Ocean Park will be divided into two major areas, The Waterfront and The Summit, which together will feature more than 70 attractions.

The new park is expected to be a spectacular marine-based center, with 33 new species of animals. The aim is to connect people with nature.

Many people expected that Disneyland would pull visitors away from Ocean Park, and Zeman said they are always watching the numbers.

He said the park was planning more promotion strategies to attract mainland visitors and wants to open offices in Gangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai.

The park had more than 4 million visitors last year, including more than half from the mainland.

Halloween, Christmas, Chinese New Year ... the park's calendar has already been filled with a string of festive events.

"We are having new attractions every one another month. If the wind changes, we can blow with the wind," said Zeman.

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2005)