Hong Kong government refuses to reveal Disneyland visitor numbers

May 23, 2007, 9:35 GMT

Hong Kong - The Hong Kong government Wednesday refused to release attendance figures for the territory's Disneyland theme park amid suspicions that the 3.5 billion US dollar venture is struggling to attract visitors.

The park, which opened in September 2005, has not released any attendance figures for eight months since it admitted it had fallen around 500,000 visitors short of its first-year target of 5.6 million.

Hong Kong taxpayers bore most of the cost of building the theme park, the first Disney park on Chinese soil and a joint venture between the former British colony's government and the Walt Disney Company.

In the city's legislative council Wednesday, Hong Kong's Secretary for Economic Development Stephen Ip stonewalled written questions from a legislator about the theme park's attendance and financial figures.

Ip described the requested details as 'commercially sensitive information' and said the government was obliged to ensure that Disney's 'interests will not be compromised' by such disclosures.

Disney itself has refused to give out any financial or attendance figures since falling short of its first-year target, citing the same reasons of commercial sensitivity.

The Hong Kong theme park is the smallest Disney park in the world and has been criticized by some visitors for being high on ticket prices and short on attractions.

Ip said in his written response to the legislator's questions that three new attractions were opening at the theme park in 2007 and 2008 which he said he hoped would 'help attract more local and overseas visitors.'