The Observation Wheel, which is billed as one of SAR’s top 10 attractions by the Tourism Board, shut down this week and the closure only came to light after people holding valid tickets to ride the wheel arrived on Wednesday – only to find that it’s no longer in business.
There was no explanation for the unannounced shutdown, but a note on the Observation Wheel’s website supplied an email address for anyone seeking refunds.
The Tourism Board says it wasn’t informed of the change in status and a statement on its website simply said: “The Hong Kong Observation Wheel is closed on 30 August 2017”. It gave no further details.
The Development Bureau said a short-term lease for the operator, Swiss AEX, to use the site expired on Monday, and the site was then leased to another company, but there was no information on when, if ever, the Observation Wheel might resume operating. Swiss AEX Group opened the Observation Wheel in December 2014,
The wheel has 42 gondolas – including one VIP gondola – that seat eight passengers, and the area around the wheel includes a plaza for events as well as drinks and snacks and free Wi-Fi.
