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(28 July 2011, Hong Kong) Ocean Park is embarking on another decade of frightful fun with its 11th annual Ocean Park Halloween Bash as Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Ocean Park, this year playing the role of Emperor, announced that Halloween Bash has been transformed into the Republic of Halloween. At the inauguation ceremony, the new republic’s national anthem was played and the national flag fluttered proudly, while Emperor Zeman precided over the issuing of some RH$66.6 billion in new Republic of Halloween currency notes, which can be distributed as coupons to citizens of the new nation. Offering a treat to guests who pay early tribute to the new republic, Ocean Park is introducing for the very first time early-bird tickets, valid during 23-25 September, at 20% discount. Moreover, tickets will be available for purchase at the embassy of the Republic to be set up in bustling Tsim Sha Tsui.
Dr. Zeman said, “During the past ten years of Halloween Bash, over 2,800 ghosts had offered frightful fun to some 4 million guests. For the next ten years, we will take Ocean Park Halloween Bash’s spirit of innovation to new heights. The establishment of the Republic of Halloween will help us spread Hong Kong’s unique Halloween culture, engendered by Ocean Park, to all corners of the world. Among this year’s unprecedented offers are the inauguration discount and 25 haunted attractions and shows—the largest number ever. As Hong Kong’s People’s Park, we have always been supportive of local creativity. This year, we are introducing for the first time ever a locally-developed 3D technology in our Nightmare in 3D to plunge guests into a world where reality and illusion cannot be distinguished. We have also created a solo haunted journey in Fear Factory, where each guest would have to escape from a booby-trapped coffin factory alone.”
Dr. Zeman added, “We will also put on a Carnival for the Damned at Aqua City. The show will include the first-ever haunted spectacular on a water-screen. In addition, guests will have a chance to encounter 444 ghosts and ghouls, including Lady Gwai Gwai, a superstar in the underworld. We will also spread Halloween culture outside the Park to all of Hong Kong through a ghost car parde, haunted commercials, ghastly gifts, a macabre embassy and more. Kids visiting Ocean Park in the daytime during this year’s Halloween Bash period can share in the Halloween spirit at Creepy Treats for Kids, a haunted house specially created inside Whisker’s Harbour for the young and the brave.”
Today’s inauguation ceremony of the Republic of Halloween proved to be a terrifying event as Emperor Zeman rose from the ground to make his entrance, an audience member flew off the stage as he was shot by a zombie, as well as a series of blood-chilling tricks and treats, including scurrying bugs and splattering blood—all to give everyone a taste of the horror and fun that awaits them in Ocean Park Halloween Bash.
Fear and trembling in the Republic of Halloween begin at the Waterfront. Joining the world-wide craze for 3D cinema, Ocean Park has decided to take the 3D experience outside of theatres with Nightmare in 3D, which features a locally-developed 3D technology. Once they enter this enclosed world, guests will be plunged into a nightmare with images of horror and ghosts leaping towards them. Once awakened, guests will need to gather their wits to make it through Fear Factory, a solo haunted journey filled with tricks and traps. It will not be easy to escape especially with a scary supervisor lurking around the assembly line of this coffin factory.
When night falls, the Lagoon in Aqua City will be turned into what appears to be a pool of blood and the 360° water screen will play host to the first-ever Carnival for the Damned. Giant bizarre puppets and a ghoulish procession will come together for a party from the nether-regions. After enjoying the frightful frenzy, guests will be able to enter the world of movies with a tour of Macabre Studio, where they can revisit scenes from classic horror movies and test their acting skills against ghastly movie stars.
With the celebration of Halloween becoming more popular across China, an increasing number of visitors from mainland China are making a pilgrimage to Ocean Park for an authentic taste of Halloween. Therefore, Ocean Park has created Torture Chamber of the Dragon Empress, which features many eerie elements familiar to all Chinese people. An evil empress will bust out of her coffin to brandish some of the most notorious torture devices, including a Chinese finger-vise and the freaky flying guillotine. Guests who manage to escape the Chamber can visit the Psychic Club to learn about their future from a fortuneteller who dispenses his wisdom in rap; they can also dance away their fears at Nightmare Prelude, Fury of Lights, Satire from the Other Side or Forbidden Dances.
Terror will also reign on the Summit during Ocean Park Halloween Bash. Zombies will be eager to engage guests in a laser tag game at Zombie Mayhem, a military camp setting with various interactive elements and zombies carrying their own laser tag guns. Lady Gwai Gwai, who rose to fame last year, will take to the stage with fright bands in Freaky Party of Halloween Republic, a spooky variety show that features hair-raising aerial stunts guaranteed to please the crowd.
At the Bloody Workshop, a deranged artist will use blood to paint on carcasses to create works for his exhibition, while paper dolls usually burned as offerings will band together and take revenge on humans at the Paper Doll Paradise.
Since legends have it that the final bus ride of the day is reserved for denizens of the spiritual world, guests visiting The Last Bus will learn about the nightmarish tales behind some of the most blood-curdling lore in Hong Kong. Those thirsting for yet more screams would do well to take in the various shows on offer at the Summit, including: Asylum Breakout, Haunted City Tales, The Cocoon Party, Dance of Paper Offerings and Lady Lucifer’s Revue. They can also strut their scary stuff at the Demon Street of Dance Competition and the Wicked Image Design Contest to terrific win prizes.
Dr. Zeman concluded, “It is always a good idea to purchase tickets for our annual Halloween Bash early because the annual event has long been the hottest ticket in town among locals as well as visitors from mainland China and overseas. To reward early birds this year, we are delighted to offer a 20% discount on tickets for 23-25 September. So I encourage everyone to organize their schedule and get their tickets as early as possible.”
