Route 19 - Island Road (Deep Water Bay)－Wong Chuk Hang Road (Aberdeen Sports Ground)－Ocean Park (Main Entrance)

Question 1

Route 19 - Points to Mention:

(Island Road (Deep Water Bay)－Wong Chuk Hang Road (Aberdeen Sports Ground)－Ocean Park (Main Entrance))

this section ends at Ocean Park Main Entrance

2 sites - 5-8 minutes

Answer 1

1. Ocean Park (left)
2. MTR South Line (left)

Question 2

Ocean Park
1. Introduction (4)
2. History and Development (5)
3. Layout of the Park (5)
4. Themed Zones & Attractions (8+3)
5. Panda Conservation and New Arrivals (6)
6. Hotels and Facilities (4)
7. Education & Sustainability (3)
8. Events and Extras (3)
9. Transportation & Access (2)
10. Visitor Experience & Outlook (4)

8:30 (if completely presented)

Answer 2

1. Introduction: (4)
* As we continue along Island Road through Deep Water Bay, look to your left.
* In front of you are two connected mountains—notice the cable cars suspended along the slope. This striking view marks the location of Ocean Park Hong Kong, a landmark attraction blending seamlessly into the natural landscape.
* Though we’re still en route, this early glimpse gives a sense of the park’s vastness and dramatic setting.
* On the hillside, a grass-cut seahorse-shaped logo can be seen—this combines the ocean (seahorse) and the racehorse, symbolizing the contribution of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which funded the park’s original development.

2. History and Development: (5)
* Ocean Park opened on January 10, 1977, built on 87 hectares of land donated by the government.
* It was formerly a dairy farm, transformed with a HK$150 million donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
* In 2005, the park launched a HK$5.55 billion redevelopment plan, expanding from 35 to 80+ attractions and creating eight themed zones.
* In 2012, Ocean Park received the Applause Award, naming it the world’s best theme park.
* That same year, it saw 7.5 million visitors and recorded a HK$500 million profit.

3. Layout of the Park: (5)
Ocean Park is divided into two main zones:
* The Waterfront – home to Asian Animals, the Grand Aquarium, and family-friendly exhibits.
* The Summit – houses thrill rides, Ocean Theatre, Polar Adventure, and more.

They are connected by three transport options:
* Scenic cable car – 8 minutes, panoramic views, 4,000 passengers/hour.
* Ocean Express train – 3 minutes, submarine-themed, 5,000 passengers/hour.
* Second-longest outdoor escalator in Asia – connects to Tai Shue Wan.

4. Themed Zones & Attractions: (11)
Ocean Park features eight themed zones, including:
* Adventure Land – home to The Dragon roller coaster and other thrill rides.
* Aqua City – features the Grand Aquarium with over 2,000 fish and 250 species.
* Asian Animals – features pandas, red pandas, birds, turtles, and otters.
* Marine World – includes the Ocean Theatre, Pacific Pier, and Sea Jelly Spectacular.
* Polar Adventure – opened in 2012, home to king penguins, arctic foxes, and sea lions.
* Rainforest – jungle-themed, featuring exotic animals and a boat ride.
* Water World – opened in 2021, Asia’s first year-round seaside water park.
* Whiskers Harbour – gentle rides and games for young children.

Additional attractions:
* Old Hong Kong Street – recreates 1950s–70s Hong Kong.
* Tropical Rainforest – near the cable car.
* Yangtze Exploration Pavilion – freshwater exhibits with Chinese sturgeons.

5. Panda Conservation and New Arrivals: (6)
* In 1999, An An and Jia Jia joined Ocean Park—Jia Jia became the oldest panda in captivity.
* In 2007, Ying Ying and Le Le were gifted from China.
* In March 2024, they successfully mated.
* On August 15, 2024, Ying Ying gave birth to Hong Kong’s first panda twins.
* A third pair of pandas is expected by end of 2025.
* Hong Kong now promotes panda conservation under the theme: “Pandastic Hong Kong.”

6. Hotels and Facilities: (4)
* Ocean Park Marriott Hotel – opened November 13, 2018, with 471 rooms.
* Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel – opened in 2022 in Tai Shue Wan.
* Spa Resort Hotel – currently in planning.
* All hotels operate under a 35-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.

7. Education & Sustainability: (3)
* Programs like Whiskers Village Ocean Guardians promote marine conservation.
* Eco-friendly practices include reusable straws, biodegradable cups, and green gifts.
* Collaborations with schools and NGOs foster environmental awareness.

8. Events and Extras: (3)
* Halloween Fest – annual October event with haunted houses and themed shows.
* Private events – available for weddings and birthday parties.
* The Ocean Theatre – showcases dolphin and sea lion performances.

9. Transportation & Access: (2)
* The Ocean Park MTR Station on the South Island Line opened in 2016.
* Shuttle buses link Ocean Park to Water World.

10. Visitor Experience & Outlook: (4)
* In FY 2023–24, Ocean Park welcomed 3.14 million visitors.
* The park continues to expand, notably with Water World and panda conservation efforts.
* In 2020, it received HK$5.4 billion in government support.
* Despite challenges, Ocean Park remains a cornerstone of family fun and education in Hong Kong.

Question 3

MTR South Island Line
1. Overview (3)
2. Route and Key Destinations: (5)
3. Construction Highlights (3)
4. Technical Specifications (3)
5. Future Developments (2)
6. Conclusion (2)

3:40 (if completely presented)

Answer 3

As we drive along, look to the left—you can see the elevated tracks of the MTR South Island Line, a major infrastructure project connecting the Southern District of Hong Kong to the rest of the city.

1. Overview (3)
* The South Island Line is about 7 kilometres long and began service in December 2016.
* It’s a fully automated, driverless railway and plays a vital role in easing traffic congestion in this part of the city.
* Before the line opened, the Southern District’s 350,000 residents relied heavily on buses and cars to reach the city center, often facing long travel times and traffic jams.

2. Route and Key Destinations: (5)
* The line starts at Admiralty Station, where you can change to other major MTR lines, and continues through four more stations:
- Ocean Park Station provides direct access to Ocean Park.
- Wong Chuk Hang Station serves a fast-developing neighborhood, once industrial, now full of galleries, startups, and offices.
- Lei Tung Station and South Horizons Station offer residents of the island Ap Lei Chau quick and convenient transport to the city center, significantly improving daily commutes.
- Even residents of Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, and Stanley benefit from shorter travel times to Central.

3. Construction Highlights: (3)
* The project faced engineering challenges, especially at Admiralty Station, which caused some delays.
* But in the end, it was completed successfully with the help of cutting-edge railway design and technology.
* Trains run every 3 minutes during peak hours and are fully operated by a central control center in Tsing Yi.

4. Technical Specifications: (3)
- The line features fully automated and driverless trains, representing a significant step forward in railway innovation for Hong Kong.
- All train operations are managed remotely from the Operations Control Centre in Tsing Yi.
- During peak hours, trains run at 3-minute intervals, ensuring a steady and efficient passenger flow.

5. Future Developments: (2)
* There’s also a planned South Island Line (West) extension that will connect Wong Chuk Hang to Kennedy Town, improving access along the western side of Hong Kong Island.
* Construction hasn’t started yet, but it’s in the pipeline

6. Conclusion: (2)
* In short, the South Island Line represents Hong Kong’s modern approach to solving transportation challenges—connecting communities, reducing road congestion, and making life more convenient for residents and visitors alike.