Overcast Sky Fails To Deter Ocean Park Fans

An overcast sky failed to deter eager Hong Kong residents, who flocked to public swimming pools and Ocean Park as a variety of venues reopened on Friday after months of closure due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The theme park, which had been fully booked for Friday and the weekend, saw around a hundred people turn up as the gates opened.

A welcoming ceremony was held for the visitors, with employees in animal costumes greeting them with a dance.

The park, which is allowed to admit visitors at only 50 percent of its capacity, also had social distancing measures in place like body temperature checks and instructions to wear face masks.

Kids were allowed to high-five the characters – but only after sanitising their hands. A staff member was posted there to make sure of that.

A secondary school student, who gave her name as Sam and went to the park with three of her friends, was fine with the restrictions.

"We all understand the virus is very serious. It is acceptable to us," she said.

The student said they are not too keen to partake in the park's plans to offer new attractions like hiking and yoga sessions, but were looking forward to the roller coaster ride.

Meanwhile some swimming enthusiasts headed to the public pools that also reopened, with some lining up by 6:30am, half an hour before they opened.

Some told RTHK that they haven’t been able to swim for more than half a year and that it felt good to be back.

The pools had put in place new hygiene measures like spacing out showers and limiting people to 50 percent of their capacity, and those who turned up told RTHK that they were satisfied with the arrangements.