Signal failure leaves 17 stranded on Hong Kong’s Ocean Park Tower

Hong Kong’s Ocean Park has closed its aerial viewing tower following a signal malfunction that left 17 visitors stranded for nearly two hours.

The park said on Sunday that the Ocean Park Tower experienced a signal failure at 8.09pm the day before, which triggered its automatic safety protection system and brought the ride to a halt.

“In accordance with the ride’s safety and operation protocols, the ride’s operators led the 17 passengers on board to exit the ride through the safety passage located at the centre of the tower. All passengers returned to the ground safely at 9.56pm,” the park said.

It added it had reported the case to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and would suspend the Ocean Park Tower until further notice.

Located in the park’s Marine World, the tower, which stands at 72 metres (236 feet) high and 200 metres above sea level, offers 360-degree views of the South China Sea, Aberdeen and outlying islands.