Dozens of visitors were forced to be rescued from Ocean Park's 72-metre-tall observation tower after the ride malfunctioned and stopped mid-air on Monday afternoon. The park's safety mechanism was triggered by a signal failure, and it took about two hours for Ocean Park staff to evacuate 40 trapped people via a safety passage. One individual with impaired mobility and who experienced health issues was taken to the ground by firefighters in approximately three minutes. The director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Poon Kwok-ying, announced that the department would investigate the incident to determine the cause, and the park committed to a comprehensive safety inspection and testing. This incident marks the second malfunction of the attraction in approximately 18 months, with the tower ride also halting in May 2025 due to its safety mechanism being triggered. Passengers were previously stranded for nearly two hours during the earlier incident. The tower, located about 200 metres above sea level on Nam Long Shan, provides panoramic views of Deep Water Bay.
The theme park has since reiterated its commitment to safety, stating that they will implement necessary measures to ensure the safety of visitors. Safety mechanisms are crucial components in ensuring the safety of all visitors, and this incident has raised concerns among the public regarding the maintenance and reliability of such systems. Ocean Park plans to review its operational procedures and maintenance protocols to minimize the risk of similar incidents in the future.