Hong Kong's Ocean Park announced Sunday that, in just 10 months and 28 days, Ocean Park surpassed the previous year's full-year attendance record of 4.03 million of guests.

The Ocean Park 2005/06 fiscal year is from July 1, 2005 to July 30, 2006.

Ocean Park Chairman Allan Zeman and Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Clara Chong, presented an Ocean Park Life-Time Pass to a Hong Kong resident surnamed Chan and his family, who became Ocean Park's 4,030,001 guest on Sunday.

The pass was bundled with 4 million candy pieces.

The happy family of four from Hong Kong Island received a multitude of gifts, including special behind-the-scene tours of animal habitats, such as those offered on the Honorary Giant Panda Keeper program, Dolphin Encounter and Animal Meet and Greet.

The Chan family members visit the park every three months on an average.

After presenting the Life-Time Pass to the Chan family, Zeman said, "As we all cheer about this remarkable achievement of breaking last year's full year attendance record in 10 months and 28 days, we must say a big thank you and all our guests who made this happen. We could not have done this without them."

Zeman also thanked the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) for their efforts in boosting overseas visits to Hong Kong. "Overseas guests account for 50 percent of our attendance, and the number continues to grow. We appreciate the efforts of HKTB in creating awareness and motivation on overseas markets to choose Hong Kong as a destination."

He said, "We are pleased to see this trend particularly because Ocean Park is Hong Kong's local park, and we have worked very hard to improve what we already have."

Ocean Park, opening in January, 1977, is Hong Kong's unique local park with a heritage of delivering family fun and fond memories.

The park was chosen by Hong Kong citizens as the most favorite scenic spot in Hong Kong last year.

Source: Xinhua