The government on Friday appointed Paulo Pong as the new chairman of the Ocean Park Corporation's board, to replace Lau Ming-wai.

Pong, currently a deputy chair, will begin his two-year term next month. Board member Stephen Wong will become deputy chairman.

In a statement, commerce minister Edward Yau thanked Lau for his 14-year service in different roles on the Ocean Park board.

"With his profound knowledge of the park and passion in driving the park's development, Mr Lau has been leading the park to embrace its many challenges and supporting the formulation of the future strategy, making important contributions to charting a new path for the park," he said.

Yau described Pong as "eminently suitable" for the board chairmanship role, noting his experience in commerce and understanding of the park's future strategy.

Eight new members have been appointed to the board, also for a term of two years.

A major revamp of the attraction was announced last year, which included scrapping entrance fees and turning the entire lowland area into a shopping and dining zone.

The park saw visitor numbers dwindle in recent years and it has received government injections of more than HK$12 billion since 2020 to stay afloat.