Nearly 200 people were led to safety after the Hong Kong Observation Wheel at the Central Harbourfront malfunctioned on Thursday afternoon, with the ride remaining stationary for 40 minutes.

Police and firefighters were called to the scene just after 5pm, after receiving calls for assistance.

The wheel's operator revealed the attraction had experienced a technical failure in its "secondary system", which triggered a temporary stoppage as part of safety procedures.

In a statement, the company said operation resumed at 5.30pm, and all 190 passengers disembarked safely 15 minutes later.

The attraction was shut down for the rest of Thursday evening to facilitate safety checks.

Some tourists were left disappointed, including Meizi and John from the Philippines.

"We're kind of disappointed ... we're upset because we actually just [came] here to experience. Now it's closed, we're not sure why. We'll go somewhere else, I think," they said.

The Development Bureau, meanwhile, has requested an investigation report from the operator as soon as possible.

The bureau noted the operator has maintained a solid record in running the attraction over the years, and was confident it can learn from the experience and avoid a repeat of the incident.

The existing operator, the Entertainment Corporation Limited, was awarded a tender in June to manage the wheel until 2029.
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Last updated: 2024-12-05 HKT 22:30