As the spooky season of Halloween approaches, theme parks are transforming real-life haunted stories and local urban legends into immersive experiences. A prime example is Ocean Park, which captivated visitors the previous year with its terrifying attractions. The haunted house “Dreadful Walled City” drew inspiration from the infamous Kowloon Walled City, while the “Netherworld Wedding” delved into the eerie theme of posthumous marriage.
However, there appear to be certain sensitive grey areas and boundaries when using genuine incidents and realistic cases as the basis for scary experiences.
This year, the annual Ocean Park Halloween Fest featured the haunted house “The Unsolved Terrors,” which showcased various horrific murder cases from Hong Kong. Visitors could step into cracking and bloody scenes, encountering infamous murderers, including a serial killer on a rainy night, and exploring old estates linked to tragic love murders.
A controversy erupted after a media preview held in the park two weeks ago. During the event, a scene in the haunted house showcased a scare actor lifting a cooking pot, filled with green radishes, to reveal a fake human head, asking, “Would you like to try some carrot soup?” and “Are you trying to fight over inheritance?”
This unsettling moment quickly garnered widespread attention, as both the press and netizens noted its troubling allusion to the Abby Choi Tin Fung murder case, which occurred in 2023 in connection with a mortgage arrangement and the payment of stamp duty. The case is currently pending trial in the High Court.
Choi was murdered by her ex-husband, Alex Kwong, and his family. The case kicked off with her disappearance, and her headless corpse was found three days later at a village house in Tai Po. Reportedly, some of her missing body parts were hidden in a refrigerator, while her skull and several ribs were cooked and discovered in a pot by the police. This gruesome crime evoked painful memories for many, leading to public outrage as citizens criticized the park for its lack of respect for the family of the deceased.
After the case garnered public attention and faced widespread criticism, the chairman of the park, Paulo Pong Kin Yee, addressed the issue in a program on Commercial Radio. He stated that the park was taking the case and public sentiment “very seriously” and was making immediate alterations and adjustments.
“The incident taught us a valuable lesson. We hope everyone will allow young people more opportunities for creativity, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding. While scenes are creative, it’s essential to consider various factors,” Pong stated. He also mentioned an internal review process was originally scheduled before Press Day, but was cancelled due to Super Typhoon Rasaga, which hindered the team from conducting the review.
To review the incident, the park display raises a range of concerns and negative feedback regarding public sensitivity and respect for victims and their families. The apparent connection to Choi’s murder case, particularly given its cruel, brutal, and tragic nature, underscores the need for heightened awareness in entertainment settings.
The public outcry indicates that such displays may trigger painful memories and exacerbate ongoing trauma for those impacted. This scenario highlights the necessity of considering the wider societal implications of artistic decisions, particularly in the context of recent events. Moving forward, institutions should emphasize open communication with the community to ensure that creative endeavors do not unintentionally inflict harm or distress.