“Raging Rivers, giant water slides and the Dragon are the latest package of adventurous thrills about to be unleashed at Ocean Park,” reported the South China Morning Post on January 9, 1984. “The $240 million two-year-long redevelopment into a fun world for youngsters and a paradise for adventurers will open in early April. And the longest outdoor escalator in the world and a spectacular roller-coaster – the Dragon – perched on the head-land 120 metres above Deep Water Bay are two of the revamped park’s new highlights.
The South China Morning Post’s report on January 9, 1984, on the opening of Ocean Park’s new roller-coaster ride. Photo: SCMP Archives
“The Dragon is one of the largest roller-rides in the world, claim park officials. And the biggest thrill of all during the 2 ½ minute ride comes when the car shoots through two giant loops and hurtles out towards the sea at speeds of up to 170km per hour. But the danger of the ride is an illusion, said Ken Tomlins, park general manager. ‘Modern construction techniques and control systems have taken the risk out and left the thrill in,’ he said.”
On April 16, 1984, the post reported that, “the Dragon, said to be one of the largest roller-coasters in the world, which suffered a few teething troubles during its inauguration on Saturday, performed perfectly, a park spokeswoman said, [stressing that] the passengers were in no danger on Saturday when the Dragon suddenly ran out of puff. It failed to move for 25 minutes after three successful runs, leaving passengers suspended several metres in the air.”
The Dragon roller-coaster at Ocean Park had a few teething problems. Photo: SCMP Archives
The Post followed up the next day, reporting that “Ocean Park has been asked by the Government to explain why its new roller-coaster broke down during Saturday’s inaugural run, an inauspicious start when the cars were stuck for about 25 minutes in a more or less horizontal position because the power supply failed.
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“The chief engineer of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department’s legislation enforcement division, Mr Tong Kin-wah, told the Post that although Saturday’s failure was ‘very minor,’ his office would ask for an explanation because the breakdown had occurred on the first operational run.
An aerial view of Ocean Park and its Dragon roller-coaster from 1987. Photo: SCMP Archives
“An Ocean Park spokesman said the roller-coaster conforms to new laws on safety for amusement park rides expected to be enacted this year. The roller-coaster was exhaustively tested, and all of Ocean Park’s new attractions would be able to meet the safety requirements of forthcoming legislation on amusement park machinery.
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“He said the cars were free-wheeling, so they could not get stuck at the top of one of the loops, leaving people hanging upside down. Power was only required to haul the cars to the top of the run.
