A Bumpy Ride For Disneyland In Hong Kong 
Despite Fixes, Some Observers Say Troubles Could Follow Company to Shanghai 

By Maureen Fan 
Washington Post Foreign Service 
Monday, November 20, 2006; A11 


HONG KONG -- Before Hong Kong Disneyland opened last year, planners were careful to design the park according to the principles of feng shui, placing objects in harmony with their environment. They made sure to offer Chinese food. And they built a garden of costumed characters to satisfy the Chinese obsession with taking photos. 

Then the best-laid plans went awry. 

A charity event before the official opening was chaotic and overcrowded. Local celebrities were offended by rude treatment during opening celebrations. Health officials were barred from entering the park in uniform. Environmentalists protested against shark-fin soup on the menus. 

It was only the beginning of a very rocky start for Disney, during which it was accused of arrogance and insensitivity by its visitors. Although the company has subsequently received favorable reviews, the early experience has raised questions about its ability to operate effectively in this culture, as well as concerns about what will happen when the company opens its first park on the mainland, in Shanghai, in a few years. 

"If they got into trouble in Hong Kong, for certain they will get into trouble on the mainland. If they're arrogant there, it will be magnified 100 times," said Chan Kin Man, a sociology professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. "Disneyland is an icon of the West. When relations between the U.S. and China turn sour, it might turn into a target." 

Nearly half of the park's 5 million visitors in the past year were from the mainland. And it was during a peak season for those visitors, the Chinese New Year, that Disney made its biggest gaffe. 

Despite several sold-out days over Christmas, Disney was unprepared for the early reaction to a discount promotion during the start of the Chinese New Year in February. Hundreds of already ticketed customers were locked out because the park was full, generating TV coverage of crying children, angry parents and mainland tourists climbing fences to get into the park. 

The changes Hong Kong Disneyland has made since then -- more flexible ticketing and more profit sharing with travel agencies -- are now being watched closely as the company stands by plans to open its park in Shanghai, which will be even bigger than the one here. 

"It will be even more interesting in China," said Chan, who took his family to the park in September 2005. "We have a group of people who are fond of anything Western, but we also have a strong group of nationalists. Things will be more intense." 

Disney, which has previously called the problems "growing pains," declined to comment. 

Hong Kong is not the first place overseas where the company has confronted challenges. Euro Disney, which later changed the name of its park to Disneyland Paris, was criticized for exporting American imperialism when it opened in 1992. The park had to offer wine to placate French visitors and was financially bailed out by a Saudi prince. Today it is a top tourist destination. 

Disney also has a park in Tokyo, where it has had a relatively smoother go of it. 

In China, Disney is trying to market its merchandise in a country enamored with Western brands and yet also notorious for piracy. It is pushing movies and TV programs, building retail stores and bringing traveling "roadshows" to attract more mainland tourists to Hong Kong Disneyland. 

There are indications that it has had some success. 

Huang Xianyi, a 50-year-old bank employee from central China, was among the first to arrive at Hong Kong Disneyland on a recent Sunday, an hour and a half before the park opened. By midmorning, he was front and center in a crowd, tapping his feet at a show celebrating the songs of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Mulan," "The Little Mermaid" and Woody, the talking cowboy doll from "Toy Story." 

"I liked the rhythm of the show, from adventure to romance, from exciting to comfortable. It fits both children and adults," said Huang, on a break with a friend from a training program in Hong Kong. "All those stories remind me of my childhood." 

He said the $46 entrance ticket didn't bother him, nor did the all-English narration on the Winnie the Pooh ride. "I don't expect to see many Chinese things in Disneyland," Huang said. "I came to see different things, fresh things." 

His friend agreed. "The staff service and attitude is very good. They're more professional than those theme parks on the mainland," said Zheng Feiyue, 43, a bank employee from a city in Sichuan. 

A pleasant experience at the park is considered especially important by some in Hong Kong because, as taxpayers, they helped foot the bill. After the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, at a time when restoring confidence in Hong Kong was crucial, the government paid $2.9 billion to build the park. Disney, meanwhile, paid $314 million for a stake in the project. 

As a result, the company's failure to disclose specific attendance or revenue figures rubbed Hong Kong citizens the wrong way. 

"They do need to improve communications with the public and ensure that they connect with the community," said John Ap, a theme park expert from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 

On a recent Sunday, Li Qiyun, 35, a mother from Guangzhou, brought her 6-year-old daughter, Wen Haiying, to Disneyland, along with her mother and an uncle. Li paid about $223 for four train tickets and park admission. They saved money by staying with relatives, but Li's mother complained just the same. 

"It's too expensive, too expensive. Not worth it," muttered Kang Runhao, 60, taking a seat on the spotless Disney train that connects Hong Kong's subway system to the park. 

But by the end of the day, a 10-hour marathon capped by fireworks over Cinderella's castle, the park's spotless service had won over the mainland family. 

"What impressed me most is the toilet. It's really good," said Li. 

In September, Hong Kong Disneyland announced that just over 5 million people visited the park in its first year of operation, a figure that included promotional giveaways and fell just short of its target of 5.6 million visitors. 

Disney has said that its Shanghai park is unlikely to be built before 2010. 

"Understanding the Chinese market takes time," Ap said. "Hong Kong Disneyland is basically the pilot case study for them. Certainly they'll be a lot more wary when they go into China." 

Researcher Li Jie in Hong Kong and staff researcher Robert Thomason in Washington contributed to this report. 

站長,+g\M
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 j[U
請不要討論太深, 太profound -- "外國人如何看待中國文化" 很沉重, 西方文化不同 - 背景和 upbringing 不同, 西方人不能全面地接受風水 as is , 在我進入"西方人與風水理解力"前, 讓我給你一個例子, 在你讀完後，你會知道文化背景和 upbringing 不同的人, 看事物永遠不完全相同的，不能完全瞭解風水文化.3M}f<`
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 pI(?K
一個例子:4,2*
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 s{7nz
(1) 中國人文化有根深蒂固的"帝王情結",  雖然很多中國人認為自己理解西方文化的 "民主" (democracy) 是什麼, 其實，不真正理解民主。例如看一看台灣, 假  "民主" 選舉, 媒體稱他的女兒 為"公主", 她的丈夫被稱 "附馬爺"。台灣總統等於皇帝????? 因為, 無論如何, "皇帝" 是終生免疫 - 或直到他被刺殺, 或被廢黜 (dethroned), 在台灣的假  "民主",真 "帝王情結" 下,  he can do no wrong。中國人 "帝王情結"中毒有多深?  看一看現代的中國大陸電視劇, 沒有 100% 都有 80% 是關於古代皇帝的電視劇. Qf
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 K
(A)  雖然在歐洲過去一直有君主制 / 帝王統治國家, 其實, 羅馬天主教梵蒂岡是很有權力。古代歐洲皇室經常寫信到教宗諮詢, 向教宗請求. 近代歷史, 歐洲放棄了讓 "皇帝" 統治國家的想法 -- 歐洲國王與王后沒有實質政治權力。現代的歐洲不迷戀 "帝王情結",  歐美現代的電視劇, 不像中國大陸那樣90%關於古代的皇帝。aY82
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 (j;y%7
(B)  雖然一些人堅持是在外國讀書的留學生: "我可以講無懈可擊的英語, 我當然瞭解 "民主"是什麼", 看看台灣副總統呂秀蓮, 和台北市長馬英九, 他們曾經在哈佛大學讀書的例子。OaU
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 ?/
我在學校裡曾經學習西班牙語, 不過, 我講的西班牙語很破。當你學習外語時，你不可避免地學習他們的一些文化。從語言上, 西班牙文化很注重家庭, 關係深的, 他們尊敬稱你 "Tu" , 關係淺 的, 稱你 "Usted", 但是,西班牙文化自相矛盾, 一方面，他們是保守的, 因為他們是天主教的國家, 另一方面, 他們是很 open 和熱情, 近乎 wild - 雖然經常遇上西語裔, 我聽懂一些西班牙語, 但是我不瞭解他們的西班牙文化, 甚至我每天見面的西語裔同事。美國文化也是自相矛盾, 因為第一組的移民是信教的 Pilgrims 來到美國避免英國的宗教迫害, 另一方面, 在日常生活中，經常碰到性提示的message, 電視和電影經常碰到性. 當然，西班牙/美國 兩個自相矛盾的文化是很不同的, 例如, 中國文化與韓國文化也是很不同的。O)'
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 RS
(C) 很多西方人(無論在加拿大,美國, 歐洲) 都與中國人有 contact過,  因為海外有很多中國人, 這是他們 "明白" 中國文化的第一步驟 - 最基本, 最表面上的印象, 也是最深刻,日常經常地遇上, 最明顯是外國的中餐館, 他們喜歡中國食物但是一般認為中餐服務員是無禮貌, 很多西方人評論中餐服務員的 "service is rude". 西方人也 "明白" 中餐食物 =廉價速食, 絕不像法國或義大利 gourmet水平那樣。?CmP
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 &K
西方人去他們國家的唐人街遇上中國人, 他們看見中國人在街上撒尿，隨便扔垃圾。這也是他們 "明白" 的中國文化。F:jb\
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 w
在法國和義大利，西方人看見中國遊客願意花數千歐元, 甚至數萬歐元買 LV 袋， Gucci 袋, Armani 西裝, 但是他們不願意花 1-2 歐元在付費廁所上, 寧可在街上免費撒尿。中國遊客在歐洲火車談話很響亮, 他們好像在旅行期間沒有足夠時間談話。這是他們"明白" 的中國文化 - 是  in your face, 不可避免的中國文化印象。qo
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 Bg}_(,
如果你把西方人 "明白" 的中國文化放在你的腦中, 你會明白 "西方人與風水理解力"問題 是 insignificant的。 s4,g*

文化不同, 很多西方國家相信基督教 /天主教, 有根深蒂固的宗教文化, 風水聽起來像是迷信, 給一個 analogy -- 像非洲的 voodoo. 在西方,需要 "包裝" 風水是 與大自然/ 環境和諧相聯 - 像是日本 Zen Buddhism - 避開誤會迷信 - 否則很難 sell。2Y
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 )6
風水在外國只是短暫的時尚, 西方人相信自己有能力, 不會為至關重要的事情取決於 "外來" 的風水. 因為意味著他們能力太弱, 需要外力幫助他們 - 是不公平競爭. 這是另一個文化差別.-r`[0
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 Qt[
西方國家宗教意念強, 除非有 "奇蹟" 迫使這些人放棄上帝 / 宗教,  接受 "原裝" 風水 "外力"幫助 - 因為現在"包裝" 的風水, 強調是 與自然環境和諧 - 有 New Age 的語調 sell 風水。

這是最近的新聞, 紐約市市長是猶太裔美國人 - 白手興家的億萬富翁。同樣地, 在美國很多大公司高職位主管人員是猶太裔。猶太裔是十分精明的商人 - 也相信猶太宗教, 宗教意念強 - 甚至 non-practicing / non-religious 的猶太人在最神聖的猶太假期，他們也出席猶太教堂, 猶太人相信自己的種族是神最寵愛的兒女, 用自己的手建立自己的命運 。 -&E
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 iS
迪斯尼沒有花很多錢在香港迪斯尼, 同樣地，紐約市也是沒有花費一分錢免費享用公車亭新設施.  承包商是西班牙公司 CEMUSA自費興建這些設施, 還要付錢給紐約市政府刊登廣告!!!!!!!!!!!!!!F\G
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 "4a
美國能成為世界其中一個最富的國家是因為他們知道如何利用其他人得益,  坦率意圖, 沒有隱藏事實, 如果你願意接受提議和條件, 是"公平競爭".  美國人建造國家超過200 年歷史, 沒有依賴風水建國。,$

首座新型公車亭 皇后區啟用t
彭博率首長隆重揭幕 報攤也全面更新 華裔業者憂喜參半jT;Q
2006-12-201
世界新聞網C9]G
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 ,
【本報記者謝宏媛紐約報導】紐約市將在2007年增添、更新3300座新公車候車亭、330個新報攤，以及20個嶄新的公共廁所。這些由西班牙公司Cemusa承包的新設施，將在未來20年為紐約市創造10億元到14億元的收入。i*\5
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 Z>35
紐約市長彭博（Michael Bloomberg）19日率領局處首長共同在皇后區皇后大道與82大道（82 Avenue）交口，為第一座全新的公車亭揭幕。陪同出席的市交通局長溫紹爾（Iris Weinshall）說，新的公車亭將提供更好的照明和公車路線資訊，造福250萬使用公車的乘客。CY))
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 ~L}d
Cemusa興建這些設施完全自費，而且還要付錢給紐約市政府，以換取在這些廁所、候車亭及報攤刊登廣告。該公司雖然要付給市府高額的特許經營費，但是賺取的廣告費可能高達20多億元。]u :
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 :
這項特許權的金額很可能是紐約市歷史上最高的，但是投標過程卻一波三折。除了競標失敗的兩家大公司宣稱競標不公、提起告訴之外，將失去廣告權的報攤老闆也曾提出抗議。現在市府官司勝訴，此計畫將加速展開。CDJ1
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 y+GXx
Cemusa公司在今年6月就已經繳交五千萬元的現金，並開始維修、更新現在的公車候車亭，半年來已經重新粉刷、修補了超過六百個候車亭。E3w8
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 A40Z
紐約市的三百多個報攤老闆也在準備換新家。在堅尼路交巴士打街經營報攤的劉太太說，今年夏天已經接到介紹新報攤的折頁，不過從折頁上只看得出新的報攤比現在的扁、長，卻不知道實際的尺寸。o,
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 1<m>
她對更新報攤憂喜參半，一方面報攤換一個新面貌有可能帶來更多生意；另方面，新報攤兩側的廣告權屬於Cemusa公司所有，經營報攤的人只能使用前方空間，等於是縮小了可以擺設的商品。U*
©緣生術數研究社 -- 術數研究　　 -rT6
不過她說，是好是壞，都要做了以後才知道。