Disney has halted its much-delayed expansion plans at the firm’s Hong Kong theme park after failing to agree a deal with the city’s government, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
The US-based entertainment giant said the decision was made after lengthy negotiations had failed to agree on how to improve the attractions at the troubled Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL).
“After two years of Disney investment in creative and design work and extensive negotiations with our partner, the Hong Kong government, we have not yet reached a final agreement to expand HKDL,” Leslie Goodman, Disney’s executive vice president of worldwide public affairs said in a statement.
“The uncertainty of the outcome requires us to immediately suspend all creative and design work on the project.”
Goodman said the decision will mean around 30 Hong Kong-based “Imagineers,” who plan, design and engineer the company’s theme parks, will lose their jobs.
However, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said they were baffled by the decision.