June 12 (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong Disneyland was criticized by the city’s government for offering a special discount to children after primary schools were shut for two weeks following a swine flu outbreak.

The theme park, which is 57 percent owned by the city government, is offering primary school children in Hong Kong unlimited visits for HK$250 ($32) during the school suspension. Hong Kong Disneyland should not “use this moment to promote business” and children should stay at home as much as possible, Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said yesterday.

“We have enhanced the cleaning and sterilizing measures in the Disneyland Park and the two hotels,” the park said in an e- mailed statement when asked to respond to the criticism. The promotion will continue as planned, Hong Kong Disneyland said.

Hong Kong suspended classes at all primary schools, kindergartens and child-care centers for 14 days starting today after the first local cluster of swine flu cases was found. Twelve pupils at a secondary school in the city’s Causeway Bay district were confirmed to have contracted H1N1 influenza.

Thomas Tsang, controller of the Centre for Health and Protection, said a letter has been sent to Hong Kong Disneyland to remind the park “to adopt sterilizing measures.”

“Peak-day” tickets for Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened in September 2005, cost HK$350 each for adults and HK$250 for children aged 3 to 11.

The city government invested $418 million in Hong Kong Disneyland for a 57 percent stake and spent another $1.8 billion on landfill, roads, sewers and a rail line. Walt Disney Co., the world’s biggest media company, invested $320 million for the remaining 43 percent stake in the park and receives management and franchise fees.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andrea Wong in Hong Kong at awong191@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: June 12, 2009 06:25 EDT