In a heartwarming gesture of goodwill, the central government has gifted a pair of giant pandas to Hong Kong, with their arrival scheduled for Thursday. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made the announcement ahead of his weekly Executive Council meeting, highlighting the significance of the bears as a symbol of friendship between Hong Kong and the mainland.
The two pandas, named “An An” and “Ke Ke,” are both five years old—equivalent to 15 years in human terms—and have been residing at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas in Chengdu. Their journey to Hong Kong will be made aboard a Cathay Pacific Airways cargo plane, arriving at approximately noon.
Upon arrival, a welcome ceremony will be hosted by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki. The beloved bears will then be transported to their new home at Ocean Park, where they will undergo a mandatory 30-day quarantine to ensure their health and safety before they greet the public.
In a show of reverence, Sichuan province will hold a farewell ceremony for An An and Ke Ke on Wednesday. This event will be attended by Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, marking a poignant moment as the pandas prepare to embark on their new adventure.
To engage the community in this exciting event, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau plans to launch a name-collecting campaign next month, inviting residents to propose new names for the panda pair. This initiative aims to foster a sense of connection between the pandas and the people of Hong Kong.
