The new pair of giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong by the central government will officially meet the public on December 8. On December 7, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and Ocean Park held a “Giant Panda Debut Ceremony” to announce the naming of the two pandas. The pandas will continue to be called “An An” and “Ke Ke,” symbolizing that good things continue in Hong Kong and that “An Ke” follows closely behind.

Since their arrival in Hong Kong, the pandas have been eating bamboo from Guangdong and are also able to understand some Cantonese, responding to it accordingly.
HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the central government for gifting Hong Kong with a pair of lively and beloved giant pandas, which fully demonstrates the central government’s care and support for Hong Kong. Lee said that the HKSAR government would seize the opportunities brought by the pandas, unite all sectors of society, and launch more panda-related promotional activities to provide residents and visitors with a wonderful and unforgettable panda experience.
It is reported that the naming and drawing competition organized by the HKSAR Government’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau received more than 22,600 naming suggestions and 3,000 artwork submissions. Lee earlier stated that the enthusiastic participation in these two competitions fully reflected the public’s love for the two pandas.

The winning suggestion for the panda names was to continue with “An An” and “Ke Ke,” symbolizing that good things in Hong Kong continue and that “An Ke” follows. The name “An” means peace, wishing for Hong Kong’s stability and safety, while “Ke” symbolizes the possibility of everything, hoping for an unlimited future for Hong Kong.
The new pair of giant pandas, gifted by the central government, arrived in Hong Kong at the end of September this year, and they have completed their quarantine and adaptation periods. Hong Kong Ocean Park announced that the pandas are now ready and have recently been visited by small groups of people to help them adjust to human presence.
According to the park, “Ke Ke” is 5 years old and weighs about 100 kg. She eats slowly, savoring her food, but sometimes shows a bit of a “princess temper.” “An An,” who is the same age as “Ke Ke,” weighs about 130 kg and enjoys exploring her surroundings and getting close to the caretakers. She is also an expert climber.

Staff also revealed that the two pandas currently eat about 10 kilograms of bamboo each per day, with their diet shifting from primarily Sichuan bamboo to the main bamboo variety from Guangdong. After living in Hong Kong for some time, the pandas have already started to understand some Cantonese. They respond to their names and simple commands.
Including the pair of pandas “Ying Ying” and “Le Le” gifted to Hong Kong by the central government in 2007, along with the twins they gave birth to in August this year, Hong Kong has become the place outside mainland China with the most giant pandas.
“Giant pandas are a successful example of the country’s conservation efforts,” said Chief Executive John Lee. “The HKSAR government has been working tirelessly with national experts to promote giant panda conservation.” Lee added that as Hong Kong Ocean Park continues to be a key base for panda conservation and education, the government will further advance panda conservation and promotion efforts. Through activities such as research and study, more domestic and international visitors will have the chance to learn about the achievements and capabilities of both the country and Hong Kong in endangered species conservation and promoting biodiversity, all through the “national treasure” giant panda.