To welcome the new pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) recently announced a giant panda naming contest, which has now closed. On October 28, the CSTB revealed that there was a strong public response to the naming contest, receiving over 22,600 suggestions.
The new pair of giant pandas arrived in Hong Kong on September 26 and are currently named “An An” (male) and “Ke Ke” (female). To welcome them into the Hong Kong family, the CSTB organized the “Giant Panda Naming Activity” and appointed Ocean Park Corporation as the executing agency, aiming to select meaningful names that reflect the pandas’ characteristics.
The naming contest began accepting suggestions on October 2 and closed on October 27. A spokesperson for the CSTB stated that the enthusiastic public response to the naming contest demonstrates the love people have for the two pandas.
Additionally, the CSTB launched a giant panda drawing competition starting October 21, which will run until November 8. The spokesperson encouraged citizens to continue showing their support by vividly depicting the adorable side of the giant pandas.
The results of both contests will be announced by the end of this year, with winners being notified by official letter.
The spokesperson also noted that both pandas have completed their quarantine at Ocean Park and are gradually adapting to their new environment. The CSTB will maintain close communication with experts from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Ocean Park, and will arrange for the pandas to meet the public as soon as possible, depending on their health and adaptation status.
