On the morning of September 26, the third pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region arrived in Hong Kong, where the Hong Kong government held a welcome ceremony at the international airport.
At the welcome ceremony, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan expressed his excitement, stating that since the Chief Executive announced the good news of the pandas coming to Hong Kong in July, he and all Hong Kong citizens have eagerly awaited the arrival of a lively pair of giant pandas to join their big family.
Chan extended his heartfelt thanks to the Office of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, and the Sichuan Provincial Government for their considerable time and effort in arranging the pandas’ journey to Hong Kong. He highlighted the central government’s care and support for Hong Kong and acknowledged their outstanding work in the conservation, care, and raising of giant pandas, which holds significant meaning for Hong Kong.
Upon arrival, the pandas will be taken to Ocean Park for a 30-day quarantine period. Following that, they will need about a month to adapt to their new environment. The authorities will arrange for the pandas to meet the public at Ocean Park as soon as they are settled in, based on their adaptation and expert recommendations.
“In the next two to three months, we will collaborate with Ocean Park and various sectors of society to hold a range of activities, including naming contests and painting competitions, to create a festive atmosphere in Hong Kong for welcoming the giant pandas.”
With the arrival of “An An” and “Ke Ke,” Hong Kong now has six giant pandas. The pandas “Ying Ying” and “Le Le,” residing at Ocean Park, recently welcomed a pair of twins in August.
At that time, Chief Executive John Lee expressed that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The birth of the first pair of adorable giant pandas in Hong Kong by “Ying Ying” and “Le Le” holds special significance. He also sincerely thanked the nation for gifting pandas to the Hong Kong SAR, showcasing their care and support. Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the Ocean Park team for their dedicated care over the years, as well as the continuous support from the experts at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, which enabled “Ying Ying” and “Le Le” to successfully raise a pair of twins in Hong Kong.
