Gifted giant pandas An An and Ke Ke to Hong Kong to meet public on Dec. 8

(ECNS) -- Giant pandas An An and Ke Ke gifted by the Chinese central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will meet the public on Dec. 8, 2024, according to John Lee Ka-chiu, HKSAR chief executive on Wednesday.

Lee released a video on Facebook recording his visit to the Ocean Park to check the situation of An An and Ke Ke, along with his wife and tourism minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung.

The two pandas have been sent to Hong Kong for two months and are now in an acclimation period. They adapt quickly to the new environment and are in good condition, Lee said.

According to him, the HKSAR government and the Ocean Park will held a debut ceremony for the two pandas on Dec. 7 and will let them meet the public on Dec. 8.

A name collection and painting competition for An An and Ke Ke had concluded already with over 26,000 name suggestions and 3,000 paintings submitted, said Lee.

Male An An and female Ke Ke are both five years old. They arrived in Hong Kong on Sept. 26.