Hong Kong welcomes birth of first giant panda twin cubs

The newborn twins of Ying Ying and Le Le, a pair of giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong by the central government in 2007. (Photo/CCTV) )

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday announced the birth of panda twins early Thursday morning in Hong Kong, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The pair, a female and a male, are cubs of Ying Ying and Le Le, pandas given as a gift by the central government to Hong Kong in 2007. 

Ying Ying and Le Le successfully completed natural mating in Ocean Park in March. After five months of gestation, the female giant panda Ying Ying finally gave birth to the twins.

A team of animal care professionals, together with experts from the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, are working around the clock to take care of Ying Ying and the newborn twins until their condition fully stabilizes, according to the Information Services Department of the HKSAR government, as reported by Xinhua.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee thanked the central government for gifting the pandas, which he said fully demonstrates its care and support for the HKSAR. 

He said that this year is the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the birth of the first pair of giant panda cubs in Hong Kong is of special significance.

He also thanked the Ocean Park team and the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda for their meticulous care of Ying Ying and the twin cubs.

Ying Ying and Le Le were the second pair of gift pandas from the central government to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, according to Xinhua.