Two pandas to arrive in HK on Thursday

A pair of giant pandas presented to Hong Kong as gifts by the central government will arrive in the special administrative region from Sichuan province on Thursday, and will be named in a public campaign next month, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Tuesday.

To improve their living environment, the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced it will donate over HK$121 million to enhance and expand the giant panda habitat at Ocean Park.

Lee said that a welcome ceremony for the national treasures will be hosted by Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki on their arrival at Hong Kong International Airport.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung has left for Sichuan to oversee the handover arrangements and will participate in a farewell ceremony for the pandas on Wednesday that will be organized by the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda.

Both pandas are 5 years old and have been named previously. The male is called An An, weighing over 130 kilograms, and the female is named Ke Ke, weighing about 100 kg.

Lee said he hopes Hong Kong can choose meaningful names for the pandas in order to bring out their traits. A panda-themed drawing competition will also be held, while the postal service plans to issue panda-themed stamps and philatelic products in December.

The Hong Kong government has been making preparations for the pandas' arrival, and Ocean Park, which will be their home, has completed upgrading its panda enclosure with new climbing structures and improved monitoring and renovated grounds.

Lee said the giant pandas will be quarantined at Ocean Park for at least 30 days after their arrival, and for another month to help them acclimatize to the new environment. The animals are expected to meet members of the public by mid-December.

With the new pair of pandas, the panda population in the city will be increased to six, including two locally born panda twins.

Lee added that the two panda cubs in Hong Kong are in a rapid growth phase, and he hopes they can meet residents early next year. When they exhibit distinct physical features, it will be an opportune time to hold another naming campaign.

Also on Tuesday, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust announced the donation to help improve the giant panda habitat at Ocean Park, including adding facilities to create snow and improving natural landscapes.

The donation will also support community educational programs for underprivileged students to visit the giant pandas at Ocean Park.

Earlier, the Hong Kong Tourism Board launched a one-stop webpage for the pandas to keep residents and tourists informed about the latest panda updates, and welcoming events for the pandas have already kicked off in various districts across Hong Kong.