Giant pandas An An, Ke Ke make much awaited HK debut

Over an hour before Ocean Park opened its gates at 10 am on Sunday, a palpable sense of excitement filled the air among the large group of visitors waiting to enter Hong Kong's largest theme park.

They were united for one purpose: catching their first glimpse of An An and Ke Ke, the pair of giant pandas recently given by the central government as a gift to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The national treasures made their public debut in the city that day.

Despite a city-wide naming contest that garnered more than 22,000 suggestions, the decision was made that An An and Ke Ke would retain their original names.

Excited children perched on their fathers' shoulders, tourists with hefty backpacks, and wildlife enthusiasts clutching panda-themed toys patiently waited to meet the beloved ambassadors of conservation.

"Seeing the new members of Hong Kong's panda family on their debut day is a memorable experience," said Wan Nga-ting, a 31-year-old teaching assistant at the Hong Kong Education Center. She had proudly pinned a palm-sized panda toy to her backpack while waiting for the park's gates to open.

The two 5-year-old pandas arrived in the SAR from Sichuan province on Sept 26 as gifts from the central government to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland.

With the addition of An An and Ke Ke, along with Ying Ying and Le Le — another panda pair gifted by the central government in 2007 — and their twin cubs born this year, Hong Kong is now home to six pandas, making it the city with the largest population of pandas outside the Chinese mainland.

Wan, who has visited the park monthly to see the pandas since she was in school, said that despite expecting big crowds, she still decided to join in to celebrate her lifelong fondness for the animals.

Leonardo Li, a finance professional, and his girlfriend were among the first panda enthusiasts to enter the park at 10 am. Carrying a stuffed panda toy adorned with bamboo on his shoulder, Li said he was thrilled to finally meet the pandas after waiting months.

"The panda is a national treasure, and presenting them to the SAR is a wonderful gesture from the central government," he said.

Li added that he believes the arrival of An An and Ke Ke will boost Hong Kong's tourism industry, as there are countless enthusiastic panda lovers around the world.

Inside Ocean Park's crowded Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures enclosure, which houses the giant pandas, visitors inched forward, raising their phones to capture images of the animals through the glass.

The crowd shifted as one as An An explored his den, searching for bamboo and climbing up and down a gnarled tree. Gasps of anxiety filled the air when An An disappeared into his private quarters through a hole unseen by visitors, followed by cheers when he reemerged.

Ke Ke, the female panda, munched on bamboo in a separate den adjoining An An's. She maintained her composure while lounging in a giant wooden chair that resembled a queen's throne.

Anthony Mezzatesta, a visitor from the United States, shared his enthusiasm after leaving the enclosure, saying it was his first time seeing the iconic black-and-white bears in person.

"My girlfriend, who's from Shanghai and is a huge panda fan, has been following the news about the two baby pandas," he said. "She's an even bigger fan than I am."

When asked if the presence of pandas could significantly enhance Hong Kong's global appeal, Mezzatesta replied, "Absolutely," citing their limited numbers outside the Chinese mainland.

City officials said the decision to retain their original names was made to symbolize stability, safety and the boundless possibilities for the city.

In Chinese, "An" represents safety and peace, while "Ke" signifies limitless possibilities. Furthermore, "An Ke", which sounds like "encore" in French, conveys the idea that good things will come in succession, symbolizing hopes for Hong Kong's positivity and continued prosperity, the officials explained.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the SAR government would leverage the pandas to unite various sectors of society and introduce more panda-related promotional activities, offering residents and tourists unforgettable panda experiences.