More room needed for pandas at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, tourism minister says

Secretary Kevin Yeung pledges financial help to theme park that must now house 6 pandas, while newborn twins quickly gain social media following

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The cubs were born on Thursday at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park. Photo: Handout

Published: 2:05pm, 18 Aug 2024Updated: 9:23pm, 18 Aug 2024

Hong Kong’s Ocean Park will need to expand its pavilion space to accommodate six giant pandas including newborn twins, tourism chief Kevin Yeung Yun-hung has said, pledging to offer financial help to the theme park that is still in debt to the government.

The theme park released a short clip on Sunday of one of the three-day-old cubs who gently squealed as it snuggled under a blanket while in an incubator, prompting a wave of reactions on social media. Ying Ying gave birth to a male and female with her mate Le Le, and they will soon be joined by two young adults gifted by Beijing.

Earlier in the day, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stressed the importance of capitalising on the opportunities brought by six pandas as he gauged views from the public on ways to boost tourism.

Speaking in a televised interview, tourism minister Yeung noted pandas were territorial animals.

“In the long run, we need six pavilions to accommodate the six giant pandas. We still have time to consider the construction,” he said. “We will discuss who will be paying for it, as well as the actual operation … All Hong Kong residents are happy to see the two panda cubs. I think the government should help address the money issue.”

Ocean Park posted a HK$118.5 million (US$15.18 million) surplus for its financial year ending in June 2023, after the government provided a HK$5.4 billion bailout in 2020-21. The park is due to begin paying back the government in 2028.