‘Double happiness’: new pandas join ‘big Hong Kong family’, set for Christmas unveiling
Chief Secretary Eric Chan hails arrival of An An and Ke Ke ahead of National Day holiday period, as Ocean Park prepares for December debut
Two adult pandas gifted to Hong Kong by Beijing are expected to make their grand public debut by Christmas, with the newcomers arriving safely from mainland China’s Sichuan province to a warm welcome.
The city’s No 2 official, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, led the ceremonial welcome for the five-year-old pandas at Hong Kong International Airport on Thursday with a nod to coming celebrations for National Day on October 1.
“It is double happiness for the two pandas to join our big Hong Kong family during this joyous period,” Chan said.
An An and Ke Ke – as they are known before Hong Kong chooses new names – touched down after a nearly 12-hour journey from Sichuan, which included a two-hour flight.
The chief secretary thanked Cathay Cargo for sponsoring the transfer of the bears, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for a HK$121 million (US$15.5 million) donation to expand panda infrastructure at Ocean Park and mainland authorities for the logistics and further help.
Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee said he expected the two adult pandas to be ready to meet the public by December.
“I hope that by the end of the year, around the Christmas period, the public can see the giant pandas,” he said.
