Hong Kong youngsters will be offered the opportunity to experience working as a giant panda keeper as part of a program of activities to welcome the two pandas gifted to the city by the central government.

The two pandas, which are expected to arrive in the special administrative region in late September, along with newborn twin pandas, will bring the number of pandas living in Hong Kong to six.

On Sunday, the Unified Association of Kowloon West (UAKW) announced its events calendar for ICPanda — a series of panda-welcoming events aimed at transforming "panda fever" into economic benefits and attracting at least 1 million visitors.

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The upcoming events will include a program for about 20 Hong Kong youngsters who will be selected to become temporary panda keepers and to learn relevant skills at panda conservation bases in Sichuan province. Details of the program will be announced later.

A light projection show will be hosted outside the Hong Kong Space Museum at night from Sept 14 to 17, while a set of 12 panda-themed glass fiber works will be exhibited on Cheung Sha Wan promenade from October to January.

On Nov 1, performers from Sichuan and Hong Kong will present a gala show to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, and lanterns featuring pandas and bauhinias, crafted in Zigong city in Sichuan, will be displayed at Ko Shan Road Park in Kowloon from Nov 1 to 7. There will also be a panda-themed food festival later in the year.

The events will be co-organized by the UAKW, the district offices in Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City as well as commercial and social organizations including the Hong Kong United Youth Association (HKUYA) and Ocean Park, and will be free for all visitors.

Simon Yim Siu-wing, chairman of the events organizing committee and executive director of the Federation of HK Sichuan Community Organisations, said pandas are a national treasure representing profound cultural heritage, and are a symbol of friendship.

He said he hopes the activities can spread panda culture throughout the community and further promote cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Sichuan.

Yim said he expects the events to attract over 1 million residents and tourists and to drive tourism and economic development in Hong Kong.

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UAKW Chairman Kevin Fan Minhua said that the events will also promote the history of the Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City districts with the aim of highlighting these areas as major tourist destinations in Hong Kong.

The activities are also expected to contribute to the revitalization of Kowloon West District, the city’s tourism industry, and the overall economy. At the same time, they demonstrate Hong Kong residents' excitement that the central government is once again presenting a pair of pandas to Hong Kong.

Lam Ho-yi, chairman of HKUYA, said she hopes the panda-keeper experiencing program will deepen young people’s understanding of ecological conservation work, increase their enthusiasm for cultural exchanges and promote in-depth exchanges between young people from Sichuan and Hong Kong.

Contact the writer at fangxue@chinadailyhk.com