HONG KONG — A pair of giant pandas presented to Hong Kong as gifts by the central government will arrive in the special administrative region on Thursday, and will be named in a public campaign next month.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday a welcome ceremony for the national treasure 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 province to oversee the handover arrangements and will participate in a farewell ceremony for the pandas there. The send-off ceremony will be held at the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda.

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

The CE 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.

The SAR 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.  

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, Lee said. The animals are expected to meet members of the public by mid-December.

Ocean Park has also shared on its Facebook page that “panda nannies” from Hong Kong have been caring for the pandas in Dujiangyan, working alongside their local colleagues.

“I arrived in Sichuan in July to learn about the new pandas, including their characteristics, food preferences, and behaviors," said a panda carer named Matt in posts imitating playful dialogues with Hong Kong’s resident panda, Le Le.

The Hong Kong panda carers are using this time to introduce themselves to the pandas, helping them become familiar with their voices, scents, and presence.

“The pandas will undergo a dietary transition, gradually incorporating bamboo from Guangzhou along with their current diet from Sichuan. This approach will help them adapt to the changes in their diet before arriving in Hong Kong,” said Matt.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has launched a one-stop webpage for the pandas, while various activities and celebrations for the nation’s 75th birthday have panda themes, including the upcoming drone displays and the city’s special edition of its Symphony of Lights to celebrate National Day.

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

Lee said the two panda cubs are in a rapid growth phase and hopes they can meet residents early next year. When they exhibit distinct physical features, it’ll be an opportune time to hold another naming competition.

Lee announced on June 30 the central government will give Hong Kong a new pair of pandas. He had traveled to Sichuan in July to discuss arrangements for their transportation to the city, adding that SAR government would strive to receive the pandas before National Day on Oct 1.

Contact the writer at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com