More than 22,600 naming suggestions have been submitted in a public competition in Hong Kong for the new pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government, and their names will be released by the end of this year.
The contest to name the pandas was launched by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, inviting residents to come up with new names for the national treasures, which were known as An An and Ke Ke in their original habitat in Sichuan province. The competition ended on Sunday.
The organizer said the new names should be meaningful, and highlight the distinctive traits of the two pandas. Some residents said they’ll support names that reflect Hong Kong’s characteristics, such as “pineapple bun” and “roast pork bun” which are popular foods among residents.
A bureau spokesperson expressed delight over the public’s enthusiastic response, saying this reflects the community’s deep affection for the pandas.
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An art competition was also organized for residents to depict the pandas by making reference to photos and videos.
The results of both competitions will be announced by the end of this year and the winners will be individually informed.
The two pandas arrived in the special administrative region from the Sichuan provincial capital, Chengdu, on Sept 26, and have completed their one-month quarantine at Ocean Park, gradually adapting to their new habitat.
READ MORE: Ocean Park: An An, Ke Ke beginning to settle in
The bureau said it will keep in close touch with experts from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and Ocean Park and, subject to the pandas’ health and adaptation conditions, will arrange for them to meet residents by year-end.
