Chief Executive and his wife officiate at Giant Panda Greeting Ceremony with Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (with photos/video)

The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Ji today (December 7) visited Hong Kong Ocean Park to officiate the Giant Panda Greeting Ceremony with the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and Mrs Janet Lee.
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     Other officiating guests include the Deputy Director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Mr Li Yunqing, the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council cum the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Zheng Yanxiong, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Cui Jianchun, Director-General of the Political Work Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, Major General Zhu Hong, the Deputy Director of the liaison office of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Xie Zhixiang, the Deputy Director of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Mr Lu Yongbin; Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Forestry and Grassland, Mr Wang Jinghong; the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration of HKSAR Government, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of HKSAR Government, Miss Rosanna Law, the Chairman of the Board of the Ocean Park Corporation (OPC), Mr Paulo Pong, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Michael Lee.

     Speaking on behalf of the HKSAR Government and members of the public, Mr John Lee expressed his gratitude to the Central Government for gifting two more giant pandas to HKSAR. He said, "Hong Kong is honoured to be keeping the largest number of giant pandas apart from the Mainland. The giant pandas mean a lot to Hong Kong in three perspectives. It demonstrates the Central Government's support and care to Hong Kong. It also sets an example of successful national conservation work. The giant panda is also an ambassador of both our Country and Hong Kong."

     He also thanked the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Sichuan Provincial Government for the arrangements made for the giant pandas' arrival and acclimatisation to the new living environment in the past few months. He added that the two giant pandas settled down quickly in the new environment since their arrival in Hong Kong on September 26. They have been staying in good shape under the care of experts at Ocean Park and those from the CCRCGP who came to Hong Kong to help take care of them. After the ceremony, the officiating guests visited the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures to meet and greet the two new giant pandas.

     The Giant Panda Naming Competition and Giant Panda Painting Competition organised by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and co-organised by the OPC earlier attracted overwhelming response. The Judging Panel decided that the original names, An An and Ke Ke, will remain as their names, after considering over 22 600 submissions for the Giant Panda Naming Competition. The combination of the two giant pandas' names, An and Ke, implies that more good days are coming after the 27th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland. During the ceremony today, Mr and Mrs Lee; Mr Paulo Pong; the Chief Executive of OPC, Mr Ivan Wong, presented awards to winners of the Giant Panda Naming Competition and Giant Panda Painting Competition. Judging panel members of both competitions include the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; Mr Paulo Pong; the Deputy Director of the CCRCGP as well as expert for giant pandas Mr Wei Rongping; Miss Amy Chan, Mr Kenneth Fok and Dr Shirley Marie Therese Loo. Details of the competitions can be found at the Ocean Park's dedicated website at www.oceanpark.com.hk/en/park-experience/giant-panda-campaign-2024/painting-competition-2024.

     An An and Ke Ke will meet the public from tomorrow (December 8). Visitors can also meet the giant panda Le Le, which newly became a father.