Hong Kong to create panel to name giant pandas being gifted to city by Beijing

Hong Kong authorities will appoint a panel to decide the names of two giant pandas being gifted by Beijing, with the decision to be made after the pair arrive in the city on Thursday, the Post has learned.

Sources said on Monday night that the bears, aged five to eight years, which is equivalent to 15 to 24 in human years, were known as “An An” and “Ke Ke” while living at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas in Chengdu.

They said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu was expected to announce the setting up of the naming panel on Tuesday morning before his weekly meeting with the Executive Council.

One source said the two pandas were a female and a male.

Sichuan will hold a farewell ceremony for the pandas on Wednesday. They will arrive at Hong Kong airport at around midday on Thursday on a Cathay Pacific Airways cargo plane.