Warm memories of pandas gifted to HK by central government

Editor︰Ivy Cin

On the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the central government of China again gifts Hong Kong with a pair of pandas, who is expected to arrive in a few months and become new members of the Hong Kong family.

In the past 27 years, the central government has given Hong Kong pandas, the national treasure, three times.

Let us recall these warm and adorable moments together!

1999|An An and Jia Jia arrived in Hong Kong

In 1997, to celebrate Hong Kong's return to its motherland, the central government decided to gift Hong Kong with a pair of pandas.

After careful arrangements, the pandas An An (安安) and Jia Jia (佳佳) officially met with the public in May 1999.

The female panda Jia Jia was already 20 years old when she arrived in Hong Kong. She had given birth to five litters, a total of six offspring in the Mainland, hence she was also known as a "Heroic Mother".

An An, on the other hand, was eight years younger than his partner and came to Hong Kong at the age of 12.

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The image shows An An on his 35th birthday. (Image Source: Getty)

The two pandas grew and lived in Ocean Park, bringing many joyful memories to Hong Kong residents.

They passed away respectively in 2016 and 2022. An An died at the age of 35, equivalent to a human age of 105, becoming the longest-lived male panda under human care worldwide.

Jia Jia passed away at the age of 38, equivalent to a human age of 114, breaking the Guinness World Records for the "oldest panda in captivity ever".

香港的「佳佳」2015年打破兩項健力士世界紀錄,成為「迄今為止最長壽的圈養大熊貓」及「最長壽的在世圈養大熊貓」,2016年以38歲高齡離世,相當於人類114歲。圖片攝於牠的37歲生日。(圖片來源:Getty)
The image was taken on Jia Jia's 37th birthday. (Image Source: Getty)

2007|Le Le and Ying Ying named by HK residents

In 2007, on the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of Hong Kong's return, the central government gifted Hong Kong with the second pair of pandas.

Both pandas were born in 2005 and came from the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan.

中央三度贈港大熊貓01
The image shows the pair of pandas leaving Sichuan for Hong Kong. (Image Source: Information Services Department)

Unlike Jia Jia and An An, this pair of pandas were named by Hong Kong residents.

At the time, the Home Affairs Bureau of HKSAR held a "panda naming event", collecting a total of 6,700 pairs of names.

According to statistics, "Le Le" (樂樂) was the name most loved by the participants, with over 1,000 supporters.

At the same time, the name "Ying Ying" (盈盈) was considered the best match for "Le Le", and this pair of names were chosen, which in Chinese symbolises prosperity and joy (Le Le) and economic abundance (Ying Ying) of Hong Kong.

Presently, the pair of pandas are still living in Ocean Park.

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中央三度贈港大熊貓02
Having been in Hong Kong for 17 years, Le Le and Ying Ying are now 19 years old, equivalent to 55 years old in human years. (Web Image)

2024|Central government gifts pandas again

This time, on the 27th anniversary of the return, the central government again gifts pandas to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government will lead a team to Sichuan to discuss preparations and details in the next few days.

What will the new pandas be named?

Looking back, An An and Jia Jia already had names before they came to Hong Kong, while Ying Ying and Le Le only had a set of numbers when they arrived and were later named by a public vote.

So, how are panda's names decided?

A staff member of Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding revealed that each panda would be assigned a unique number according to international standard, akin to a human's ID number.

When baby pandas are still under the care of breeders, they are generally named with a nursing name for easy differentiation.

But such names are only nicknames. When they grow older, their formal names will be decided through public solicitation, official announcements, and other different ways.

Citizens in Hong Kong have been eager to name the pandas upon hearing the good news.

Some suggested naming them "Zhi Zhi" (治治) and "Xing Xing" (興興), to embody Hong Kong's "order and prosperity".

Some proposed, "Given the significant impact the epidemic had on Hong Kong, if we named them Jian Jian (健健) and Kang Kang (康康), it would reflect the wishes of many Hong Kong residents!"

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