Hong Kong invested approximately HK$700,000 (S$121,323) in a public naming contest for two giant pandas, only to retain their original names. The pand
Hong Kong invested approximately HK$700,000 (S$121,323) in a public naming contest for two giant pandas, only to retain their original names. The pandas, named An An and Ke Ke, were gifted by Beijing to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as a gesture of goodwill.
Despite receiving over 22,600 submissions, the original names emerged victorious, announced during a Dec. 7 ceremony at Ocean Park, where the pandas are housed. The competition ran from Oct. 2 to 31, shortly after the pandas arrived in September 2024.
According to the organisers, the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau and Ocean Park, the budget covered website development, advertisements, staffing, and prizes. Judges for the competition served voluntarily. Authorities defended the spending, stating that the contest was essential to gauge public preference and engagement.
The winning entry, submitted by Li Jiaming, highlighted the symbolic meaning of the names. In Mandarin, An signifies peace, while Ke suggests possibilities, together representing hope and prosperity for Hong Kong. Li also noted that the combination sounds like “encore,” expressing wishes for the pandas to continue bringing joy. Li received a luxury watch and cash prizes totalling HK$47,320 (S$8,202).
Eight other entries earned merit prizes, including Ocean Park memberships and panda-themed gifts. The five-year-old pandas, meeting for the first time on Dec. 8 after quarantine, continue to draw public attention as symbols of unity and optimism.
This revision maintains the original meaning but presents it in a streamlined and reorganised manner for better readability.
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