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SCMP Editorial

Nothing is more joyful than the arrival of new members of the family. Officials on Friday inked a deal in mainland China for two more giant pandas to come to Hong Kong as early as late September, adding to the joy of long-time couple Ying Ying and Le Le becoming the parents of the first panda cubs born in the city.
Coincidental as it seems, the unexpected double delight gives the community a boost and a sense of excitement. It also opens a new chapter in conservation and public education in animal protection as well as hopefully furthering the city’s tourism and economic development.
The announcement of the first “Made in Hong Kong” pandas – a male and a female – came as a pleasant surprise. The twins arrived in the small hours of Thursday, just one day shy of their mother’s 19th birthday, equivalent to 57 years in human age.
Ying Ying also made history to become the world’s oldest first-time giant panda mum.

Coming after a series of ill-fated attempts, the first successful local births from natural conception is especially heart-warming. The pair mated naturally at Ocean Park in March.
But unlike the previous occasions when the mating and pregnancy were disclosed and drew wide public attention and scrutiny, the news was kept secret until almost 24 hours after the delivery.
Interestingly, it also came as the city’s population census reported the first rise in the number of local births since 2016, another positive change for our notoriously low birth rate that is hardly conducive to growth and development.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed gratitude to the Central Government for the panda gifts, which he said had fully demonstrated its care and support for the city. “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which makes the birth of the first lovely Hong Kong-born pigeon pair of cubs by Ying Ying and Le Le even more special,” he said.
Saying that the newborns were in a very critical period, the government said Ocean Park’s animal care and veterinary teams and experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda were monitoring Ying Ying and her cubs round the clock until their condition becomes stable.
In Sichuan to finalise the arrangements on the soon-to-arrive pandas, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said the new pair would join the existing couple to become close members of the Hong Kong family. With their adorable appeal and enduring popularity, the expanding panda family will no doubt further drive the city’s conservation efforts and bring more joy to visitors from near and far.


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Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s expanding panda family will bring more joy to all

The first “Made in Hong Kong” pandas – a male (right) and a female (left) – arrived just one day shy of their mother’s 19th birthday, equivalent to 57 years in human age. Photo: Ocean Park

The twins’ mother, Ying Ying, made history by becoming the world’s oldest first-time giant panda mum. Photo: Ocean Park

Pandas set to arrive in Hong Kong in late September via Cathay Pacific cargo services

Ying Ying and Le Le, pictured in 2020, were given to Hong Kong in 2007. Photo: Ocean Park

Visitors get a close view of Le Le at Ocean Park on Tuesday.  Photo: May Tse

Panda movement study: Hong Kong’s Ocean Park team discovers An An’s energy-saving habits

Giant male panda An An at Ocean Park in 2004. A two-year research was conducted before the bear died in 2022. Photo: Robert Ng

Eszter Matrai (third from left), Ocean Park’s senior research fellow, poses for pictures with the research team and Le Le in the background. Photo: Dickson Lee

Wreaths are laid to remember An An after he died in 2022. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong tourism chief to seal deal in Sichuan ahead of transfer of giant pandas

Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung will travel to Sichuan on Thursday and sign an agreement ahead of the pandas’ transfer to Hong Kong before National Day. Photo: Facebook

Visitors see giant panda Le Le at Hong Kong Ocean Park. The new inbound pair will not be ready to meet people on National Day. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong’s newborn twin pandas will remain in city, with 2 new adults set to arrive in September

The twin cubs (male, left) were born in Hong Kong this week. Photo: Ocean Park

The arrival of the twins came as a surprise to the city. Photo: Ocean Park

New mother Ying Ying is 19 years old. Photo: Ocean Park

Kevin Yeung (right), with Ocean Park chief Paulo Pong. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Opinion

Comment

The deal to bring two more giant pandas to the city and the birth of two cubs will also hopefully further tourism and economic development


The deal to bring two more giant pandas to the city and the birth of two cubs will also hopefully further tourism and economic development.


Hong Kong society

Ocean Park

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong tourism

Animals

John Lee

Conservation

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Editorial

Editorial | Hong Kong’s expanding panda family will bring more joy to all

The deal to bring two more giant pandas to the city and the birth of two cubs will also hopefully further tourism and economic development