On the 15th of this month, the government announced a naming contest for the Hong Kong-born giant panda twins, "Elder Sister" and "Younger Brother," starting from that day. Citizens can submit their name suggestions online from noon, and the government will announce the selected names within the first half of the year. The giant panda twins officially met the public yesterday (16th) during a ceremony held at Ocean Park. At six months old, the twins have shown excellent health and growth progress. They were born weighing only about 120 grams but have exhibited remarkable resilience and have grown robustly. After six months, their weight has increased to over 10 kilograms. They have progressed from wobbling on their legs to becoming skilled tree climbers.
The government also noted that giant pandas have recently been reclassified from endangered to vulnerable species. Hong Kong currently has six giant pandas, making it the place outside the mainland with the highest number of captive giant pandas. The government stated it will seize the opportunities presented by the giant pandas and collaborate with various sectors of society to encourage the business community to unleash their creativity and introduce more products, such as giant panda-themed Chinese snacks and floats.
The naming contest will have one "Best Entry" award and eight "Outstanding Entry" awards. The winner of the "Best Entry" will receive prizes valued at over HKD 22,000, including four adult annual memberships to Ocean Park and a plush toy of the half-year-old "Elder Sister" and "Younger Brother" valued at HKD 6,576.
It is important to note that the nicknames "Elder Sister" and "Younger Brother" will not be considered as official names. All Hong Kong residents are eligible to participate in the contest, with each person allowed to enter once. Participants must propose one Chinese name for each panda and provide an explanation of the name's significance in no more than 100 words. Suggestions without a written explanation, those including non-text descriptions (such as emojis), or exceeding 100 words will not be considered.