Hong Kong spends over S$120,000 on giant panda naming competition, judges pick original names as winners

Hong Kong authorities spent approximately 700,000 HKD (S$121,323) to organise a naming competition for two giant pandas — only for them to end up retaining the same names.

The original names beat over 22,600 entries, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The decision was announced on Dec. 7 at a ceremony at Hong Kong's Ocean Park.

According to the Ocean Park website, two giant pandas — named An An and Ke Ke — were gifted by Beijing to Hong Kong, and arrived in September 2024 ahead of the naming competition which ran from Oct. 2 to 31.

China's Central Government gifted the pandas to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to demonstrate its "care and support for the HKSAR", stated the official website of the naming competition.

The competition

So, where did the money go?

According to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, who organised the event in collaboration with the Ocean Park, the money was spent on building a website, advertisements online and at train stations, manpower recruitment, and prizes for winners of the naming competition, reported SCMP.

The six judges of the naming contest took up their roles on a voluntary, unpaid basis, said the ministry.

Denying that the competition was a waste of public money, Hong Kong's Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said authorities would not have known if the majority preferred for the pandas to stick with their original names without the competition, reported SCMP.

What's in a name

In any competition, it's important to have clear judging criteria.

In this case, the top pick had to be "meaningful and creative" whilst "reflecting the young, lovely and vivacious characteristics" of the two pandas, stated the official website.

To the competition's champion, Li Jiaming, the panda's original names were the best option.

Noting that a combination of "An" and "Ke" sounded like the word "encore", Li's submission expressed hopes that the pandas would continue bring "good things" to Hong Kong in years to come.

In addition, "An" in mandarin means peace, and "Ke", possibilities to come, added Li.

With that, Li clinched the top prize and took home a total of HK$47,320 (S$8,202) , including a luxury watch priced at HK$36,800 (S$6,379). 

Beat over 22,600 submissions

What other names did the chosen ones beat?

The next eight sets of names, close contenders, were uploaded onto Ocean Park Hong Kong's website as winners of "merit" prizes.

Each of the merit winners took home Ocean Park memberships, giant panda souvenirs, and F&B vouchers.

The five-year-old pandas are currently housed in Ocean Park, and met for the first time on Dec. 8 after spending a month in quarantine.

Top image from @hkoceanpark/Instagram