Authorities in Hong Kong spent Rs 76 lakh ($90,028) earlier this 12 months on a contest to rename two large pandas, gifted by China, however ended up retaining the unique names regardless of spending the large sum. In keeping with a report within the South China Morning Put up (SCMP), the large panda renaming competitors began in October the place the general public was invited to provide you with recent names for “An An” and “Ke Ke” — the 2 bears, who arrived from Sichuan.
As per the Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism Bureau, the taxpayer’s cash was spent to construct a web site for the exercise, recruit employees, submit commercials on web and Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations along with providing prizes to the winners.
The winner of the competitors was awarded prizes price Rs 5.16 lakh which included a tourbillon watch, valued round Rs 4 lakh and membership and vouchers for Ocean Park the place the pandas are stored. Regardless of providing the prizes, the judges, who didn’t take any pay for his or her companies, introduced that the pandas would preserve their unique names.
Quizzed in regards to the wastage of funds, Secretary for Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism Rosanna Legislation Shuk-pui stated the authorities have been to not know that the general public would like conserving the unique names.
Notably, the large pandas in Hong Kong are often named both after searching for recommendations from the general public, or by conserving the names given to them whereas breastfeeding, or by adopting the names that got to them by the authorities.
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Large pandas arrive
Male “An An” and feminine “Ke Ke” are each aged 5, the equal of 15 in human years. The pair arrived within the nation amid a lot fanfare in September when Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki and Tourism Minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung welcomed them on the Hong Kong Worldwide Airport in a glittering ceremony.
As per Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong, An An and Ke Ke may assist herald clients and generate income. “It’s tough to place a quantity on [costs] as it’s extra than simply in regards to the revenue or the park, or the revenue or losses. We consider our social accountability is powerful,” Mr Pong stated.
“Most significantly we wish to carry individuals to the park, to purchase tickets or annual passes to take care of a gentle revenue circulate,” he added.
The pandas have been unveiled to the general public final week with the park anticipating big rush within the days main as much as Christmas.
