Panda pair among party's top wishes

If Beijing sends two more pandas to Hong Kong, "Zhizhi" and "Xingxing" could be their names to symbolize Hong Kong's advance from stability to prosperity, the city's biggest pro-establishment party said.

Speaking at the party's Lunar New Year media gathering yesterday, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong's Brave Chan Yung hopes the central government would give the city two more pandas as gifts to celebrate the country's 75th anniversary this year.

He suggested the names "Zhizhi" and "Xingxing" - "stability" and "prosperity" in Chinese, respectively.

When asked about the possibility of Beijing sending two more pandas, Chan said: "The chance is bigger than last year."

Another lawmaker, Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, said the Hong Kong government should consider regularizing the extension of border opening hours during holidays or big events.

"After this Chinese New Year, the government should review the number of people going in and out and then see which time slots are busier," he said. "If after midnight there are still a lot of people using Shenzhen Bay then we can open it up a bit more, especially during holidays and special events."

Chan said the government did a great job with transportation arrangements during the holiday.

"At least the ministers could sleep well at night knowing no news is good news: concerning people suffering from traffic jams and failing to cross the border," he said.

When asked if a further extension of border opening hours could push locals to travel to the mainland, Chan said it is "unrealistic" to bar people from traveling abroad but wants the city to encourage locals and tourists to spend in Hong Kong.

Chan suggested the SAR expand the northbound travel for Hong Kong vehicles scheme to other control points, including Heung Yuen Wai/Liantang port, to attract more business travelers with higher consumption power.

DAB called on authorities to organize a series of exhibitions and events to celebrate National Day on October 1.

The party also suggested the government borrow Chinese cultural relics that were forbidden to be exhibited abroad from Beijing's Palace Museum, as well as organize thematic exhibitions on national achievements in various museums in Hong Kong.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com