HONG KONG, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The first locally-born giant panda cubs were named Jia Jia and De De, the Ocean Park Hong Kong announced here Tuesday.

The pair of giant panda cubs was born last August and their parents are Ying Ying and Le Le, the giant pandas gifted by the central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The female giant panda cub is named Jia Jia, conveying the message of support. In both Cantonese and Mandarin, Jia is homophonous with "home" and "auspicious," which was considered a name with a beautiful meaning, symbolizing national prosperity and people's happiness.

The male giant panda cub is named De De, meaning to succeed and having a connotation that Hong Kong is successful in everything. De also shares the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for "virtue" in both Cantonese and Mandarin, suggesting that giant pandas, the national treasure, possess the virtues cherished by the Chinese people.

Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, secretary for culture, sports and tourism of the HKSAR government, said that the panda twins' naming contest, organized by the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR government and co-hosted by Ocean Park Hong Kong, received over 35,700 name submissions, reflecting overwhelming enthusiasm.

Law said that the names submitted by the public deeply touched the judging panel, showcasing the affection people have for the panda twins and carrying heartfelt blessings for them.

According to Ocean Park, Jia Jia and De De now weigh over 21kg each and continue to grow strong and healthy. Starting Tuesday, the park has opened the alpine area of Giant Panda Adventure for the twins to interact with Ying Ying, providing a more challenging and stimulating environment that will help them continue to develop their life skills. ■