Giant panda pair will arrive in Hong Kong on Thursday, the city leader says

Photo: Ocean Park

The much-anticipated pair of giant pandas extended as a gift by the central government to SAR Hong Kong will be in the city on Thursday, John Lee Ka-chiu said.

Hong Kong leader said the two bears whose their given names are "An An” (male) and “Ke Ke” (female) weigh 130kg and 100kg respectively. They are five years old this year which is equivalent to 15 years old in humans. The names are given to them at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas in Chengdu, Lee added.

Elite police motorcyclists known for their VIP escort service will reportedly ensure the safe transport of two giant pandas to Hong Kong's Ocean Park upon their arrival from Sichuan on Thursday.

The pandas will arrive at the Hong Kong airport around noon on Thursday on a Cathay Pacific Airways cargo plane and a welcome ceremony will be hosted by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki.

Subsequently, the pair of giant pandas will be sent to Ocean Park and first undergo a quarantine of at least 30 days and another 30 days to acclimatise.

The Chief Executive said the pair is expected to meet the public around the middle of December, this year.

香港領導人表示，大貓熊對將於週四抵達香港

李家超表示，中央政府向香港特別行政區贈送的這對備受期待的大貓熊將於週四抵達香港。

香港領導人表示，這兩隻熊分別名叫“安安”和“可可”，今年五歲了，相當於人類15歲。 李補充說，這些名字是在成都中國保護大熊貓研究中心都江堰基地給它們取的。

據報道，以貴賓護送服務而聞名的精銳警用摩托車手將在周四從四川抵達香港海洋公園後，確保兩隻大熊貓安全運送至香港海洋公園。

大熊貓將於週四中午12點左右搭乘國泰航空貨機抵達香港機場，並由政務司司長陳國基主持歡迎儀式。

隨後，這對大熊貓將被送往海洋公園，先接受至少30天的隔離，然後再進行30天的適應。

執行長表示，the 兩人預計將於今年 12 月中旬左右與公眾見面。