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Ambrose Li

Jess Ma

Hong Kong’s leader has said he will try to arrange for a pair of giant pandas to be sent to the city by National Day on October 1, as he led a delegation to Sichuan province to prepare for their arrival.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made the pledge on Monday after he and his wife, Janet Lee Lam Lai-sim, visited the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre.
While at the centre, Lee met the pair of giant pandas being gifted to Hong Kong and learned more about feeding and nursing the bears, as well as transfer arrangements.
“I’m particularly happy to be here. I believe the public will share my excitement when the pair of pandas arrive in Hong Kong and will hope to get close to them,” Lee said.
Asked whether the rare animals might arrive by National Day, Lee said he would surely “push for that to happen”.
Lee led the delegation to Sichuan on Sunday to discuss preparations for the transfer of two giant pandas gifted to the city by Beijing as a part of the 27th handover anniversary celebrations.
When asked whether he had picked the bears yet, he said: “Many of them are very charming … Some looked strong while others looked elegant. They seemed to be enjoying their food.”


The city government issued a statement in the evening saying Lee and his delegation had toured the facility in Sichuan and visited the pair of giant pandas being gifted to Hong Kong as they learned more details about the bears’ arrival.
“The officers of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the centre gave a thorough briefing to the delegation on the work in rearing, caring and conserving giant pandas, as well as the latest development on giant panda research,” it said.
The delegation, which includes Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung and Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Mickey Lai Kin-ming, would draw on their insights from the trip to further enhance the conservation of giant pandas, the government added.
The two new pandas, with age and sex to be announced, will be the third pair Beijing has given the city since 1999.
On Saturday, Yeung said the city government had expressed to Beijing its hope to have baby giant pandas born locally.
Previous efforts to help the sole surviving pair of pandas in Hong Kong, Ying Ying and Le Le, to breed have not been successful due to a variety of factors.
Yeung also revealed the new pandas were expected to arrive in Hong Kong within three months after passing a month-long quarantine in Sichuan. But he did not give further details on the exact date of arrival.

The two animals would be added to the collection of Ocean Park in Southern district, joining Ying Ying and Le Le.
The latter, who arrived in 2007, were the second pair of pandas Beijing gifted to the city. The bears will celebrate their 19th birthday in August, equivalent to about 57 human years.
The first pair, male An An and female Jia Jia, arrived in the city in 1999. Jia Jia died aged 38 in 2016, while An An died aged 35 in 2022.
Ying Ying and Le Le were quarantined for 30 days before they were flown to Hong Kong in April 2007, and then needed another two months of quarantine and adaptation before making their official debut on July 1 that year.
Asked whether Ocean Park needed more staff to look after the newcomers, it said many of its caretakers and vets had been there since 1999 and had “great experience” caring for pandas.


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Hong Kong’s pandas

John Lee hopes Hong Kong can welcome giant pandas by National Day on October 1

Chief Executive John Lee arrived in Sichuan on Sunday. Photo: Facebook/John Lee

The new pandas will join Ying Ying (pictured) and Le Le at Ocean Park. Photo: Elson Li

What gets 30kg of plants, biscuits and other greens a day, and could have a digital upgrade?

Visitors taking photos outside Hong Kong’s Ocean Park. Photo: Jelly Tse

Assistant curator Mandy Tang, who has helped look after pandas for the past eight years, said the staff are anticipating the arrival of the new bears. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong leader heading to Sichuan reserve after Beijing gives city 2 pandas

Ying Ying in Ocean Park. The new pandas will be the third pair Beijing has given the city since 1999. Photo: Elson Li

Panda prep: Hong Kong tourism chief leads team to Sichuan as city set to welcome new bears

Tourism minister Kevin Yeung will lead a delegation Sichuan to prepare for the arrival of the giant pandas. Photo: Facebook/Kevin Yeung

Giant panda Ying Ying at Ocean Park. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong delegation to head to Sichuan to ensure safe arrival of 2 giant pandas: John Lee

Giant panda Ying Ying at Ocean Park. Beijing has gifted an additional pair of pandas to Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Lee

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‘I’m particularly happy to be here. I believe the public will share my excitement when the pair of pandas arrive in Hong Kong,’ city leader says


‘I’m particularly happy to be here. I believe the public will share my excitement when the pair of pandas arrive in Hong Kong,’ city leader says.


John Lee

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong society