bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Wynna Wong

Denise Tsang

A pair of giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong by Beijing are expected to arrive in the city in late September ahead of National Day, although the public will not get to see them during the holiday because of quarantine arrangements.
Two separate sources told the Post on Tuesday that the pandas were tentatively scheduled to arrive around September 26, pending finalisation, and would travel via Cathay Pacific Airways’ cargo services.
One source said the pandas, and their veterinary team, would be subject to 30 days of quarantine ahead of their departure from Sichuan province.
They will go through another round of about 30 days’ quarantine once they arrive in Hong Kong, and will also be allowed to rest and adapt to their new home at Ocean Park in Southern district.
“The goal is to bring the pandas into Hong Kong by the end of September,” one of the sources said.
Multiple sources confirmed it would be “impossible” for the pandas to meet the public by National Day on October 1.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, along with a delegation that included tourism chief Kevin Yeung Yun-hung and Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee, visited Sichuan in July to coordinate arrangements for the pandas’ arrival.
Lee confirmed during his trip that a pair of young adult pandas aged between five and eight years had been arranged for Hong Kong.

He also said the government hoped the bears, a gift from Beijing to mark the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, could arrive by National Day on October 1.
Lee had described the two bears as “fit for reproduction” with the hope that they could eventually produce a city-born cub – a goal that has eluded Hong Kong for a quarter-century.
Giant pandas reach adulthood at five years and sexual maturity at around 7½, but are famously sex-shy.
Ying Ying and Le Le, the second pair of pandas given to Hong Kong in 2007, failed to conceive any babies despite several rounds of natural mating since 2011 and an artificial insemination procedure in 2023.
The first pair, male An An and female Jia Jia who arrived in 1999, died without reproducing.


Landlords of Hong Kong’s subdivided flats must renew registration every 5 years

Ban on single-use plastics not intended to punish Hong Kong businesses, John Lee says

Wine lovers at Hong Kong food and drink festival to enjoy wider selection from mainland China

As Hong Kong strategises for success, it should celebrate its uniqueness

Hong Kong society

Pandas set to arrive in Hong Kong in late September via Cathay Pacific cargo services

Ying Ying and Le Le, pictured in 2020, were given to Hong Kong in 2007. Photo: Ocean Park

Visitors get a close view of Le Le at Ocean Park on Tuesday.  Photo: May Tse

Panda movement study: Hong Kong’s Ocean Park team discovers An An’s energy-saving habits

Giant male panda An An at Ocean Park in 2004. A two-year research was conducted before the bear died in 2022. Photo: Robert Ng

Eszter Matrai (third from left), Ocean Park’s senior research fellow, poses for pictures with the research team and Le Le in the background. Photo: Dickson Lee

Wreaths are laid to remember An An after he died in 2022. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong can use ‘panda economy’ to drum up business amid arrival of 2 new bears: minister

Ying Ying, one of the giant pandas already living at Ocean Park. Photo: Elson Li

Chief Executive John Lee (left) earlier visited Sichuan province to meet the two giant pandas being gifted to Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

‘Agile’ and ‘adorable’ giant pandas set for Hong Kong will be young, fit to reproduce: John Lee

City leader John Lee led a delegation to Sichuan province on Sunday. Photo: Handout

City leader John Lee has discussed panda preparations during his trip to Sichuan. Photo: Facebook/John Lee

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

News

Hong Kong

Society

Two separate sources say the pandas are tentatively scheduled to arrive around September 26 but will have to undergo quarantine after arriving


Two separate sources say the pandas are tentatively scheduled to arrive around September 26 but will have to undergo quarantine after arriving.
