Watch This | CE: Pair of pandas aged 5 to 8 selected to HK

The Chief Executive, John Lee, and his wife, Janet Lee, are on a visit to Sichuan. They visited the Dujiangyan panda base, focusing on the overall arrangements for the Central Government's gift of a pair of giant pandas to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and met with leaders of the Sichuan Province.

In a meeting with reporters today (July 9), Lee said that a pair of giant pandas aged between five and eight years old has been selected and are now at the Dujiangyan base to make preparations for their arrival in Hong Kong, and that the authorities will strive for the arrival of giant pandas on October 1.

Lee expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Central Government for once again gifting a pair of giant pandas to the HKSAR, which fully demonstrates its care and support for the HKSAR. He also thanked the Sichuan Provincial and the State Forestry and Grassland Administration for their attention and support, as well as the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council for sending senior officials to Sichuan to jointly promote the early delivery of the giant pandas to Hong Kong.

He said he had earlier expressed his hope to the State Forestry and Grassland Administration that the new pair of pandas to be presented to Hong Kong will be youthful, adult and fit enough to give birth to the next generation of pandas in Hong Kong. He thanked the Forestry and Grassland Authority for considering Hong Kong's wish and selecting a pair of giant pandas aged around five to eight years old. The male giant panda weighs more than 120kg and is described as intelligent and active, while the female giant panda weighs about 100kg and is described as gentle and cuddly.

Lee added that the pair of giant pandas are now at the Dujiangyan base making preparations for their arrival and will be separated for 30 days later. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, the pandas will need to undergo another 30 days of local quarantine in Hong Kong, after which they will need to adapt to their new environment before they can meet the public.

The Ocean Park will sign a co-operation agreement with the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in due course to finalize all the details, and there will be further announcements after the approval of the agreement, according to Lee.