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A pair of giant pandas from the 15 born in 2005 at the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan, will be chosen as a gift from the Central People's Government to Hong Kong, marking the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Rafael Hui, announced the news when he met the media with Deputy Director of the State Forestry Administration, Mr Zhao Xuemin, and Director Professor of the Research Centre, Mr Zhang Hemin, after a visit to the facility today (March 9).
Mr Hui said the HKSAR government was deeply grateful to the Central People's Government for the gift. He said the rare giant pandas were China's national treasures and Hong Kong was honoured to receive them.
Mr Hui also expressed deep appreciation to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the State Forestry Administration for their full support and assistance. The choice of Wolong was made after very extensive discussions and strict technical assessment by a team of experts. With further work by the experts, a pair of vivacious, healthy and fertile pandas would be selected from the Research Centre, Mr Hui said.
Mr Hui said the visit to Sichuan had enabled the Hong Kong delegation to better understand the conservation of giant pandas, adding that the HKSAR government attached great importance to preparing for the arrival of the pandas. The experts in the Wolong Research Centre had explained to the delegation the technical standards and criteria adopted in selecting the pandas. With their expertise and careful selection, Mr Hui believed that an ideal pair would be chosen and fulfil their mission of building a family in Hong Kong.
He added that the two new giant pandas, together with An An and Jia Jia, which were presented to Hong Kong in 1999, would be cared for at Ocean Park.
"They will become a big drawcard and bring pleasure to visitors - Hong Kong people and tourists alike. Their presence will also reaffirm our efforts in conserving, caring and rearing giant pandas locally," he said. "I believe Ocean Park will continue to contribute to its work on nurturing giant pandas."
With the guidance and support of the State Forestry Administration, various preparation works have been carried out by the HKSAR Government for the arrival of the giant pandas. Ocean Park has begun renovating its existing Giant Panda Habitat to provide a new home for the new pair. Last December, Mr Zhao led a delegation comprising representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and several giant panda centres to Hong Kong to have initial discussions with the HKSAR government. The delegation also visited An An and Jia Jia at Ocean Park.
To achieve its objective of involving all Hong Kong residents in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the HKSAR, Mr Hui said the Government had made a fervent request to involve Hong Kong residents in the naming of the new giant pandas. The Hong Kong delegation had discussed this with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, the State Forestry Administration and the Research Centre during the visit.
According to information from the State Forestry Administration, Wolong National Nature Reserve is the Mainland's first nature reserve for giant pandas. Since its establishment in 1963, the Nature Reserve has made great progress in conserving and breeding wild giant pandas in captivity, as well as artificial breeding of giant pandas. The Centre, which has the largest number of artificially bred giant pandas in the world, is also a base for research, breeding and rearing. Hong Kong's first giant pandas, An An and Jia Jia, also came from Wolong.
Mr Hui visited the Research Centre with the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Carrie Lam, and representatives of Ocean Park. Park representatives exchanged views and shared experiences with experts at the Research Centre on raising giant pandas, and discussed the arrangements for transporting the two giant pandas to Hong Kong.
Ends/Friday, March 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:24
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