The new pair of giant pandas, a gift from the central government in celebration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s 10th anniversary, will arrive in Hong Kong on April 26, an official said on Monday.

HKSAR Principal Assistant Secretary for Home Affairs Janet Wong announced the arrangements at a press conference held here Monday.

Wong said that the pandas will depart from the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in Wolong in Sichuan Province at 7:30 AM on April 26 to Chengdu airport.

Chartered plane transporting the pandas is expected to arrive at the Hong Kong International Airport at about 4:00 PM.

The cubs will be placed inside air-conditioned trunks with comfortable space and enough food and water during transportation. They will be taken care of through out the trip by five experts including one vet and one feeder from the research center, as well as one vet, one feeder and one nurse from the Hong Kong Ocean Park.

A vet from the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will go on board to conduct preliminary checkups for the pairs when they landed to make sure they are fit for further transportation.

The SAR government will hold a handover ceremony at the passenger terminal of the Hong Kong International Airport and announce the results of "Name the Giant Pandas" activity which was held in the city previously.

The pandas will be transported straight from the airport to the Ocean Park where they will be quarantined for about 30 days.

After adapting to their new living environment in the park, the new giant pandas are expected to meet the Hong Kong public on July1.

The central government presented the first pair of pandas, "An An" and "Jia Jia," to Hong Kong in 1999.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2007)