On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, the central government has given a pair of pandas to HK. The couple left their former home in Sichuan Province on Thursday for the southern metropolis.

 

The pandas, the second such pair presented to Hong Kong by the government, bade farewell to the China Panda Protection and Research Center in Wolong around 8 AM on Thursday. They were taken to Chengdu Airport, where they boarded a plane for Hong Kong.

 

Upon arriving at Hong Kong International Airport about 4:30 PM, a handover ceremony will take place during which they will be officially named.

 

The central government presented the first pair of pandas, "An An" and "Jia Jia", as gifts to Hong Kong in 1999. They will be joined by the new arrivals at their home in Ocean Park.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2007)