Hong Kong and Sichuan province on Friday finalized the delivery arrangements for the new pair of giant pandas gifted to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the central government, and agreed to extend mutual cooperation in the care, breeding research, and educational promotion of giant pandas.

Agreement was reached during Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung’s two-day visit to Sichuan.

Accompanied by Yeung, representatives of China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Sichuan and Ocean Park in Hong Kong, signed a formal agreement to further the cooperation.

Previously, the central government gifted Hong Kong two pairs of giant pandas, An An and Jia Jia, as well as Ying Ying and Le Le, to commemorate Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and the SAR’s 10th anniversary.

An An and Jia Jia were euthanized in 2022 and 2016, respectively, due to deteriorating health conditions. After years of conservation efforts by the staff, Ying Ying and Le Le welcomed a pair of panda cubs on Thursday.

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Yeung said many Hong Kong residents had grown up alongside the much-loved animals. He said he believed that the new pair of giant pandas can be close “family members” of Hong Kong residents and bring joy to the public.

On July 1, the Hong Kong government announced that the central government had agreed to gift another pair of giant pandas to the HKSAR, to mark its 27th anniversary.

In early July, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu visited Sichuan for three days to discuss arrangements. Lee said the central government had selected a male panda of 120 kilograms and a female panda of 100 kilograms for Hong Kong, both aged under eight.

The pandas are expected to arrive in Hong Kong on Sept 26 and should be ready to meet the public in December.

They are required to be quarantined for 30 days before being transported to the SAR, and will then undergo another month in quarantine after their arrival to ensure their health and safety.

Since presenting the first giant pandas to Hong Kong in 1999, the central government has maintained close collaboration with the SAR in giant panda care, breeding research, and scientific education. This partnership encompasses the development of a captive breeding program for giant pandas, the exchange of information on panda health, and the facilitation of on-site expert exchanges.

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During his two-day visit to Sichuan, Yeung also visited a cultural and creative industry zone in Chengdu to learn about its experience of developing into an international pluralistic cultural landmark that integrates various cultural forms such as music, fine arts, drama, and photography.