​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and his wife, Mrs Janet Lee, at the invitation of the Sichuan Province, will depart for Sichuan Sunday (July 7) to deliberate on and understand the arrival arrangements of the pair of giant pandas gifted to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) by the Central Government. The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai, and representatives from Ocean Park Hong Kong will join the visit.
      
     Mr Lee and the officials will visit the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda. During his visit to Sichuan, Mr Lee will meet with leaders of Sichuan Province and visit local facilities.
      
     Mr Lee expressed his sincere gratitude to the Central Government, and his thanks to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and the Sichuan Province for their care and support for Hong Kong. "I thank the Sichuan Province for attaching importance to the overall arrangements of gifting giant pandas to the HKSAR. To herald the importance of this, my wife and I will visit Sichuan in person. I will meticulously deliberate on and understand the preparatory work for receiving the two new members of the Hong Kong family. The HKSAR Government will endeavor to make good arrangements for welcoming the giant pandas," Mr Lee said.
      
     Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on July 9. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive. During the absence of Mr Yeung, the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, will be the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Ends/Friday, July 5, 2024
Issued at HKT 20:30

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