The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, said today there would be a ceremony at the airport at 4.30 pm on Thursday (30 April) to welcome the new pair of pandas.

On arrival, “Kai Kai” and “Xin Xin” would be kept apart for 30 days quarantine at a local farm before moving in to their new home, the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion.

The Pavilion would also impose restricted visits until the pair is accustomed to the new environment, Ms Chan said at a press conference.

She said the people were delighted with the two new friends and the Government were gearing up for their arrival. She also thanked the Central Government for the gift and the Sichuan government for its support.

The Deputy Director of the State Forestry Administration and Ms Chan will endorse a certificate on-the-spot to mark the official residence of the pandas.

Ms Chan, who led the co-ordinating group for the pandas’ arrival, said the Government had done a series of actions leading to the arrival, including visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, arranging a visit by an expert team to the Pavilion for facilities inspection, a visit to the Base by members of the Pavilion to familiarise themselves with the pandas and offer them bamboo from the southern area; and disinfecting the Pavilion and transport vehicles.

The gift of the pandas for Macao was announced by President Xi Jinping when he was here last December for the inauguration of the new government team. They replace an earlier pair which female partner died last year: the male panda was returned to Sichuan for breeding.