Chief Executive John Lee and his wife Janet Lee, at the invitation of Sichuan Province, will depart for Sichuan on July 7 to deliberate on and understand the arrival arrangements of the pair of giant pandas gifted to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the central government.

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung, Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Mickey Lai and Ocean Park Hong Kong representatives will join the visit.
 
Mr Lee and the officials will visit the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation & Research Centre for the Giant Panda. Furthermore, Mr Lee plans to meet leaders of Sichuan Province and visit local facilities.
 
The Chief Executive expressed his sincere gratitude to the central government and also the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the National Forestry & 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 Hong Kong SAR.
 
“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.”
 
Mr Lee added that the Hong Kong SAR Government will endeavour to make good arrangements for welcoming the giant pandas.
  
The Chief Executive will return to Hong Kong on July 9. During his absence, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki will be Acting Chief Executive. During the absence of Mr Yeung, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Raistlin Lau will be Acting Secretary.