Lee flies to Sichuan for panda talks

Ayra Wang

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has embarked on a three-day trip to Sichuan to discuss the comprehensive logistics for transporting a pair of giant pandas that the central government has gifted Hong Kong.

His wife Janet Lee Lam Lai-sim, senior officials - including Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung and Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Mickey Lai Kin-ming - and Ocean Park representatives joined the delegation.

They set off at 5.30pm yesterday and arrived at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport at around 8pm.

Before departing, Lee said the delegation will proactively discuss the arrangements with officials from Sichuan and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

"We will strive to promote the early arrival of giant pandas to Hong Kong," Lee said, thanking the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office for sending officials to accompany them.

The delegation will visit the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, meet with Sichuan top officials and visit local facilities before returning tomorrow.

Hong Kong's sole delegate to the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Starry Lee Wai-king, said she expects the pandas to arrive in Hong Kong by National Day on October 1.

"We expect pandas to join Hong Kong's big family by the 75th anniversary of the country's founding and Ocean Park has the capacity to receive more than one pair of pandas," she said.

"We can try to bring several pandas and let them adapt to the environment. But of course, we may need to select one pair first."

Additionally, she said the increase in duty-free quota to 12,000 yuan (HK$12,898) per mainland tourist visiting Hong Kong is a "hard-won" victory and should not be compared with Hainan's quota of 100,000 yuan.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com