The pair of giant pandas is on their way to Macao.
The gift of two giant pandas from the Central Government arrived in Macao today on a charter flight from Chengdu in Sichuan Province. A cheering group including Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, representatives of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao, officials from related departments in the mainland, representatives of the Macao Government and some 100 local students, were at the ramp waiting at Macao International Airport to await the arrival of Macao’s two newest residents. The pair, “Kai Kai” and “Xin Xin”, had gone through a smooth transfer process and will be kept apart for quarantine at a local farm before moving in to their new home in the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion. On arrival, Ms Chan and the Deputy Director of State Forestry Administration, Mr Chen Fengxue, signed a handover certificate in a ceremony to mark the official residence of the pandas. At the ceremony, Ms Chan said the giant panda is a precious animal, a national emblem which is popular around the world, a symbol of peace and harmony. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the Macao Government and the people to the Central Government for giving Macao such a precious gift and the thanked the Sichuan government for its support. Mr Chen Fengxue said in the ceremony that the continual naming the pair as “Kai Kai” and “Xin Xin” was in hope for bringing happiness to Macao, and expressed his best wishes for them and a better future of Macao. A veterinarian from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding said the pandas were stable during the transfer, and said he believed they would become accustomed to the new environment very soon. Members of the Pavilion, who have visited the Base to familiarise themselves with the pandas, said they were confident in taking care of “Kai Kai” and “Xin Xin”. The gift of the giant 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.
