The Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau said Wednesday that preparatory work to receive a new pair of giant pandas from the central government was already under way.

The Chinese State Forestry Administration's announcement Wednesday said that the central government would give another pair of giant pandas as a gift to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region during the first half of this year.

"We are extremely grateful to the central government for giving another pair of giant pandas to Hong Kong, in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong SAR.," the spokesman said.

The Hong Kong government has been actively pursuing preparatory work to receive the new pair of giant pandas. This includes accommodation, transportation and quarantine arrangements.

Following the arrangements in 1999 when the central government gave giant pandas An An and Jia Jia to Hong Kong, the city would entrust the care of the new pair of giant pandas to Hong Kong Ocean Park.

Ocean Park has already begun preparations, including the renovation of the existing facilities to provide temporary accommodation for the giant pandas. The new Giant Panda Habitat will be completed in end-2008.

"We are confident that the preparatory work will be completed in time to receive the new pair of giant pandas within the first half of this year," the spokesman said.

Editor: Yan