CHENGDU -- A pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China departed on a flight from Southwest China's Sichuan province to the HKSAR on Thursday morning.

The pair, An An and Ke Ke, departed from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at about 9 am and are expected to arrive in Hong Kong at around 11:30 am, according to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.

They are the third pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government to Hong Kong to mark its 27th anniversary of returning to the motherland. They are to join four others currently living in Hong Kong.

The new pair will settle at Ocean Park Hong Kong, according to a deal signed by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda and Ocean Park Hong Kong.

Upon arrival, the two will be quarantined for 30 days, and then they will spend some time getting used to the new environment before being expected to meet the public in December.