Giant panda “Shuxiang” would be sent back to the mainland for a national breeding program in November, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, said today.

But the departure date would be confirmed with the mainland departments, Ms Chan said to reporters after today’s meeting on health, animal and plant quarantine and food safety with representatives from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai.

The Government would organise a farewell ceremony for the male panda which has been living in Macao since 2010.

Before leaving for the mainland, “Shuxiang” would be kept apart for 30-day quarantine, the Secretary added.

On co-operation of legal assistance, Ms Chan said it had reached consensus with Hong Kong that the co-operation was based on the principle of “One country, two systems”, adding the Government would submit the draft proposal to the Legislative Assembly within this year.

When asked, she said the Government would take into consideration of the economic situation for adjusting salary of civil servant, and expected the result would be announced next month.