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The Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, and the Consul General of the Republic of India in Hong Kong, Mr Prashant Agrawal, today (January 20) represented the governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Republic of India respectively in signing the Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons (TSP).
"The transfer of sentenced persons to their place of origin, by returning them to an environment free of language and cultural barriers and where their friends and relatives can visit regularly, is conducive to their rehabilitation. It is the HKSAR Government's policy to facilitate such transfers between the HKSAR and other places," Mr Lai said at the signing ceremony held at the Central Government Offices.
Under the Basic Law, the HKSAR Government may, with the authorisation of the Central People's Government, make appropriate arrangements with foreign states for reciprocal juridical assistance, which include, among others, the transfer of sentenced persons.
This is the 15th Agreement on TSP the HKSAR has signed with other jurisdictions. The 14 jurisdictions that already have agreements on TSP with the HKSAR are Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Republic of Korea, the Macau Special Administrative Region, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
"The signing of the Agreement signifies another step forward in the legal co-operation between the Republic of India and the HKSAR," Mr Lai said.
Ends/Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:49
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