The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Singapore signed an agreement for the surrender of fugitive offenders today (Tuesday).

The agreement was signed by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai Hing-ling, on behalf of the HKSAR Government and the Consul General of the Republic of Singapore to the HKSAR, Mr Chan Heng Wing, on behalf of the Singapore Government.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Lai said: "The signing of the agreement today signifies our (HKSAR and Singapore) commitment to work closely together so that criminals cannot escape justice by fleeing to the HKSAR from Singapore, or vice versa."

The Agreement on the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders is the 10th bilateral agreement on the surrender of fugitive offenders concluded by Hong Kong. It sets out the conditions for the surrender of fugitive offenders between the two places, and contains the usual safeguards found in similar international agreements.

Mr Lai said the surrender of fugitive offenders agreement would enhance the international community's confidence in HKSAR's criminal justice system, the continuity of the rule of law and the future of the HKSAR as a whole.

The Fugitive Offenders Ordinance which provides the necessary legislative backing for the implementation of the agreement is already in place. The agreement will enter into force 30 days after both sides notified each other in writing that their respective requirements for the entry into force of the agreements have been complied with.