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The Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, and the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, Mr Cho Yong-chun, today (May 28) represented the Governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Republic of Korea 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 in 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 14th Agreement on TSP the HKSAR has signed with other jurisdictions. The other 13 jurisdictions that already have Agreements on TSP with the HKSAR are Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, 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 Korea and the HKSAR," Mr Lai said.
The HKSAR and the Republic of Korea have already signed Agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and Surrender of Fugitive Offenders in 1998 and 2006 respectively.
Ends/Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:11
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