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The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Donald Tsang, and the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr Guy Verhofstadt, today (November 8, Brussels time) witnessed the signing of an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons (TSP) between the HKSAR and Belgium at a ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Residence.
Representing the two jurisdictions at the ceremony were the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities, Mr Duncan Pescod and the Belgian Director of the Public Federal Justice Service, Mr Alain Bourlet.
This is the 10th TSP Agreement the HKSAR has signed with other jurisdictions.
"The transfer of sentenced persons to their place of origin is conducive to their rehabilitation since they can return to an environment free of language and cultural barriers and where their friends and relatives can visit them regularly," a spokesman for the HKSAR Government said.
"It is our policy to facilitate such transfers between the HKSAR and other places," he added.
The other nine jurisdictions that already have such agreements with the HKSAR are: the United States, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Italy, the Philippines, Portugal, Australia and the Macao Special Administrative Region.
"The signing of this agreement symbolises the co-operation between Belgium and the HKSAR in the matter of criminal justice and international law enforcement," the spokesman said.
Hong Kong and Belgium have already signed an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
The TSP Agreement will come into force 30 days after both sides have notified each other in writing that their internal procedures required for entry into force of the agreement have been completed. Then, Hong Kong residents imprisoned in Belgium may apply to serve the remaining of their sentences in Hong Kong, and vice versa.
Ends/Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 22:50
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