Macao – Hong Kong agreement on transfer of prisoners

(Macao – 20 May 2005) The Macao and Hong Kong governments have signed an agreement on the transfer of prisoners between the two Special Administrative Regions. The Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuoc Va, and Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, signed the agreement in Hong Kong today. Mr Cheong said that the agreement, the result of three years of negotiations between the two governments, would allow sentenced prisoners to spend the remainder of their jail terms in their places or origin, a practice widely adopted by many countries. It would enable repatriated prisoners to adapt to the living environment of their countries of origin. “This way prisoners can get support from their families and this will help in their rehabilitation and later integration into the community.” Mr Lee said this would also allow prisoners to live without language and culture barriers. At present 84 Hong Kong residents are imprisoned in Macao and five Macao residences are in Hong Kong jails.