HK, Thailand Sign Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China and Thailand Tuesday signed an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons as part of the efforts to facilitate further cooperation in the enforcement of penal sentences.

Being the fifth of its kind concluded by the HKSAR, the agreement will enable sentenced persons of Hong Kong and Thailand to be transferred back to their home countries to serve their custodial sentences.

"This will facilitate the rehabilitation of sentenced persons, as they would be able to serve their sentences in an environment free of language and cultural barriers," said Secretary for Security Regina Ip, who signed the agreement on behalf of the HKSAR government.

The agreement represents another important step forward in building cooperation between Hong Kong and Thailand in the area of criminal justice and international law enforcement.

At present, there are some 80 Hong Kong residents serving sentences in Thailand, making up the biggest group of Hong Kong residents serving sentences in a foreign country. Meanwhile over 30 Thai nationals are serving their jail term in Hong Kong.

Since Hong Kong's return to China, the HKSAR government has already signed similar agreements with Britain, the United States, Sri Lanka and Italy.



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