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"The MLA Agreement will send a powerful message that we are committed to fighting international crime," he said.

The TSP Agreement contains essential safeguards which are normally found in agreements governing the transfer of sentenced persons. These include:

both the receiving and sending jurisdictions as well as the sentenced person must consent to the transfer;

the conduct in respect of which the sentenced person is imprisoned must be criminal in both jurisdictions; and

any adjustment to the sentence by the sending jurisdiction (for example, by way of pardon, reduction of sentence) must be executed by the receiving jurisdiction.

Mr Lai said that the TSP Agreement would facilitate the rehabilitation of Hong Kong people convicted in the USA by permitting them to serve their sentences in HK.

He added that both agreements had been endorsed by the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, and would remain in force beyond the handover.

"They will come into force after the enactment in Hong Kong of the relevant Bills, which will provide the necessary legislative backing, and ratification by the President of the US with the advice and consent of the Senate," he said.

The Transfer of Sentenced Persons Bill was introduced into the Legislative Council on April 9 while the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill is expected to be introduced into the Legislative Council on April 23 this year.

End

Govt opposes the Member's Bill on deafness compensation

The Government does not support the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) (Amendment) Bill 1997 -- a Member's Bill sponsored by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung which will be introduced into the Legislative Council tomorrow (Wednesday),

The Bill seeks to revise the compensation provisions under the Occupational Deafness Compensation Scheme by: