Press Release

Hong Kong and Guangdong sign correctional services co-operation agreement

      The Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Sin Yat-kin, and the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Justice of Guangdong Province/Director of the Guangdong Provincial Prisons Administration Bureau, Mr Liu Fang, today (January 16) signed the Hong Kong and Guangdong Prison (Correctional Services) Cooperation Arrangement in Hong Kong.

      Under the agreement, both sides have agreed to form liaison offices to enhance co-operation and exchanges between prisons and correctional services in Hong Kong and Guangdong.

      The Guangdong Provincial Prisons Administration Bureau and Hong Kong’s Correctional Services Department reached the agreement following various meetings to implement measures on law and order management outlined in the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation, which was signed in 2010.

      Under the arrangement, each side will set up its own liaison office to co-ordinate and promote prison and correctional services co-operation and exchanges. The Guangdong office will be established under the Guangdong Provincial Prisons Administration Bureau, while Hong Kong's office will be set up under the department's Public Relations and External Affairs Section.

      Under the principle of respecting each other's laws and regulations, each side will notify the other regarding operational needs for persons in custody. This information must comply with confidentiality requirements on the Guangdong side and with personal data protection for persons in custody in Hong Kong.

      For the benefit of residents of both sides who wish to visit persons in custody, both sides will provide additional information regarding visit arrangements on their websites, such as transportation information, visit times and items allowed to be brought in.

      Guangdong and Hong Kong will conduct annual regular visits, develop thematic exchanges and increase communication and collaboration with the aim of raising the standard of prison and correctional services management in both places.

      The co-operation arrangement comes into effect today, and will remain valid until December 31, 2020.

Ends/Thursday, January 16, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:35

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The Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Sin Yat-kin (right), and the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Justice of Guangdong Province / Director of the Guangdong Provincial Prisons Administration Bureau, Mr Liu Fang, sign the Hong Kong and Guangdong Prison (Correctional Services) Cooperation Arrangement at the Correctional Services Department Officers' Club in Stanley today (January 16).