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The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, and Consul-General of Australia, Mr Murray Cobban, on behalf of the Government of Australia, today (March 19) signed the Protocol Amending the Agreement for the Surrender of Accused and Convicted Persons between Hong Kong and Australia.
The existing Agreement came into force in June, 1997. The Protocol enhances the operation of the agreement by imposing a requirement on the Requested Party to give reasons for any refusal to a request for surrender, and reflecting the legal position in Australia by providing that Australia can process surrender requests from Hong Kong without the need for the requests to be accompanied by evidence. Requests from Australia to Hong Kong will continue to be supported by prima facie evidence as required under the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance.
The existing Fugitive Offenders (Australia) Order made under the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance will need to be amended to implement the Protocol. The Protocol shall enter into force 30 days after both sides have notified each other in writing that their respective requirements for the entry into force of the Protocol have been complied with.
Ends/Monday, March 19, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:35
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