Strengthened ties: Singapore Consul General Toh Hock Ghim and Secretary for Security Regina Ip exchange documents after signing the agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

Hong Kong and Singapore have signed an agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters to boost international co-operation against crime.

The document, the 15th of its kind that Hong Kong has signed, contains all essential features and safeguards for international agreements of this type.

Major kinds of assistance covered are:

* Obtaining information and documents;

* Arranging the attendance of people to give evidence;

* Restraining and confiscating or forfeiting property;

* Executing requests for search and seizure;

* Identifying and locating people; and,

* Serving documents.

Correctional Services to work closely with Singapore Prisons

The Correctional Services Department and the Singapore Prisons Department have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development and implementation of a programme to improve correctional practices appropriate to their missions.

Commissioner of Correctional Services Pang Sung-yuen said both parties share the common objective of continuously improving services with reference to international benchmarks.

He was confident that the move will enhance mutual co-ordination and give both sides inspiring insights.

Singapore Prisons Department Director Chua Chin Kiat said the mutually beneficial arrangement will enable Hong Kong and Singapore to leverage each other's key learnings and new initiatives.

It also marks the beginning for future collaboration in the area of rehabilitation, he added.

Under the memorandum, the collaboration between the two parties covers:

* joint projects to realise common objectives and improve correctional practices;

* best-practice sharing to allow the two organisations to learn from each other and to assist the progress of each other's initiatives;

* joint contributions to international conferences and organisations aimed at advancing professional corrections;

* development and conduct of joint research and study projects;

* exchange of staff and information, including visits to institutions, examinations and evaluation of programmes; and

* organisation of bilateral seminars on topics of mutual interest.

Hong Kong and Singapore will each nominate a senior official to oversee the joint programme. Subsequently, an annual plan will be developed, reviewed and mutually agreed upon by both sides.