The Public Security Bureau returned $800,000 worth of stolen diamonds to Hong Kong Police at a ceremony in Maoming today.

On July 17, 2002, two diamond dealers were attacked by another two men in Causeway Bay. The robbers snatched a bag containing diamonds worth about $3 million.

One of the robbers was later arrested by Police and he was subsequently sentenced to imprisonment in February last year.

Case information was passed to Mainland authorities for their assistance in August 2002, and led to the arrest of another five men and a woman, including two Mainlanders, aged 27 to 44, for suspected connection with the robbery.

Maoming police also recovered 39 diamonds, believed to be the stolen goods, in the operation. The haul was valued at about $800,000.

The six apprehended on the Mainland were subsequently brought to Maoming Intermediate People's Court and sentences were meted out in March last year.

Police said the diamond's return showed the close co-operation between the two law enforcement authorities.