|
An agreement on mutual legal assistance (MLA) in criminal matters between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Belgium was initialed Tuesday.
Representing the two jurisdictions at the signing ceremony were the Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung, and the visiting Minister of Justice of Belgium Marc Verwilghen, according to the Hong Kong government gazette released on Tuesday.
Leung said that the initialing of the agreement was a milestone in cooperation between the governments of the HKSAR and Belgium.
Under the agreement, the two parties could request assistance in criminal cases in areas such as taking of evidence, search and seizure, production of documentary evidence, transfer of persons to provide assistance, confiscating proceeds of crime and service of documents.
So far, Hong Kong has signed 13 MLA agreements with other countries, including the Britain and the United States.
(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2003)
|
