I refer to the report headlined, 'Help ruled out for 45 held on mainland' (South China Morning Post, October 26).
In the article, the Secretary for Security, Regina Ip, was quoted as saying that for the 45 Hong Kong people who had either been jailed or were in detention awaiting sentencing in the mainland, the SAR Government 'can't do anything about these residents because they have to go through the judicial process in the mainland'.
I wish to point out that Mrs Ip, who made the remark during a press interview after a public function on October 25, was only referring to Hong Kong residents serving jail sentences in the mainland. For Hong Kong people detained by the mainland authorities for investigation, the SAR Government will render every possible assistance where they need help.
We have been following up individual cases.
I would also like to clarify that while we hope that a mechanism of notification, under which the mainland authorities would inform us of any new cases of detention, could be launched early next year, operation details of the mechanism are still under discussion and have yet to be finalised.
MARY LEUNG for Secretary for Security
