Hong Kong people jailed in China will be allowed to serve their sentences in the SAR under arrangements being fleshed out with the mainland, according to the Secretary for Security.
Mainland prisoners in Hong Kong jails will also receive the same treatment after negotiations have been completed, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said. Presently, the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Ordinance only governs the transfer of prisoners between Hong Kong and places other than China.
About 500 Hong Kong people are serving sentences on the mainland, while 2,681 mainlanders are locked up in SAR jails, according to figures tabled to Legco yesterday.
Mrs Ip, in a written reply to unionist legislator Leung Yiu-chung, said two rounds of talks had been held with the mainland authorities over the past year to hammer out the details.
