Chief Secretary Carrie Lam and Spanish Secretary of State for Justice Fernando Roman signed two bilateral agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and Transfer of Sentenced Persons yesterday in Madrid.

The agreements are the 28th and 12th agreements of their respective kind between the Hong Kong Government and other jurisdictions.

The signing highlights Hong Kong's commitment to international legal co-operation.

The Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Agreement includes identifying and locating people; serving of documents; obtaining of evidence; executing requests for search and seizure; facilitating the appearance of people to provide assistance; and, effecting the temporary transfer of people in custody to provide assistance.

The agreement also covers tracing, restraining, forfeiting and confiscating the proceeds and instrumentalities of criminal activities; delivery of property, including the restitution of property and lending of exhibits; exchange of information relating to criminal acts and institution of criminal proceedings; and, other appropriate assistance.

The Hong Kong Government said the transfer of sentenced people to their place of origin, by returning them to an environment free of language and cultural barriers, and where friends and relatives can visit regularly, will be conducive to their rehabilitation.