Friendly exchange: Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee shakes hands with  European Community Commissioner for Justice & Home Affairs Antonio Vitorino in Brussels.

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee has met with European Community Commissioner for Justice & Home Affairs Antonio Vitorino on the implementation of the Re-admission Agreement between Hong Kong and the EC.

The document, signed in November 2002 and effective since March, is the first re-admission agreement of its kind entered into by the European Union.

At the first meeting of the Joint EC-HK Re-admission Committee today, Mr Lee and his EU counterparts discussed the agreement, which focuses on the re-admission of people residing without authorisation.

"The agreement demonstrates the determination of both sides to tackle illegal immigration, and opens the door to greater co-operation between Hong Kong and the EU in immigration matters," he said.

With the EU as Hong Kong's key partner, the city attaches great importance to enhancing relations and exchanges at all levels between the two sides, Mr Lee said.

Agreement's implementation 'a milestone'

Mr Vitorino added that the agreement's implementation is a milestone which will lead to closer bilateral co-operation and give a significant push to the union's efforts to develop a common policy on illegal immigration.

They also discussed issues on international co-operation against terrorism and other cross-border crimes, and explored opportunities for further exchanges in other areas of common interest.