Hong Kong and Belgium have signed an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Laurette Onkelinx and Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee represented the two jurisdictions at the signing ceremony.

This is the first agreement Hong Kong has signed with the Belgian Government on legal cooperation. It contains essential features and safeguards for international co-operation against crime.

The major kinds of assistance covered by the Agreement include:

* identifying and locating people and objects;

* serving documents and information;

* obtaining evidence, articles or documents;

* executing requests for search and seizure;

* arranging the attendance of people to give evidence;

* tracing, restraining, forfeiting or confiscating the proceeds or instruments of crime; and

* delivering property.

Closer cooperation key to fighting cross-border crime

Mr Lee described the agreement as "a clear statement by both Governments on the importance of closer cooperation."

He added the Hong Kong Government will continue to work closely with international partners in combatting cross-border crime, and he looked forward to stepping up cooperation with Belgian colleagues.

Ms Onkelinx also stressed the importance of this agreement, as a first legal binding instrument aimed at facilitating cooperation between judicial authorities in the field.