Prison pact: Australian Consul-General Murray Cobban and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee sign the document.

A bilateral agreement on the transfer of prisoners has been signed with Australia, Hong Kong's ninth such pact.

The agreement will allow Hong Kong residents imprisoned in Australia to apply to serve the remainder of their sentences in Hong Kong, and vice versa.

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee and Australian Consul-General Murray Cobban signed the document today.

Mr Lee said transferring prisoners to their place of origin is conducive to their rehabilitation.