Legal deal: Indonesian Attorney General Hendarman Supandji and Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung sign the legal assistance agreement against serious crime.

A legal assistance agreement has been signed with Indonesia, the 23rd pact Hong Kong has made to boost international co-operation against serious crime.

Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung and Indonesian Attorney General Hendarman Supandji signed the document today.

It will allow for a wide range of reciprocal assistance to be offered in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences and in the proceedings relating to criminal matters. It contains all the essential features and safeguards for international agreements of this type.

The assistance provided for in the agreement includes:

* service of documents;

* taking evidence;

* effecting temporary transfer of people in custody to provide assistance;

* facilitating the voluntary appearance of people to provide assistance;

* providing documents and other records;

* executing requests for search and seizure; and,

* identifying, tracing, restraining, seizing, forfeiting and confiscating proceeds of crime.