Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Donald Tsang met here on Wednesday with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons (TSP) between the HKSAR and Belgium at a ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Residence.

Representing the two jurisdictions at the ceremony were the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities Duncan Pescod and Belgian Director of the Public Federal Justice Service Alain Bourlet.

This is the 10th TSP Agreement the HKSAR has signed with other jurisdictions.

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

The TSP Agreement will come into force 30 days after both sides have notified each other in writing that their internal procedures required for entry into force of the agreement have been completed. Then, Hong Kong residents imprisoned in Belgium may apply to serve the remaining of their sentences in Hong Kong, and vice versa.

After the meeting, Donald Tsang visited the European Parliament and met with European Parliament President Josep Borrell Fontelles.

Donald Tsang will leave for France and conclude his visit to Belgium and the European Union headquarters on Thursday.

Source: Xinhua