Cooperation with Hong Kong and mainland on judicial matters had to be in line with principles of Macao’s legislation, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, said today.

Her comments were made to reporters after discussions with Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, held this morning at the Government Headquarters. Ms Chan said the discussion had made good progress.

The dialogue mainly covers detail on the principle of mutual legal cooperation, and some technical issues of the agreement between the two Special Administrative Regions, she said.

When asked by reporters about arrangements regarding the surrender of fugitives from justice, the Secretary said any such requests would be handled on a case by case basis once a cooperation agreement was in force. She noted such requests might be made retrospectively in relation to court sentences already handed down, still valid but not yet imposed.

The Government would work diligently regarding Macao domestic legislation that was designed to be a framework for regional judicial cooperation, including judicial cooperation with Hong Kong and with the mainland.

A draft proposal on regional judicial cooperation was submitted in December to the Legislative Assembly.

Regarding legal cooperation with the mainland, the Secretary said a consensus had been reached, but more detailed discussions were required on particular issues.

An agreement on judicial cooperation with Hong Kong was being discussed separately from such cooperation with the mainland, Ms Chan said. In both cases, implementation depended on the progress of discussions, she added.