Viet Nam and Hong Kong SAR, China sign the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

The Treaty consists of a Preamble and 23 articles, detailing the jurisdiction, sequence, and procedures for implementing mutual legal assistance activities in criminal matters between the competent authorities of Viet Nam and Hong Kong. Once ratified by the competent authorities, the Treaty will serve as a direct and crucial legal instrument for the judicial bodies of both sides to render mutual assistance to each other. This will enable effective combat against various types of crimes, particularly transnational organized crime, thereby contributing to the better protection of the legitimate rights and interests of citizens from each side.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Mr. Tran Hai Quan, Deputy Prosecutor General of the SPP of Viet Nam, paid a courtesy meeting to Mr. Tang Ping-kwong, Secretary for Security of Hong Kong SAR. During the meeting, Mr. Tran Hai Quan emphasized that Viet Nam consistently attaches great importance to developing friendly neighborly relations and a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, at the same time, Viet Nam always respects and supports the 'One Country, Two Systems' policy, supporting Hong Kong in maintaining stability and prosperous development. Both sides affirmed the significance and vital importance of signing the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Viet Nam and Hong Kong SAR.

On the afternoon of the same day, Mr. Tran Hai Quan, Deputy Prosecutor General of the SPP of Viet Nam, and Mr. Lam Ting Kwok (Paul Lam), Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong SAR, held a bilateral working session at the Department of Justice of Hong Kong SAR. During the session, the two sides briefly briefed each other on several outstanding recent events in Viet Nam and Hong Kong; discussed the cooperative relations between Viet Nam and Hong Kong in general, as well as specifically between the SPP of Viet Nam and the Supreme People's Procuratorate of China and the Department of Justice of Hong Kong SAR; and also shared a general overview of the results of mutual legal assistance activities in criminal matters between Viet Nam and Hong Kong SAR. In particular, both sides agreed to continue deploying activities to strengthen the cooperative relationship; this includes the early completion of domestic procedures to bring the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Viet Nam and Hong Kong SAR into effect; proposing solutions to enhance the efficiency of implementing mutual legal assistance activities in criminal matters, and deploying cooperation in training, sharing experiences, and exchanging mutual understanding for prosecutors from both sides.

In addition to activities with the competent authorities of Hong Kong SAR, the Vietnamese delegation also visited the Consulate General of Viet Nam in Hong Kong and Macau. During the reception, Ms. Le Duc Hanh, Consul General of Viet Nam in Hong Kong and Macau, informed the delegation about the situation of Vietnamese citizens living and working in Hong Kong and Macau. Following that, Mr. Tran Hai Quan exchanged views on the working program of the delegation in Hong Kong and Macau, focusing on the signing of the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Viet Nam and Hong Kong.

Once signed and effective, the Treaty will create a comprehensive legal basis for law enforcement agencies to provide each other with timely assistance in investigations, evidence collection, and the handling of criminal cases—especially cases involving fraud, money laundering, and the recovery of assets derived from crime. The signing of this Treaty is a highly significant event, contributing to the strengthening of relations between Viet Nam and Hong Kong SAR, thereby creating favorable conditions to promote various other fields of cooperation between the two sides, including investment, production, and commercial business activities, while contributing to enriching the substance of the relationship between both sides.