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Immigration Co-operation Protocol signed with France

9 January 2004

The Director of Immigration, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, today (January 9) signed an Immigration Co-operation Protocol with the Director of the Border Authorities of the General Direction of the National Police of the Ministry of Interior of the French Republic, Mr Pierre Debue.

The Protocol was signed in the presence of the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose Lee and the Minister of Interior of France, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy.

"The Protocol, which enters into force with immediate effect, enables the two services to raise the level of co-operation through closer bilateral contacts, experience sharing and information exchange," a spokesman for the Immigration Department said.

"We warmly welcome the conclusion of the Protocol with France, which reflects the determination of the two services to work more closely and co-operatively to tackle immigration problems of common concern, and opens the door for greater Hong Kong-France co-operation on immigration fronts," the spokesman added.

The Immigration Department has signed similar protocols with Portugal, Belgium and Finland.