This was the reassurance given by Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui in response to questions raised in a Legislative Council Security Panel meeting on January 18. The questions were regarding a report that 148 Public Security officers in 57 different groups had come to Hong Kong to carry out investigations since May last year.

Mr Tsang said co-operation was undertaken on the basis that both sides acted in strict accordance with the provision of the relevant laws, and respected each other's jurisdiction. Public Security officers could not exercise jurisdiction in Hong Kong and vice versa.

If assistance was needed, he said, prior notification had to be made through the Force Liaison Bureau or through Public Security authorities on the Mainland for co-ordination and arrangements. Co-operative areas included the gathering of information on a case through legal means, and interview of willing witnesses and suspects. Last year, the Force received 172 Public Security investigative delegations, while 107 Force delegations visited the Mainland. Assistance was sought on cases that included commercial, narcotics, violent and triad-related crime.

Mr Tsang said the established mode of co-operation between the two sides had proven effective, and was the same kind of co-operation the Force had with other jurisdictions.

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