HK, Malaysia sign agreement

HK, Malaysia sign agreement

HONG KONG (AFP): Hong Kong and Malaysia signed an extradition treaty yesterday which will remain in force after the reversion of the territory to China in 1997.

It was the fourth such agreement to be signed by Hong Kong with foreign countries. Previously, it was Britain which approved extradition treaties for Hong Kong, but those agreements "cannot continue in their present form beyond 1997," said Hong Kong Security Secretary Alistair Asprey.

Asprey and Malaysian Commissioner Mahamad Khalis signed the agreement, which sets out the conditions for the surrender of fugitive offenders.

China and Britain have agreed to allow Hong Kong to negotiate such agreements, and the territory has already signed pacts with the Netherlands, Canada and Australia.