Purpose of the report

This Report contains advice to Parliament on the review by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties on the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China concerning Transfer of Sentenced Persons, done at Hong Kong on 25 November 2005. The treaty action was tabled in Parliament on 29 November 2005.¹

Briefing documents

The advice in this Report refers to the National Interest Analysis (NIA) prepared for the proposed treaty action. This document is prepared by the Government agency (or agencies) responsible for the administration of Australia’s responsibilities under this treaty. Copies of the NIA may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at:

www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/29november2005/tor.htm

Copies of the treaty action and NIA may also be obtained from the Australian Treaties Library maintained on the internet by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Australian Treaties Library is accessible through the Committee’s website or directly at:

www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/

Conduct of the Committee’s review

The review contained in this report was advertised in the national press and on the Committee’s website.² Letters were also sent inviting comment from all State Premiers, Chief Ministers, Presiding Members of Parliament and from individuals who have expressed an interest in being kept informed of proposed treaty actions such as this. A list of submissions and their authors is at Appendix A.

The Committee also received evidence at a public hearing held on 5 December 2005. A list of witnesses who appeared before the Committee at this public hearing is at Appendix B. A transcript of evidence from the public hearing may be obtained from the Committee Secretariat or accessed through the Committee’s website at:

www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/29november2005/hearings.htm

The Committee’s review of the proposed treaty action was advertised in TheAustralian on 30 November 2005 . Members of the public were advised on how to obtain relevant information and invited to submit their views to the Committee, both in the advertisement and via the Committee’s website. Back