Hong Kong and Japan signed Friday an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the 24th pact that the city has signed with other jurisdictions.

The pact was signed by Ambrose Lee, secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, and Shigekazu Sato, Japanese consul-general to Hong Kong.

The pact covers obtaining testimony, statements or items; examining, locating or identifying people, items or places; providing items in the possession of the requested party and presenting an invitation to a person whose appearance in the requesting party is sought.

It also covers transfer of a person in custody for giving testimony or assisting in investigations, prosecutions or other proceedings; serving judicial documents; assisting in proceedings related to confiscation and immobilization of proceeds or instrumentalities of criminal offenses, and other assistance permitted under the laws of the requested party.

The agreement comes into force 30 days after the date on which the parties exchange notes informing each other that they have completed their respective internal legal procedures necessary for the agreement's entry into force.