Commissioner Tsang Yam-pui and Assistant to the Minister of Public Security Zhu Entao said on November 30 after the conclusion of the eighth bilateral meeting between the Force and a Ministry of Public Security delegation.

Mr Tsang said that during the meeting in the past few days, both sides exchanged information on the law and order situations of the two places and were satisfied with the progress in fighting cross-boundary crime.

On future co-operation, Mr Tsang said both sides had agreed to enhance the communication between Hong Kong and the nearby Mainland provinces.

"We will also step up technical exchanges regarding high-tech crime investigation," he said.

Turning to training, Mr Tsang said the Force would offer more training courses for Mainland instructors. Meanwhile, it was hoped that more courses would be organised by the Public Security University in Beijing for Hong Kong officers, he added.

"Officers attending the senior, intermediate and junior command courses had visited various formations of the Guangdong Public Security Bureau. These visits will be extended to courses for Junior Police Officers," Mr Tsang said.

"As China's entry to the World Trade Organisation may bring an increase in commercial fraud and electronic trade and commercial disputes, we will keep an eye on the development," he said.

Mr Zhu said that the cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong Police was extensive, in-depth and effective.

On the development of the western region in the Mainland, Mr Zhu hoped that Mainland public security authorities, especially those in the western region, would strengthen their contacts and cooperation with the Hong Kong Police.