China's Macao and Hong Kong special administrative regions are to sign an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons on Friday.

The Macao Gazette said on Tuesday that Cheong Kuoc Va, Macao's secretary for security, will ink the deal with his Hong Kong counterpart on Friday.

The agreement will enable the transfer of Macao residents imprisoned in Hong Kong to serve the remaining terms in Macao, and vice versa.

Eight Macao residents are presently serving jail terms in Hong Kong and around 90 Hong Kong convicts are detained in Macao, said the gazette.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2005)