BEIJING -- Authorities from the mainland and Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR) agreed to consultations on enhancing a two-way reporting mechanism launched in 2000.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Public Security on the mainland on Monday, it will invite delegates from Hong Kong to discuss relevant issues.

Since January 2000, when the two-way reporting mechanism signed by the ministry and the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR government took effect, the two sides have increased communication in handling suspected crimes by residents from the other side.

According to a statement from the ministry, a total of 6,172 Hong Kong residents placed under "coercive measures" on the mainland had been reported to Hong Kong police by the end of 2015.

"Coercive measures" may include summons by force, bail, residential surveillance, detention and arrest, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).

In the same period, 6,934 mainland residents who were put under "coercive measures" in Hong Kong had been reported to mainland police.

Mainland police have upheld the "one country, two systems" policy and refrained from interfering with law enforcement activities by Hong Kong authorities, according to the statement.

The mechanism plays a key role in safeguarding the legitimate rights of residents on both sides, the statement said, adding it needs to be improved as it has been in place for more than a decade.