Three young Australians sentenced by a Hong Kong court to between nine and 13 years in prison for attempted drug smuggling could serve their sentences at home.
Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock said talks were underway with a number of countries on prisoner exchange agreements.
"Our focus is on where Australians are held and we are endeavouring to progress those matters as quickly as possible," Mr Ruddock said.
"We are anxious to do so and Hong Kong is another of those areas in which we are having discussions about implementing such arrangements."
The three have been convicted of attempting to smuggle heroin stuffed in condoms from Hong Kong to Sydney.
Sixteen-year-old Chris Ha Vo was on Monday sentenced to nine years in prison, while Rachel Ann Diaz, 18, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months.
The third defendant, Hutchison Tran, 22, was given 13 years, four months.
Foreign Affairs parliamentary secretary Teresa Gambaro said while prisoner exchange negotiations were in progress, the three Australians still have legal options to fight their sentences.
"Under Hong Kong law, defendants have 28 days to appeal their sentence, so there is an appeal process that they can go through," Mrs Gambaro told ABC radio.
"At this stage I'm not sure if they're going to take that appeal process, that's entirely up to them and their legal team."
The three have been in custody since they were arrested last year in a budget hotel room, preparing to smuggle the drugs.
"It is a very sad, tragic case," Mrs Gambaro said.
"These young people are in the prime of their life, and they will be spending it in jail."
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