Hong Kong and Macau lawyers can now practice across mainland China's nine Guangdong cities

Hong Kong and Macau lawyers who pass a special examination and obtain mainland credentials will be permitted to handle civil and commercial legal matters across nine Guangdong cities starting September 1, after China's top legislative body amended the country's Lawyers Law.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress approved the amendments on Friday, establishing a formal legal framework for lawyers who clear the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination. The test is administered by the State Council's judicial administration department, which will also determine enrolment requirements, application procedures and the boundaries of permitted practice.

Nine-city access zone

Qualified lawyers will be authorized to work in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing. The scope of work covers specified civil and commercial legal services, though the precise parameters remain under the purview of the State Council's judicial administration department.

From pilot to permanent scheme

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said Saturday the amendments provide the legal foundation for regularizing the Greater Bay Area lawyers' pilot scheme, which was launched in August 2020. Under that pilot arrangement, Hong Kong and Macau lawyers holding a GBA licence have been able to offer specified legal services in the nine mainland cities.

The legislative change transforms what had been an experimental programme into a permanent feature of cross-border legal practice in the region, offering Hong Kong legal professionals a formal pathway to expand their client base and service offerings beyond the city's borders.

Source: South China Morning Post