Hong Kong and Macau lawyers to practise in nine Guangdong cities after passing exam

Hong Kong and Macau lawyers will be able to practise in nine Guangdong cities from next week after passing an examination and obtaining the required qualifications under legal amendments passed by mainland China’s top legislative body.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed amendments on Friday to China’s Lawyers Law, which will take effect on September 1.

To qualify, Hong Kong and Macau lawyers must pass the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) Legal Professional Examination, organised by the State Council’s judicial administration department, and obtain a mainland practice qualification.

They will then be allowed to handle specified legal matters in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing in Guangdong province.

The State Council’s judicial administration department will also set the examination’s enrolment requirements, the application procedures for practising as lawyers and the scope of permitted practice.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said on Saturday that the amendments provided the legal basis for regularising the GBA lawyers’ pilot scheme, launched in August 2020. The scheme allows Hong Kong and Macau lawyers holding a GBA licence to provide specified legal services in nine mainland cities.