The mainland has made permanent a pilot scheme that permits Hong Kong legal professionals to practise in cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, a development welcomed by Hong Kong’s legal sector as a boost to cross-border legal services and regional integration.
The decision follows amendments to the Lawyers Law passed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress last Friday, which will come into effect on Tuesday. The pilot initiative was originally launched in 2020 and extended in 2023. It allows qualified lawyers from Hong Kong and Macau to provide legal services on designated civil and commercial matters governed by mainland law in nine Guangdong cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said the amendments would further accelerate the Greater Bay Area's development in line with the national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which aims to transform the region into an international first-class bay area. Lam highlighted the contributions of legal professionals servicing the area under the pilot scheme in advancing the rule of law.
Since the pilot’s inception, more than 650 Hong Kong and Macau lawyers have obtained licences to practise within the specified scope, according to the Department of Justice. The Hong Kong Bar Association welcomed the amendments and predicted continued growth in the number of qualified practitioners.
Roden Tong Mang-lung, president of the Law Society of Hong Kong, said the statutory recognition of the scheme is likely to encourage more Hong Kong lawyers to expand cross-border legal services. He also emphasized that the move reinforces Hong Kong’s position as an international legal and dispute resolution hub under the “one country, two systems” framework. The Law Society has proposed exploring a professional indemnity pilot scheme to enhance client protection.
To qualify, lawyers must pass the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination, administered by the State Council’s judicial administration department. This examination includes written papers and interviews, conducted in simplified Chinese or Mandarin. Successful candidates obtain mainland qualifications enabling them to practise in the designated cities on matters falling under mainland jurisdiction.
Legislator Thomas So Shiu-tsung, a former Law Society president, praised the move as a critical step toward deeper legal integration across the Greater Bay Area. He noted the scheme’s popularity among Hong Kong lawyers, citing the region’s significant market potential.
Barrister and former lawmaker Eunice Yung Hoi-yan, who received her Greater Bay Area lawyer qualification in 2020, said the scheme’s formalization is expected to boost demand among mainland enterprises for Hong Kong legal expertise. While optimistic about increased participation, Yung acknowledged that some practitioners might find the exam challenging due to language and format differences, as Hong Kong lawyers primarily operate in English.
Overall, the permanent establishment of the scheme signals a commitment to fostering closer legal collaboration and service delivery across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.