Three lawyers — two from Hong Kong and one from Macao — received certificates that allow them to practice in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) at a ceremony held in Qianhai on Friday, becoming the first batch of lawyers from the two special administrative regions licensed to practice in Qianhai.

They are Michelle Wong Ka-yan from Guangdong Menghai Law Firm, Lee Kam-lut from DKL (Qianhai) Law Firm and William Ng Lok-ming from China Commercial Lam Lee Lai Lawyers.

Wong said the GBA is characterized by cross-border and inter-institutional cooperation. The GBA needs legal professionals who are familiar with the laws of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and foreign countries, and can help break down the service barriers brought by different legal systems.

He also believed that such professionals could contribute to the GBA’s integrated development with their quality legal services.

On the same day, a service center was inaugurated in Qianhai to provide consultation on practices in Shenzhen for Hong Kong and Macao lawyers. The center will also serve as a matchmaker between local law firms and Hong Kong and Macao lawyers, and help Hong Kong and Macao lawyers tackle difficulties and challenges in their legal practice in the city.

In October 2020, the State Council issued a circular on the launch of a pilot plan allowing practicing lawyers in Hong Kong and Macao to obtain qualifications and engage in legal practice in the nine Guangdong cities of the GBA. The plan allows eligible legal practitioners in Hong Kong and Macao to practice in specific areas of mainland law upon passing a qualifying examination and obtaining practice qualifications in the GBA.

According to the Plan for Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Opening Up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone promulgated by the Central Government in 2021, Qianhai is urged to improve the level of opening up of its legal services, deepen the reform of the mechanism for joint venture law firms, and encourage Hong Kong and Macao law firms to set up offices in the area.

The Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Legal-services District was put into use in January this year. In May, Qianhai rolled out an incentive policy to encourage more lawyers from Hong Kong and Macao to work in the area. As per the policy, a law firm can receive a reward of 30,000 yuan (US$4,380) per head for hiring Hong Kong and Macao lawyers, and an additional reward of 200,000 yuan for employing over 30 Hong Kong and Macao lawyers. Hong Kong and Macao lawyers will also be granted a subsidy of 30% of their business income on the Chinese mainland, which is capped at 100,000 yuan per year. The subsidy policy will run for two years.