Law change anchors Bay Area lawyer system
Bastillepost · 9 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said at the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Rule of Law Forum in Guangzhou that legal rule alignment in the region has already delivered tangible results, including expanded “Hong Kong-invested, Hong Kong law” and “Hong Kong-invested, Hong Kong arbitration” arrangements. He said the Department of Justice is continuing to promote closer links among legal services in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and is actively seeking to make the pilot Greater Bay Area lawyer qualification examination permanent before it expires in October 2026. Separately, the Department of Justice welcomed an amendment to the Lawyers Law passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which from September 1 formally sets out the Greater Bay Area lawyer system in national law. Hong Kong’s two legal professional bodies also backed the change, saying it gives the arrangement a firmer legal basis and a more stable long-term outlook.
Key Points
- Lam said the amended Lawyers Law supports regularisation of the Greater Bay Area lawyer system, after the pilot first began in August 2020 and was extended to October 4, 2026.
- Article 62 allows Hong Kong and Macao practitioners who pass the official exam and obtain mainland qualifications to practise specified work in nine Guangdong cities from September 1.
- By June 2026, more than 650 Hong Kong and Macao lawyers had obtained Greater Bay Area practice certificates and were handling some mainland-law civil and commercial matters.
- Lam cited two arbitration milestones: a South China case above RMB60 million last year and a Dongguan Arbitration Commission case above RMB10 million in June 2026
- He also said Hong Kong launched the Greater Bay Area Legal Information Platform in June 2026, covering housing, business, work, education, family and healthcare
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong lawyers, the law change reduces uncertainty over whether cross-border practice arrangements will continue after the pilot period and may encourage more practitioners to pursue dual qualifications. For businesses and residents, expanded arbitration use, a formalised lawyer system and easier access to official cross-border legal information could make disputes and daily legal issues easier to navigate across the bay area.