Pilot program for Hong Kong, Macao lawyers to practice on Chinese mainland to be extended

The State Council has approved the revised guidelines on a pilot program to allow law practitioners from Hong Kong and Macao to practice law in nine cities of Guangdong province on the mainland, according to a circular released by the General Office of the State Council on Sept 28.

Meanwhile, the previous guidelines issued by the General Office of the State Council on Oct 5, 2020 will be annulled.

The National People's Congress Standing Committee has approved the continued authorization of the State Council to carry out the trial work in the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing, which are all within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Qualified law practitioners will be allowed to practice law in the nine cities after taking a legal professional qualification test and applying for a certificate, according to the circular.

The extension period for the pilot program will be from Oct 5, 2023 to Oct 4, 2026, the document noted.