Secretary for Justice Paul Lam has urged legal practitioners from Hong Kong and Macao to pursue Greater Bay Area (GBA) practice qualifications, emphasizing the region's numerous opportunities. The GBA lawyers' scheme, which enables qualification for practice in nine mainland cities, was officially implemented in September after a six-year trial period. Lam highlighted that over 700 legal practitioners from the two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) have so far obtained the necessary qualifications. Lam pointed out that the GBA's unique "one country, two systems and three jurisdictions" framework presents a distinctive environment for legal professionals. He noted that lawyers qualified under this scheme can act as pioneers, contributing to the development of the region. Moreover, the GBA is recognized as one of the most open and economically vibrant areas in China.
The GBA region is set to intensify efforts to align its legal and regulatory frameworks with those of Hong Kong as part of its integration into the Greater Bay Area, according to Lam. The inaugural five-year plan is expected to lay out concrete measures for closer collaboration. The Second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Lawyers Forum, attended by over 900 individuals in-person and online, provided a valuable platform for legal professionals to stay informed about the latest developments and explore new opportunities. Lam encouraged the participants to leverage these possibilities and expand their professional horizons within the GBA.