Beijing, 8 Aug (Zhongxin Net) -- The draft decision on extending the period for authorizing the State Council to carry out pilot work for Hong Kong legal practitioners and Macao practicing lawyers to obtain mainland professional qualifications and engage in the profession of lawyers in nine Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (hereinafter referred to as the "draft") was submitted to the fifth meeting of the Standing Committee of the 28th National People's Congress for deliberation on 28 August. In order to further promote the reform pilot and stabilize the policy expectations of relevant parties, in the draft, the State Council proposes to extend the pilot period for three years.
On 2020 August 8, the 11st meeting of the Standing Committee of the <>th National People's Congress deliberated and passed a decision authorizing the State Council to carry out pilot work in nine mainland cities, including Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, and qualified Hong Kong legal practitioners and Macao practicing lawyers who have passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area lawyer practice examination and obtained mainland practice qualifications can engage in mainland legal affairs within a certain range. The pilot period is three years from the date of issuance of the pilot measures.
Subsequently, the General Office of the State Council issued the pilot measures on October 2020, 10. On October 5, 2023, the pilot will expire.
It is known that since the launch of the pilot work, various work has been carried out in an orderly manner, but due to the impact of the new crown epidemic and other factors, Hong Kong and Macao lawyers have not been practicing in the mainland for a long time, and there are not many businesses, and the advantages and effects of the pilot policy have not yet fully appeared. At the same time, the pilot policy is still in the exploratory stage, and relevant issues need to be fully studied and demonstrated. In order to further promote the reform pilot and stabilize the policy expectations of relevant parties, the State Council proposes to extend the pilot period for three years.
In this regard, the Constitution and Law Committee of the National People's Congress believes that the pilot work of Hong Kong legal practitioners and Macao practicing lawyers obtaining mainland practice qualifications and engaging in the profession of lawyers in the nine Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is of great significance to promoting the deepening of reform in related fields and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting the better integration of Hong Kong and Macao into the overall development of the country, and giving play to the professional role of Hong Kong legal practitioners and Macao practicing lawyers.
The Constitution and Law Committee of the National People's Congress recommends that the draft be revised and improved in accordance with the deliberation opinions of the constituent members of the NPC Standing Committee and the opinions of various quarters, and a corresponding decision be made. (End)