Guidelines for physical, aesthetic instruction

SAR lawyers allowed to practice in nine cities

China has started a three-year pilot program to enable lawyers from Hong Kong and Macao to practice law in nine cities in Guangdong province.

Qualified lawyers from the two special administrative regions should take a professional qualification test before applying for a certificate to practice law in the nine cities, according to a guideline issued by the General Office of the State Council on Thursday.

The 13th National People's Congress Standing Committee voted at its 21st session in August to authorize the State Council to carry out the pilot program in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.

The move is part of the implementation of the outline development plan for the Bay Area and service trade agreements between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao that were revised last year, the NPC Standing Committee said.

The guideline said certified lawyers from Hong Kong and Macao will be able to provide legal services related to mainland laws governing specific civil and commercial affairs in the nine cities.

China Daily - Xinhua