Specific commitments

To allow Hong Kong law firms (offices) that have set up representative offices in the Mainland to operate in association with Mainland law firms, except in the form of partnership. Hong Kong lawyers participating in such association may not handle matters of Mainland law.

To allow Mainland law firms to employ Hong Kong legal practitioners¹. Such practitioners who are employed by Mainland law firms must not handle matters of Mainland law.

To allow the 15 Hong Kong lawyers who have already acquired Mainland lawyer qualifications to intern and practise on non-litigation legal work in the Mainland.

To allow Hong Kong permanent residents with Chinese citizenship to sit the legal qualifying examination in the Mainland and acquire Mainland legal professional qualification in accordance with the "State Judicial Examination Implementation Measures".

To allow those who have acquired Mainland legal professional qualification under item 4 above to engage in non-litigation legal work in Mainland law firms in accordance with the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Lawyers".

The minimum residency requirement is waived for all Hong Kong representatives stationed in the Mainland representative offices of Hong Kong law firms (offices) located in Shenzhen and Guangzhou. For the Hong Kong representatives stationed in the Mainland representative offices of Hong Kong law firms (offices) located in places other than Shenzhen and Guangzhou, their minimum residency requirement is 2 months each year.

Specific commitments

Hong Kong lawyers providing professional assistance at the request of Mainland law firms on the basis of individual cases will not be required to apply for a Hong Kong legal consultant permit.

Specific commitments

To allow a Hong Kong law firm (office) that has set up a representative office in the Mainland to operate in association with one Mainland law firm situated in the province, autonomous region or municipality where its representative office is situated. 

A Hong Kong resident who is allowed to practise in the Mainland will practise in one Mainland law firm only, and will not simultaneously be employed by the representative office set up by a law firm of a foreign country in China, or the representative office set up by a law firm of Hong Kong or Macao in the Mainland.

Specific commitments

To waive the requirement on the number of full-time lawyers employed by Mainland law firms that operate in association with Hong Kong law firms (offices). 

To waive the residency requirement in the Mainland for representatives stationed in representative offices of Hong Kong law firms (offices) in the Mainland.

To allow Hong Kong residents who have acquired Mainland lawyer qualifications or legal professional qualifications and hold a Mainland lawyer's practice certificate to engage in activities as agents in matrimonial and succession cases relating to Hong Kong in the capacity of Mainland lawyers

To allow Hong Kong barristers to act as agents in civil litigation cases in the Mainland in the capacity of citizens.

To allow Hong Kong residents who have acquired Mainland lawyer qualifications or legal professional qualifications to undergo internship in a branch office of a Mainland law firm set up in Hong Kong in accordance with the Outline for Practical Training and the Guidelines on Practical Training as required in the Mainland.

Specific commitments

To allow a Hong Kong law firm (office) that has set up a representative office in the Mainland to operate in association with one Mainland law firm. There is no geographic restriction on the Mainland law firm in association.

Specific commitments

To allow Hong Kong legal practitioners ² who have at least 5 years’ experience in legal practice and who have passed the National Judicial Examination to undergo the intensive training offered by lawyers associations in the Mainland that lasts for at least 1 month in accordance with the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Lawyers" and the provisions of the "Rules on Management of Internship for Application for Legal Practice (Provisional)" drawn up by the All-China Lawyers Association. Upon completion of the training and passing the assessment, they can apply to practise as lawyers in the Mainland.  

To allow Hong Kong law firms which have set up representative offices in the Mainland to operate in association with Mainland law firms in Guangdong Province which have been established for one year or more and at least one of the persons who established the firm must have been in legal practice for five years or more.

Specific commitments

To further develop closer cooperation between the legal professions of the Mainland and Hong Kong, and to explore ways of improving the mode of association of law firms of the two places.    

To consider broadening the scope of businesses of Hong Kong residents who have acquired Mainland legal professional qualification and hold a Mainland lawyer’s practice certificate in acting as agents in civil litigation cases in the Mainland relating to Hong Kong residents and juridical persons.