PR97790

SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 13, 2022 /Xinhua=KYODO JBN/--

Last September, the Chinese government unveiled the Plan for Comprehensively

Deepening the Reform and Opening-up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern

Service Industry Cooperation Zone ("Qianhai Plan"). The total area of the

Qianhai cooperation zone, according to the Plan, is set to expand from 14.92

square kilometers to 120.56 square kilometers to build a hub for higher levels

of openness, including on the legal front.

Three of the 21 Hong Kong and Macao lawyers granted recently a lawyer's license

in Shenzhen, came to Qianhai. It represents an institutional innovation in

China's legal services, and Qianhai's new endeavor to remove barriers in this

area.

Wu Jiansheng, publicity chief of the Qianhai Belt and Road Legal Services

Federation said, "A connected legal service is essential for Hong Kong's

integration into the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Many Hong Kong

lawyers are licensed to practice law worldwide, and they will be an important

force in the GBA to promote the Belt and Road Initiative."

To allow Hong Kong lawyers an easier access to the mainland, the Federation has

organized multiple dialogues between governmental bodies of Hong Kong and

Qianhai for a continued service and policy support, from the life necessities

to procedural assistance. "The Federation established a Shenzhen-Hong Kong

in-depth cooperation zone for legal services and international centers for

legal services cooperation and commercial mediation," said Wu. Some lawyers

from Hong Kong said those platforms offer opportunities of a professional

development in Qianhai and even in the GBA.

William Ng, a lawyer born and raised in Hong Kong and recently licensed to

practice law in the GBA, said he opted for a professional career in Qianhai

because of its proximity to Hong Kong, "but above all, Qianhai has enjoyed

sound development for the past few years."

"Qianhai's legal services have now grown 'ultra-popular'," said Wei Lin,

Managing Partner at PC Woo & Zhonglun WD LLP, a Qianhai-based law firm, in an

interview. "An increasing number of individuals and institutions providing

legal services, including those from Hong Kong, are being drawn to Qianhai. And

I found that many more law firms have sprung up since we launched our business

in the Qianhai Kerry Center in 2021," he added.

Put into operation this January, the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong International

Legal-Services District is now home to 122 legal institutions, including China

(Shenzhen) Intellectual Property Protection Center. Of 15 law firms jointly run

by lawyers from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, seven are established in

Qianhai. This May, the authority of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern

Service Industry Cooperation Zone released interim measures for bringing

high-end legal services to the International Legal-Services District, in order

to attract legal institutions and talented lawyers from Hong Kong and Macao.

"The past few years have seen an increase in foreign-related services and an

influx of multilingual lawyers with backgrounds in legal affairs. Overall, we

are optimistic about Qianhai's emergence as a world-class hub for legal

services," said Lin.

Source: Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry

Cooperation Zone