Lawyers from Hong Kong and Beijing are being encouraged to further co-operation in legal services under the Closer Economic Co-operation Arrangement (CEPA), a senior official with the Ministry of Justice said on Friday.

Zhou Yuansheng, deputy director-general of the Department of Directing Lawyers and Notarization under the ministry, made the statement when he interpreted the regulations on opening legal services between the two areas based on CEPA at the Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Symposium which closed on Friday.

The CEPA is a landmark free-trade pact between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), which was signed in June and will take effect on January 1, 2004.

The official said his ministry was formulating policies on collaboration between the lawyers' associations in the two areas.

Under the CEPA, Beijing and Hong Kong lawyers will be allowed to co-operate in contract form, meaning that they are able to share the same offices, employees and other resources after signing a contract, but they have an independent legal and financial status and are responsible for their own actions, Zhou explained.

He said Hong Kong people could apply for the annual judicial examinations organized by the Ministry of Justice, and if they obtained certificates to practice law, they would be allowed to handle legal affairs in Beijing.

Beijing's lawyers could also go to Hong Kong to conduct business in accordance with the same regulations, he added.

Zhou said the implementation of the arrangement would bring win-win results for both areas and help improve legal services in the two areas as these are highly complementary.

Zhou's interpretations were welcomed by lawyers from both sides.

When delivering a keynote speech at the symposium, Stephen Wong Kai-yi, an official from the HKSAR department of justice said that lawyers' collaboration could help cut costs and decrease input in the management of personnel and routine work.

The teamwork also helps increase the client base of both lawyers associations' and expand their business, he added.

Yan Jianguo, Chief Partner of C&I Partners, a legal service agency headquartered in Beijing, said he is planning to expand his business in Hong Kong.

 "The CEPA provides opportunities for lawyers in Hong Kong and mainland to further exchange and co-operation in legal services,'' Yan told China Daily, adding he would not let such chances slip through his fingers.

Close

Today's Top News		Top National News
+China, Australia boost ties with trade deal ( 2003-10-24) +Law puts onus on drivers to be alert ( 2003-10-24) +China capable of launching 10-ton space station module ( 2003-10-24) +Top legislator to visit DPRK next week ( 2003-10-24) +External influence complicates court ruling ( 2003-10-24)		+Widow poisons funeral guests ( 2003-10-25) +Ministry Of Justice refuses document request ( 2003-10-25) +Official: Legal cooperation will help to improve services ( 2003-10-25) +Madame Chiang: Dead at 106 ( 2003-10-25) +Security law looks ready for approval ( 2003-10-25)