Lam says Greater Bay legal alignment shows results
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said at the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Rule of Law Forum in Guangzhou that legal rule alignment in the bay area has already delivered tangible results. He said the “Hong Kong-invested, Hong Kong law” and “Hong Kong-invested, Hong Kong arbitration” measures have been expanded, while legal academic and professional exchanges between Hong Kong and mainland Greater Bay Area cities are advancing on broader and more multi-level lines. Lam added that Hong Kong’s Department of Justice is continuing to promote the connection of legal services across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and is seeking to make the pilot Greater Bay Area lawyer qualification examination permanent before it expires in October 2026. The forum focused on legal safeguards and the future of Greater Bay Area development from a global perspective
Key Points
- Lam said China’s 15th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong’s deeper integration into national development and stronger international legal and dispute resolution services
- He said the bay area’s “one country, two systems, three jurisdictions” framework requires respect for legal differences while exploring compatible and complementary cooperation paths
- After a South China (Hong Kong) International Arbitration Institute case exceeding RMB60 million last year, Dongguan Arbitration Commission handled a “Hong Kong-invested, Hong Kong arbitration” case above RMB10 million in June 2026
- Lam said the June 2026 launch of the Greater Bay Area Legal Information Platform covers housing, business, work, education, family and healthcare in a “one question, three answers” format
- He said Hong Kong’s International Legal Talents Training Academy and the Guangdong Higher People’s Court began an overseas-related adjudication training programme in Guangzhou in July 2026
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong businesses and residents operating across the boundary, Lam’s remarks point to more predictable legal arrangements and easier access to official cross-border legal information. For the city’s legal sector, the push to regularise the Greater Bay Area lawyer examination and deepen training links could widen professional opportunities while reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international legal and dispute resolution hub