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MEASURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG LAW PRACTITIONERS AND MACAO PRACTICING LAWYERS HIRED AS LEGAL ADVISORS IN MAINLAND LAW FIRMS

Ministry of Justice

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China

No. 82

The Measures for the Administration of Hong Kong Law Practitioners and Macao Practicing Lawyers Hired As Legal Advisors in Mainland
Law Firms were deliberated and adopted at the ministerial executive meeting on November 27th, 2003. They are hereby promulgated and
shall come into force as of January 1st, 2004.

Zhang Fusen, Minister of the Ministry of Justice

November 30th, 2003

Measures for the Administration of Hong Kong Law Practitioners and Macao Practicing Lawyers Hired As Legal Advisors in Mainland Law
Firms

Article 1

The present Measures are formulated with a view to carrying out the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement
and the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and to regulating and administering the activities of Hong Kong
law practitioners and Macao practicing lawyers hired as legal advisors in Mainland law firms.

Article 2

“Hong Kong law practitioners” as mentioned in the present Measures refers to the permanent residents of Hong Kong who have registered
in the panel of solicitors or the panel of barristers in accordance with relevant regulation of Hong Kong and whose profession qualification
as a solicitor or counsel hasn’t been suspended.

“Macao practicing lawyers” as mentioned in the present Measures refers to the permanent residents of Macao who are practicing lawyers
and have registered in Macao law society.

Article 3

The law practitioners of Hong Kong and the practicing lawyers of Macao who are hired as legal advisors in the Mainland law firms,
may merely handle the approved legal services in Hong Kong, or Macao, or any country other than China.

The law practitioners of Hong Kong and the practicing lawyers of Macao hired as legal advisors in the Mainland law firms shall accept
the supervision and administration of the Mainland judicial administrative organs.

Article 4

A law practitioner of Hong Kong hired as a legal advisor in a Mainland law firm shall file an application for a Hong Kong Legal Advisor
Certificate in accordance with the present Measures.

A practicing lawyer of Macao hired as a legal advisor in a Mainland law firm shall file an application for the Macao Legal Advisor
Certificate in accordance with the present Measures.

Article 5

A Hong Kong legal practitioner or a Macao practicing lawyer, who meets the following conditions, may file an application to the Mainland
judicial administrative organ for a Hong Kong or Macao Legal Advisor Certificate:

(1)

He has practiced law in Hong Kong or Macao for 2 full years;

(2)

He has no record of any criminal punishment or has no record of any other punishment due to violation of the lawyers’ professional
moral and disciplinary code; and

(3)

A Mainland law firm agrees to employ him.

Article 6

A Mainland law firm, which meets the following conditions, may hire Hong Kong law practitioners and Macao practicing lawyers as Hong
Kong legal advisors and Macao legal advisors of the firm:

(1)

It has been 3 full years since its establishment;

(2)

There are at least 10 full-time lawyers;

(3)

In recent 3 years, it hasn’t been given any administrative punishment or guild sanction.

The number of Hong Kong legal practitioners and Macao practicing lawyers shall not exceed one fifth of the total number of the full-time
lawyers.

Article 7

A Hong Kong legal practitioner or a Macao practicing lawyer shall, if he applies for a certificate of Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor,
submit the following materials via the Mainland law firm that plans to hire him as its legal advisor:

(1)

An application;

(2)

A photocopy of the applicant’s identity certificate;

(3)

A photocopy of the Hong Kong legal practitioner’s or Macao practicing lawyer’s professional qualification certificate;

(4)

Where the applicant with a foreign lawyer’s qualification is admitted to practice law, he shall submit a photocopy of the lawyer’s
profession qualification certificate;

(5)

The evidential materials that can demonstrate the applicant have practiced law for 2 full years;

(6)

The certification issued by the Hong Kong or Macao law firm where the applicant holds a position, showing its consent to the applicant’s
being hired by the Mainland law firm;

(7)

The evidential materials issued by Hong Kong or Macao lawyer’s regulatory institution, showing that the applicant has no record of
any criminal punishment or any punishment due to violating lawyers’ professional moral and disciplinary code;

(8)

The certification about the applicant to be hired as issued by the Mainland law firm and the evidential materials that demonstrate
that the applicant meets the employment requirements.

The evidential materials as listed in Items 2 through 5 of the preceding paragraph shall be subject to the notarization of a notary
that is acknowledged in the Mainland.

The application materials shall be in Chinese and in triplicate. Where any of the materials is in a foreign language, it shall be
accompanied by a Chinese translation.

Article 8

The judicial administrative organ of the prefecture level where the Mainland law firm is located shall complete the examination within
10 days from receiving the application materials of a Hong Kong Legal Practitioner or Macao practicing lawyer and issue examination
opinions. The examination opinions shall be submitted and reported to the judicial administrative organ together with the application
materials.

Article 9

A judicial administrative organ on the province level shall complete the examination within 20 days from receiving the application
materials. With regard to the applicants who meet the requirements as prescribed in the present Measures, they shall be admitted
to be hired as legal advisors and shall be registered, to each of whom a Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor certificate shall be issued.
For those who don’t meet the requirements as prescribed in the present Measures, none of them may be hired as legal advisor in the
Mainland, and a written notice shall be sent to the applicants and the Mainland law firms that intend to hire them as legal advisors.

The provincial judicial administrative organ shall, within 30 days from the issuance of Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor certificate
to the applicants, submit the relevant registration materials and the examination opinions to the Ministry of Justice for archival
purposes.

Article 10

A Hong Kong legal practitioner or Macao practicing lawyer may be hired as a legal advisor by only one Mainland law firm, but may not
be hired by a foreign law firm simultaneously, and may not take the position of a representative in the representative office set
up in the Mainland by a Hong Kong or Macao law firm at the same time.

Article 11

Any Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor may not provide Mainland legal services.

Article 12

In case a Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor provides legal services in the Mainland, he shall be entrusted by a Mainland law firm,
which shall charge fees uniformly. No one may provide legal services without entrustment and charge fees by himself.

Article 13

A Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor shall follow the laws, regulations and rules of the state, scrupulously abide by the lawyers’ professional
moral and disciplinary code, and may not impair the safety of the state or the public good.

Article 14

A Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor and the Mainland law firm shall enter into an employment agreement, which shall stipulate for their
respective rights, duties and liabilities for breach of law.

Article 15

A Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor certificate shall be subject to the annual registration of the provincial judicial administrative
organ. Those without going through the annual registration shall be null and void.

Article 16

Where a Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor commits any of the following offences, he shall be given a warning by the judicial administrative
organ of the prefecture level and shall be ordered to correct within a time limit; in case he fails to correct within the time limit,
he shall be imposed on a fine of not more than 10, 000 Yuan. Where there is any illegal income, he shall be imposed on a fine of
not less than the same amount of but not more than 3 times of the amount of the illegal income, and which may not be more than 30,
000 Yuan:

(1)

He is hired by at least 2 Mainland law firms at the same time;

(2)

At the same time, he is a representative of the representative office established in the Mainland by a Hong Kong or Macao law firm;

(3)

He is hired by a foreign law firm simultaneously;

(4)

He provides legal services without permission or charge the parties concerned fees without permission;

(5)

He is engaged in the Mainland legal services; or

(6)

Other punishable acts due to violating the laws, regulations and rules.

Where a Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor violates the provisions of the preceding paragraph and the circumstance is very serious,
the Mainland law firm shall terminate the employment with him.

Article 17

Where a Mainland law firm commits any of the following offences, it shall be given a warning by the judicial administrative organ
of the prefecture level and be ordered to correct within a time limit; in case it fails to correct within a time limit, it shall
be imposed on a fine of not more than 10, 000 Yuan; if there is any illegal income, it shall be imposed on a fine of not less than
the same amount of but not more than three times of the amount of the illegal income, and may not be more than 30, 000 Yuan:

(1)

Without approval, it hires any Hong Kong legal practitioners or Macao practicing lawyers as its legal advisor;

(2)

It fails to adopt uniform entrustment and uniform charges in relation of the legal services provided by Hong Kong practitioners or
Macao practicing lawyers;

(3)

For the offences of Hong Kong legal practitioners or Macao practicing lawyers, it shall be liable for its negligence in management;
or

(4)

Other punishable acts violating the laws, regulations and rules.

Article 18

Where the offences or faults of any Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor result in losses to a party concerned, the Mainland law firm
that hires him as a legal advisor shall be liable for compensations. After the law firm has made the compensations, it may demand
recovery of part of or all of the compensations from the Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor responsible for the direct liabilities.

Hong Kong or Macao legal advisor shall buy insurance in the Mainland.

Article 19

Any of the judicial administrative functionaries in violation of the laws, regulations and rules shall be given an administrative
punishment. If any crime is constituted, he shall be subject to criminal liabilities. .

Article 20

The responsibility to interpret the present Measures shall remain with the Ministry of Justice.

Article 21

The present Measures shall enter into effect as of January 1st, 2004.



 
Ministry of Justice
2003-11-30

 







MEASURES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG AND MACAO SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS HOLDING THE LEGAL PROFESSION QUALIFICATION OF THE MAINLAND AND ENGAGING IN LEGAL PRACTICE IN THE MAINLAND

Ministry of Justice

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China

No. 81

The Measures for the Management of Residents of Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions Holding the Legal Profession Qualification
of the Mainland and Engaging in Legal Practice in the Mainland were deliberated and adopted at the ministerial meeting on November
27th, 2003.They are hereby promulgated and shall take effect as of January 1st, 2004.

Zhang Fusen, Minister of the Ministry of Justice

November 30th, 2003

Measures for the Management of Residents of Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions Holding the Legal Profession Qualification
of the Mainland and Engaging in Legal Practice in the Mainland

Chapter I. General Provisions

Article 1

With a view to carrying out the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement approved by the State Council, and to regulating and administering the activities of Hong Kong residents
holding the legal profession qualification of the Mainland and engaging in legal practice in the Mainland, the present Measures are
formulated in accordance with the Lawyers Law of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as Lawyers Law) and other
relevant regulations.

Article 2

The residents of Hong Kong and Macao who have taken the National Uniform Judicial Examination held in the Mainland and have acquired
the Legal Profession Qualification Certificate of the People’s Republic of China may apply for practicing law in the Mainland.

Article 3

A resident of Hong Kong or Macao who applies for practicing law in a Mainland law firm shall complete an internship according to relevant
regulations of the Ministry of Justice, and shall apply for the legal profession qualification certificate.

Article 4

A resident of Hong Kong or Macao who practices law in a Mainland law firm shall only engage in non-litigation matters.

Article 5

A resident of Hong Kong or Macao who practices law in a Mainland law firm shall comply to the laws, regulations and rules of the state,
shall strictly abide by the lawyers’ professional moral and disciplinary code, shall be subject to the supervision and administration
of the judicial administrative organs in the Mainland and the management of Mainland law society.

Chapter II. Internship Management

Article 6

A resident of Hong Kong or Macao who applies for practicing law in a Mainland law firm shall, according to the relevant regulations
of the Ministry of Justice, have completed internship of one year in a Mainland law firm in advance.

Article 7

A resident of Hong Kong or Macao holding the legal profession qualification who serves as an intern, shall file an application to
the judicial administrative organ of the prefecture level where the future firm of internship is located. The judicial administrative
organ shall arrange for or recommend a Mainland law firm to accept him as a legal intern.

Article 8

A resident of Hong Kong or Macao who serves as a legal intern, shall undergo the internship according to the general outline of the
practical training and the guidebook of practical drillings. He shall lay emphasis on the handling of non-litigation matters in practical
drillings, and shall abide by the provisions and disciplines on internship.

The Mainland law firms that accept Hong Kong or Macao residents as interns shall assign lawyers who are good at handling non-litigation
matters to instruct the interns in the practical drillings. Each instructing lawyer may only instruct one Hong Kong or Macao intern.

Article 9

A Hong Kong or Macao resident who serves as a legal intern in the Mainland shall ensure adequate time to complete the internship.
No one may suspend the internship for more than 3 months for any reasons. The Mainland law firm that accepts a legal intern shall
report the reason and time of the suspension of internship to the local judicial administrative organ at the place where it is located.

Article 10

A Hong Kong and Macao resident who serves as legal interns in a Mainland law firm shall be subject to the supervision and management
of the local judicial administrative organ at the place where it is located. The name list of the interns, relevant materials and
the internship evaluations shall be reported to the provincial judicial administrative organs for archival purposes.

Chapter III. Legal Profession Management

Article 11

A Hong Kong or Macao resident qualified to engage in legal practice in the Mainland may, after having completed internship in a law
firm and having been determined as qualified upon evaluation, apply for practicing law in the Mainland.

Article 12

A Hong Kong or Macao resident who is admitted to engage in legal practice in the Mainland may practice in only one Mainland law firm.

A Hong Kong or Macao resident who is admitted to engage in legal practice in the Mainland may not be employed in Hong Kong, Macao,
Taiwan or foreign law firms at the same time.

Article 13

A Hong Kong or Macao resident who applies for practicing law in the Mainland shall, in accordance with Lawyers Law and the Measures
for the Administration of Legal Professional Qualification Certificates issued by the Ministry of Justice, file an application for
a Legal Professional Qualification Certificate to the provincial judicial administrative organ where the Mainland law firm that intends
to employ him is located.

Among the documents submitted by an applicant, the copies of his identity certification and the evidential materials that demonstrate
that he has never been punished for criminal offences shall be subject to the notarization of a notary acknowledged by the Mainland,
and shall, at the same time, state the information about whether he has obtained Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or foreign legal professional
qualification and whether he is employed by a Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or Foreign law firm.

Where the provincial judicial administrative organs issue legal profession certificates upon examination, they shall, within 30 days
from the issuance of the certificates, submit to the Ministry of Justice the name list of Hong Kong and Macao residents who are admitted
to practice law in the Mainland and the legal profession registration materials for archival purposes.

Article 14

A Hong Kong or Macao resident who is admitted to engage in legal practice in the Mainland may engage in Mainland non-litigation matters
by taking the position of a legal advisor, agent, consultant or scrivener and shall enjoy the rights of a Mainland lawyer, and perform
the statutory obligations of a lawyer.

Article 15

Where a Hong Kong or Macao resident who is admitted to engage in legal practice in the Mainland satisfies the specific conditions,
he may act as a partner of a Mainland law firm.

Article 16

A Hong Kong or Macao resident who is admitted to engage in legal practice in the Mainland shall be a member of the law society of
the Mainland, shall be enpost_titled to enjoy the rights of a member, shall perform the obligations of a member, and shall take part in
the professional trainings and exchanges organized by the Mainland law society.

Article 17

Where a Hong Kong or Macao resident who is admitted to engage in legal practice in the Mainland violates the Lawyers Law or the administrative
regulations or rules governing the legal profession or any of the provisions of the present Measures shall be given a corresponding
administrative punishment. Where he violates the lawyers’ professional moral and disciplinary code, he shall be given a corresponding
sanction of the guild.

Article 18

Any functionary of the judicial administrative organs who commits any act in violation of the laws, regulations and rules shall be
given an administrative sanction. Where he constitutes a crime, the criminal liabilities shall be prosecuted for.

Chapter IV. Supplementary Provisions

Article 19

The present Measures shall be applicable to Hong Kong and Macao residents who have acquired Mainland legal professional qualification
before the implementation of the National Uniform Judicial Examination of the Mainland when they apply for completing the internship
or practicing law in Mainland law firms.

Article 20

The responsibility to interpret the present Measures shall remain with the Ministry of Justice.

Article 21

The present Measures shall take effect as of January 1st, 2004.



 
Ministry of Justice
2003-11-30

 







THE DECISION OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE ON AMENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF THE LAW FIRMS OF HONG KONG, MACAO BASED IN THE MAINLAND

Ministry of Justice

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China

No. 84

The Decision of the Ministry of Justice on Amending the Administrative Measures for the Representative Offices of the Law Firms of
Hong Kong, Macao Based in the Mainland was adopted at the ministerial executive meeting on November 27th, 2003. It is hereby promulgated
and shall enter into force as of January 1st, 2004.

Zhang Fusen, Minister of the Ministry of Justice

November 30th, 2003

The Decision of the Ministry of Justice on Amending the Administrative Measures for the Representative Offices of the Law Firms of
Hong Kong, Macao Based in the Mainland

With a view to promoting the Hong Kong and Macao to establish closer economic and trade relationship with the Mainland, encouraging
and regulating the legal practitioners of Hong Kong and Macao to offer the prescribed legal services, the Administrative Measures
for the Representative Offices of the Law Firms of Hong Kong, Macao Based in the Mainland (hereinafter referred to as the Administrative
Measures) are amended and supplemented, in accordance with the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and
the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and their attachments approved by the State Council, as follows:

I.

A paragraph is added after the second paragraph in Article 15 of the Administrative Measures, the content of which is supplemented
as: “A representative office and the representatives may, in accordance with the joint operation agreement reached between the law
firm of Hong Kong or Macao that it belongs to and a law firm in the mainland, cooperate with the lawyers of the law firm in the mainland
and engage in relevant joint businesses.” The third paragraph in the original text is changed as the fourth paragraph, the content
of which is amended as: “No representative office or representative may engage in any legal service or profit-making activity other
than those as provided for in Paragraphs 1 through 3 of this Article.”

II.

Article 19 of the Administrative Measures is amended as: “A representative of a representative office shall have resided in the mainland
for no less than 2 months each year. Whoever fails to do so shall not be registered next year.” A paragraph is added as the second
paragraph, the content of which is supplemented as: “Where a representative is established in Guangzhou or Shenzhen, its representatives
aren’t subject to the limitations on the minimum residence period in the mainland as prescribed in the preceding paragraph.”

III.

The present Decision shall enter into force as of January 1st, 2004.



 
Ministry of Justice
2003-11-30

 







CONSTITUTION ACT, 1982 – page 22

NOTES (1) The enacting clause was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act, 1893, 56-57 Vict., c. 14 (U.K.). It read as...