Hong Kong Legal Week 2026 concludes with focus on Greater Bay Area integration
Hong Kong Legal Week 2026 ended on 6 November with forums on cross-border dispute resolution and the Greater Bay Area lawyer scheme. More than 700 lawyers have obtained dual-qualification status under a regularised system that took effect in September. A new government task force will accelerate rul
The fourth edition of the Integration and Development Rule of Law Forum was held on 5 November, supported by the Legal Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, and co-organised by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong. Yuan Gujie, deputy director of the Liaison Office, and Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the foreign ministry office, delivered welcome addresses. Wang Chen, counsellor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Justice Patrick Poon, Chief Judge of the High Court, gave keynote speeches. The forum featured two panel discussions examining Hong Kong's role as a comprehensive international dispute resolution hub and its part in the nation's foreign-related rule-of-law development.
The second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Lawyers Forum concluded the week on 6 November, under the theme 'Legal Wisdom Bay Area – Convergence and Integration'. Wang Limin, a leading official of the Ministry of Justice, delivered the opening address and keynote on supporting Hong Kong and Macau legal professionals in serving national rule-of-law construction. Secretary for Justice Eric Chan, Senior Counsel; Chen Xudong, director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Justice; and Zeng Xiang, head of the Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macau SAR government, each gave opening remarks.
Chan said the Greater Bay Area features 'one country, two systems, three legal jurisdictions' and that dually qualified lawyers are the pioneers turning differences into advantages. The Greater Bay Area lawyer scheme was regularised in September, and more than 700 Hong Kong and Macau legal practitioners have obtained practising qualifications. Chan encouraged Hong Kong legal talents to sit for the examination, calling it a target of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government's First Five-Year Plan.
Representatives of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Lawyers Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association shared insights on the regularisation of the lawyer scheme, the integration of legal talent, and the role of Hong Kong practitioners in dispute resolution. A panel titled 'Practices and New Opportunities for Greater Bay Area Lawyers in Cross-border Corporate Development' featured top lawyers discussing how dually qualified practitioners can leverage the region's unique advantages in cross-border commercial litigation, legal technology and green finance to help mainland enterprises expand globally.
An afternoon session brought together mediators from Hong Kong, the mainland and Macau for a simulated mediation using the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Cross-border Dispute Mediation Model Rules, demonstrating practical application of rules alignment. Deputy Secretary for Justice Dr Thomas Cheung delivered closing remarks, announcing that the 2026 Policy Address had established a task force to accelerate rules and mechanisms alignment across the three jurisdictions. Cheung said the target is to formally set up the task force early next year, begin research and consultation with stakeholders, and compile a list of items for alignment work with the mainland.
The First Five-Year Plan of Hong Kong aligns with the national 15th Five-Year Plan and proposes better use of the common-law advantages under 'one country, two systems' to improve diversified, high-level dispute resolution services including litigation, arbitration and mediation. The Department of Justice will continue organising events to promote exchanges and cooperation among legal professionals from Hong Kong, the mainland and other jurisdictions on international dispute resolution, foreign-related rule of law and legal technology.
