Lawyers from Hong Kong pushed for greater liberalisation of cross-border legal services yesterday.
They told mainland officials at a meeting in Beijing of their concerns about restrictions and uncertainties in the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Cepa).
A delegation of 46 Hong Kong lawyers led by Executive Council member Andrew Liao SC, met Minister for Justice Zhang Fusen before discussing details of Cepa with officials responsible for putting together new rules which will open up the mainland's legal sector.
The delegates also met officials from the legislative affairs committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee on matters concerning the Basic Law. They will also meet officials from the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office today.
Seven reforms were agreed with the central government under the deal signed on June 29, which will allow Hong Kong lawyers to qualify on the mainland and to work for law firms there. Some Hong Kong firms will be allowed to form associations with their mainland counterparts. New rules are expected to be drafted by the end of the month.
But restrictions apply and, until yesterday, it was not even certain whether barristers were included in the agreement.