Mainland law specialist becomes new Hong Kong Law Society president
Thomas So was body’s vice-president for two years; he earned a doctor of laws from a prestigious university in Beijing
A specialist in mainland law has been elected to lead the city’s cohort of solicitors amid increasing ties between local legal professionals and their counterparts across the border.
Former vice-president Thomas So Shiu-tsung, who holds a doctor of laws from Beijing’s prestigious Tsinghua University, is the new president of the Law Society, the legal professionals’ body announced in a statement.
He was elected at the society’s annual general meeting on June 7.
His appointment came after the latest supplement of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement gave Hong Kong professionals, including lawyers, greater access to the mainland market.
So told the Post last November the society wanted to improve conditions for local lawyers wishing to venture into the mainland.
“We can form partnerships with mainland law firms, but the shareholding is restricted to 51 per cent for the mainland and 49 for Hong Kong. We have been calling for a relaxation of that rule,” he said.