Hong Kong and Shenzhen must work more closely on developing legal services, says Chinese vice-premier
- Han Zheng urges the two governments to work towards creating an international centre for legal services and commercial dispute resolution
- He made his remarks during tour of Qianhai, the economic zone slated for massive expansion as part of wider push for financial reforms
Han stressed the importance of ensuring Qianhai had an “international business environment that is market-oriented and with the rule of law”, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.
Han also emphasised the importance of protecting and promoting intellectual property rights.
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Under the new blueprint for Qianhai, the zone will grow in size from about 15 sq km (3,705 acres) to more than 120 sq km, with about a third of the new area reserved for Hong Kong investors. The goal is to deepen financial reforms and offer a “wider stage” for Hong Kong to grow its economy.
Han called on Shenzhen to make better use of its neighbour’s modern service industry when planning its development so as to create “a new highland for the country’s opening-up to the outside world”, according to the report.
“Hong Kong lawyers will have an edge as Hong Kong adopts the common law system,” Chan told an informal gathering of the media. “Our services will be of much use if mainland businesses want to go out to explore the international market. In this sense, we are not easily replaceable.”
Towards that end, Hong Kong lawyers should take the mainland qualification examination, he added.
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Han is a member of the standing committee of the party’s political bureau and head of the leading group for developing the Greater Bay Area.
He was in Hengqin last Friday to officiate at the inauguration ceremony of the Administrative Organisations of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone. Like the Qianhai plan, the Hengqin scheme seeks closer ties between Zhuhai and Macau.