Following the success of the first Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Legal Departments Joint Conference held in Hong Kong last year on September 12, the second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Legal Departments Joint Conference (2nd Joint Conference) was held virtually this afternoon (December 11).

      Those attending the 2nd Joint Conference included the Director-General of the Department of Justice of Guangdong Province, Mr Chen Xudong; the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC; and the Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government, Mr Cheong Weng Chon.

      At the meeting, the three parties endorsed the Proposal to set up the Greater Bay Area Mediation Platform. The three parties further agreed to establish the Working Group on the Greater Bay Area Mediation Platform.

      Speaking at the Joint Conference, Ms Cheng pointed out that the three parties should seize the immense opportunities posed by the unique characteristics of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area - "one country, two systems and three jurisdictions". She also raised some specific issues for discussion, including the detailed responsibilities of the Working Group, the role to play of the Joint Conference in facilitating matters surrounding the GBA Legal Professional Examination, including the provision of legal services in the Greater Bay Area by both the Hong Kong and Macao legal services sectors and its relevant support, and the choice of law and legal place to resolve disputes in the Greater Bay Area.

      Ms Cheng expressed gratitude to the Secretariat for Administration and Justice of the Macao SAR for setting up the 2nd Joint Conference. She said she looked forward to the third Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Legal Departments Joint Conference, which will be held in Mainland China next year.

Ends/Friday, December 11, 2020