(Decree No.83 of Ministry of Justice issued on November 30, 2003. Amended pursuant to Decree No. 100 of the Ministry of Justice issued on December 28, 2005, Decree No.106 of Ministry of Justice issued on December 22, 2006, Decree No. 109 of Ministry of Justice issued on March 6, 2008, and Decree No.118 of Ministry of Justice issued on September 1, 2009)

Decision on Revising the “Administrative Measures for Joint Operation of Law Offices in Hong Kong and Macao and Those in the Mainland”

In order to promote closer economic and trade relations between Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland, and pursuant to the Mainland-Hong Kong CEPA Supplementary Agreement VI and the Mainland-Macao CEPA Supplementary Agreement VI approved by the State Council, it is hereby decided by the PRC Ministry of Justice on September 1, 2009 to revise the Administrative Measures for Joint Operation of Law Offices in Hong Kong and Macao and Those in the Mainland as follows:

1. Add one clause to Article 6 as the second clause, whose content is: “A mainland law office with residence in Guangdong Province that has been established for one full year and has at least one initiator with more than five years of professional practice experience may also apply for joint operation.”

The second clause of Article 6 is revised to the third clause.

2. Add one clause after the second clause of Article 7 as the third clause, whose content is: “A mainland law office who applies for joint operation according to provisions of the second clause of Article 6 of these Measures shall also submit the certification materials for the initiators of the said office who have more than five years of professional practice experience.”

The third clause of Article 7 is revised to the fourth clause.

3. This Decision shall take effect as of October 1 of 2009.

The Administrative Measures for Joint Operation of Law Offices in Hong Kong and Macao and Those in the Mainland (issued according to Decree No.83 of Ministry of Justice and amended pursuant to Decree No. 100, Decree No. 106 and Decree No.109 of the Ministry of Justice) shall be amended accordingly and promulgated again pursuant to this Decision.

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