Our Association is opened!

27 November 2009 sounds like a normal Friday, but actually it is a milestone of the cooperative relationship between Hong Kong and the Mainland in the legal field, because on that day the first association between Hong Kong law firm and Guangdong law firm was set up.

When I sat on the comfortable seat in the coach taking us to our Guangzhou office for our cocktail reception, I was excited and looking forward to the cocktail reception celebrating the official opening of our association with Right Word Law Firm, a Guangdong firm. Nowadays, not only businessmen have to develop the Mainland market, professionals also have to broaden their horizon and get in line with the latest development there. As the firm is providing such a great opportunity for us, how can I say no?

Association among Hong Kong law firms is nothing new. However, as the legal systems in Hong Kong and the Mainland are different, in the past it was impossible for Hong Kong law firms to be in association with their Mainland counterparts. But, as there have been closer ties and interaction between Hong Kong and the Mainland in commerce, trading, investments, real estate, and many other aspects, the need for law firms to be equipped with Hong Kong and Mainland experts becomes greater and greater. Therefore, in recent years, more and more Hong Kong law firms set up representative offices in the Mainland. Our firm has also set up our Guangzhou representative office in 2005.

With the growing need, setting up representative office is simply not enough, especially when we have legal problems involving Mainland elements, we may require assistance from the Chinese lawyers. Therefore, when Hong Kong and the Mainland signed the Supplementary Agreement 6 of Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (“CEPA”) in May 2009, we immediately planned to set up an association with our long-term partner in Guangzhou, Right Word Law Firm. The setting up of association not only deepens our relationship, it also enhances our Mainland business. This arrangement is a win-win situation. Our firm can share our experience in Hong Kong while Right Word can provide inspiration through the practice and knowledge of the Mainland.

On that day, we were honoured to have the President of All China Lawyers Association, Mr. Yu Ling, high-rank officials from the Guangdong Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice of Guangzhou Municipality and Hong Kong ETO in Guangdong in our cocktail reception. In his speech given during the reception, Mr. Yu not only congratulated us, but also stated that Hong Kong and the Mainland would only be developing closer and closer ties. We totally agree to this, and we support the idea by setting up the association and being the vanguard and pioneer in fostering cooperation in the legal field between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

On that day, a lot of our friend attended the reception. With more than 6,000 square feet, the space still seemed crowded with guests. They congratulated us and enquired on the services we can provide after the setting up of association. We are encouraged by their support and we know we are in the right direction.

On the way home, I asked myself what I have learnt on that day. It broadens my horizon and gives me a deeper understanding of the Mainland legal development. There is a Chinese saying: “Travelling a thousand miles worth more than reading a thousand books”. I can really understand its meaning after this experience in Guangzhou.