In August 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress authorised the State Council to conduct a pilot scheme for eligible Hong Kong and Macao legal practitioners to provide legal services in the nine Chinese Mainland municipalities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) on specified civil and commercial matters (including litigation and non-litigation matters) to which Chinese Mainland laws apply, after passing the GBA Legal Professional Examination (GBA Examination) and having obtained the Lawyer's License (GBA). The scope of Hong Kong-related or Macao-related civil matters in which eligible legal practitioners may act is determined with reference to the relevant Notice issued by the Ministry of Justice, covering 299 types of civil cases across 9 major categories.

The three-year pilot scheme, originally set to expire in October 2023, has been extended to October 2026 as announced in September 2023.

Since 2021, the GBA Examination has been held annually. Candidates who have passed the GBA Examination may apply for Lawyer's License (GBA) to practise in the nine Chinese Mainland municipalities in the GBA on specified civil and commercial matters to which the Chinese Mainland laws apply after they have completed Guangdong Lawyers Association's intensive training and passed the assessment. To enrol in the GBA Examination, among other specific requirements, Hong Kong or Macao legal practitioners must possess at least three years of accumulated legal practice experience.

For the latest information about the GBA Examination, please visit: https://gba.examos.cn/lawyertop/login.html。