Macao and Hong Kong lawyers gather to strengthen GBA legal ties

A delegation of 39 representatives from the Macau Lawyers Association visited the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association (HKBA) last Friday, as part of a trip to strengthen Greater Bay Area (GBA) legal ties. 

Headed by Vong Hin Fai, the President of the Macau Lawyers Association, the representatives first held a meeting with the Law Society of Hong Kong, discussing various issues, including developments in the legal sector, professional guidelines, cross-boundary legal services, common-law training and legal education. 

In a statement, the Law Society of Hong Kong noted that both sides agreed on the importance of enhancing dialogue and understanding between their respective legal sectors, with their talk touching on ways to further GBA legal ties, cooperation, knowledge sharing, professional mobility and standards, as well as innovation. 

The two groups also shared their perspectives on governance structures, regulatory responsibilities, committee systems and professional ethics. According to the Law Society, the Macau lawyers were particularly interested in Hong Kong’s regulatory system, such as the process for disciplinary investigation, and the city’s Professional Indemnity Scheme. 

How the Macao lawyers’ visit benefits GBA legal ties

“Having two mature jurisdictions that represent respectively the continental law system and the common law system encourages deepening cooperation in areas like talent training and business expansion,” Eduardo Buisson Loureiro, a Macao-based lawyer and international arbitrator who attended the meeting, wrote in comments sent to The Bay. 

He added that this close connectivity would bring value to the overall growth and positioning of the GBA. 

Later in the day, the Macao delegation attended a meeting with the Hong Kong Bar Association, which involved the association sharing information on Hong Kong’s legal system, the split legal profession, as well as the group’s responsibilities and international ties. 

[See more: Legal pilot scheme sees over 600 SAR lawyers qualified for Guangdong practice]

In recent years, local governments have been attempting to strengthen GBA legal ties. One clear example of this is a legal pilot scheme launched in 2020, which has allowed around 650 attorneys in the two SARs to practise law in the GBA’s nine mainland cities. 

Similarly, the region has set up GBA standards and code of conduct for mediators dealing with cross-border disputes. 

According to the Guangdong Lawyers Association, there were 95,122 practising attorneys in Guangdong province, as well as 5,218 law firms, as of May 2026. Official data also shows that there were 13,698 licensed and unlicensed lawyers in Hong Kong as of June 2026, and 449 lawyers registered in Macao as of October 2025.