The Department of Justice’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Task Force held its first meeting today to discuss the directions for the work on further enhancing the convenience and benefits for people in the bay area.

There were also discussions on facilitating the bay area development and construction.

The task force was established earlier this month.

Ahead of the meeting, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam briefly met task force members where he highlighted that the body's establishment was one of the initiatives in the 2022 Policy Address to dovetail with the national strategies to create strong impetus for growth.

Mr Lam hoped that the task force’s work could enhance interactions among the people and businesses in the GBA, and facilitate their better access to legal and dispute resolution services.

This in turn, will create more room for development for the sectors in Hong Kong and contribute to the enhancement of the rule of law in the GBA, he added.

As the task force’s chairperson, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan then gave a brief introduction on the initial work directions.

They involved enhancing the convergence of legal practices, advancing the practice of mutual legal assistance, such as the implementation of the arrangements on mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters as well as promoting the development of online dispute resolution and the application of lawtech.

Mr Cheung pointed out that the three work directions are aiming to provide further convenience and benefits to people, enabling the GBA to fully capitalise on its unique advantages of “one country, two systems and three jurisdictions”.

The task force will strengthen its communication with stakeholders such as legal professional bodies and relevant sectors.

It is also planning to visit other bay area cities to proactively promote the GBA’s high value-added development, Mr Cheung added.