The Department of Justice's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Task Force, chaired by Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, held its second meeting today to examine recommendations and implement its future work plan.

During the meeting, the task force discussed and agreed to take forward a number of specific recommendations.

The key ones include the establishment of an information platform to facilitate the easy access by the people and businesses to information on legal and dispute resolution services in the GBA and other related areas; and the setting up of a high-level platform to facilitate the conduct of regular exchanges and research on mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, etc.

Apart from actively seeking the expansion to Mainland cities in the GBA the measures for Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose Hong Kong law as applicable law and to choose Hong Kong as the seat of arbitration, other recommendations involve enhancing the promotion of the measures' advantages and benefits for the development and construction of the bay area.

The task force also suggested the enhancement of the existing arrangements for mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, as well as the establishment of a mediator panel for the GBA and the setting up of an online mediation platform for use in the bay area.

Mr Cheung pointed out that the GBA is the only place in the world that enjoys the unique advantages of “one country, two systems and three jurisdictions”, and that Hong Kong's common law system and its rule of law are widely acclaimed by international communities.

He noted that enhancing the interface of the legal systems and mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters in the GBA not only facilitates interactions among the people and businesses, but also provides strong legal support for the advancement of the bay area's high-quality development.

He emphasised that the Department of Justice will proactively follow up on the task force's recommendations and work closely together with the relevant Mainland authorities and stakeholders of the legal and other sectors, so as to take forward and implement the relevant work.