Around 100 Hong Kong representatives from business and legal circles and over 20 Shenzhen representatives from legal circles discussed ways on deepening business and legal cooperation between the two cities at a forum simultaneously held in two venues in Shenzhen and Hong Kong on Saturday.

Zeng Pai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC and director of Qianhai Authority, said in his speech that Qianhai is committed to further opening up its legal affairs, deepening the connection and mutual recognition of rules and mechanisms between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and fully supporting Hong Kong in building an international legal and dispute resolution service center in the Asia-Pacific region.

Huang Xiaopeng, executive vice director of Qianhai Authority, introduced the development status of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Legal-services District and a series of supportive policies Qianhai rolled out to attract and encourage talents and legal professionals from Hong Kong and Macao to work in Qianhai.

According to relevant policies, Qianhai-based law firms that hire over 30 Hong Kong lawyers will each receive a subsidy of 200,000 yuan (US$44,490); Hong Kong and Macao legal professionals who work in Qianhai will have 30% of their business income subsidized, with the subsidy capped at 100,000 yuan annually, and more.

At the forum, Chen Xiaofeng, vice chairman of the Hong Kong International Legal and Business Elite Association, introduced the association’s Greater Bay Area legal service program. Some senior government officials, including the newly appointed Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, delivered speeches at the forum.