A draft amendment to the lawyers law was submitted on Tuesday for its first reading at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

This legislative move is part of China's broader efforts to refine its existing lawyer system and coordinate the advancement of the rule of law in both domestic and foreign-related fields.

The draft includes provisions targeted at developing foreign-related legal services, which require advanced cultivation of foreign-related legal talent, and support for law firms to enhance their capacity to provide foreign-related legal services.

In 2020, the NPC Standing Committee adopted a decision authorizing the State Council to launch a pilot program allowing lawyers from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions to practice in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The pilot program was extended in 2023 to Oct. 4, 2026.

Building on the successes of the pilot program, the draft amendment sets out specific provisions on the practice of lawyers from Hong Kong and Macao in the GBA, which aims to provide a legal basis underpinning the regular operation of relevant services in this region.

To guarantee lawyers' practice rights in accordance with the law, the draft stipulates that judicial, procuratorial and public security organs and relevant authorities should improve the system for safeguarding lawyers' right to practice, and ensure such rights are protected under the law.