Thomas So Shiu-tsung, Chairman of the Belt and Road Committee of the Law Society of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), demonstrated keen enthusiasm in and commitment to promoting the rule of law in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) during a group discussion held in Beijing on March 8.

So is a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, which convened its annual session from March 4 to 10 this year. The group discussion was held during the annual session for CPPCC National Committee members from Hong Kong SAR.

So went over his speaking time during the group discussion. "Sorry for going over time, but there was still much I wanted to say," So, who is also the former President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, told Beijing Review after the meeting.

Established in 2017, the GBA is a major economic region in south China that aims to promote the integrated development of nine cities within the Pearl River Delta and two SARs, Hong Kong and Macao. It combines the unique advantages of the two SARs as international financial and trade centers with the manufacturing and innovation capabilities of the surrounding cities.

The economic integration and development of GBA, one of the most economically dynamic regions in China, cannot occur without a solid rule-of-law foundation.

So has put forward advice on legal service improvement in the GBA for 10 consecutive years as a member of the CPPCC National Committee. In 2023, he proposed legislation or policies to assist Hong Kong in developing online arbitration and mediation.

Integration brings progress 

During the group discussion, CPPCC members from Hong Kong discussed and expressed their support for the work reports of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), China's highest judicial body, and Supreme People's Procuratorate, the country's highest legal supervisory agency. They focused on promoting the rule of law and fostering economic and social development, especially regarding the convergence of legal rules in the GBA.

This year's work report of the SPC mentioned "equally protecting the property and independent management rights of state-owned, private, foreign-invested and other types of enterprises in accordance with the law, and promoting the construction of a law-based and credit-based economy." So believes this emphasizes that the legal rights and interests of all enterprises—whether mainland, Hong Kong or foreign-invested—can be guaranteed, in turn boosting the confidence of the global business community in the mainland's business environment. 

In recent years, the GBA has provided a solid foundation for regional integration and development through mutual recognition of rulings, rule-of-law mechanism innovation and platform construction.

Regarding arbitration related to Hong Kong and Macao-invested enterprises, on March 8, Zhang Jun, President and Chief Justice of the SPC, stated in his work report that Hong Kong-invested and Macao-invested enterprises registered and established in the nine mainland cities of the GBA are supported to choose Hong Kong SAR or Macao SAR as the place of arbitration.

"This policy is very beneficial for said enterprises investing in the GBA. I hope more enterprises will understand and utilize this policy," So told Beijing Review.

"This not only protects the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong and Macao compatriots but also marks a breakthrough in the legal cooperation in the GBA," Yip Kin-ming, Executive Vice President of the Hong Kong Island Federation, said.

Born in Fujian Province in southeast China and having launched his career in Hong Kong, Yip has risen from a factory worker to an influential entrepreneur. "Our generation is fortunate to have experienced the great era of China's reform and opening up, a time marked by favorable conditions," he said. "The judicial practices implemented over the past year have created a stable institutional environment that supports the building of a safe China, fosters economic development and ensures the security of people's livelihoods."

Talent exchange 

Talent is a core resource for the GBA's development and the rule of law is important for promoting talent exchange and regional coordinated development. Peter Kung Wing-tak, a member of Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive's Policy Unit Expert Group and former Vice Chairman of professional services firm KPMG China, emphasized the GBA's location and unique advantages.

It has been over three decades since Kung decided to return to China from the United Kingdom. During these 30-plus years, he has facilitated substantial foreign investment in China and helped numerous state-owned and private enterprises expand internationally. He has played a major role in advancing the development of taxation and finance between the mainland and Hong Kong, witnessing China's reform and opening up firsthand.

As a member of the CPPCC National Committee representing Hong Kong SAR, Kung has made several proposals to promote the integration of the GBA, which have been adopted by the Central Government and have become part of current laws and regulations.

This year, in relation to talent support strategies, he proposed implementing preferential policies such as the "Hong Kong tax for Hong Kong people" and suggested easing the requirements for accounting practice. These measures aim to accelerate the flow and integration of talent in the region.

The 2024 Fortune Global 500 list included 22 companies from the GBA, highlighting its economic strength. With Hong Kong's low tax rates and lack of foreign exchange controls, the GBA continues to enhance its competitive advantages in market expansion, capital operations and attracting high-end talent.

Kung expressed his desire for increased exchanges and cooperation in the GBA, creating more opportunities for young people from Hong Kong and Macao SARs to develop in the mainland.

Emerging challenges 

With the rapid advancement of technology, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the GBA is encountering new challenges and opportunities in the rule of law. During the group discussion, Hong Kong Legislative Council member Wong Kam-fai pointed out that the domestically developed AI, DeepSeek, presents new opportunities for AI development in China, with Hong Kong holding distinct advantages.

Wong stressed the need for the government to balance the protection of intellectual property rights for creators, the reliability of AI systems and the creative freedom for developers within legislative frameworks. This balance will be essential as the government continues to advance AI initiatives. He recommended that the Central Government facilitate DeepSeek's entry into Hong Kong SAR to promote its widespread application, which can further boost the international business development of China's AI sector and improve its global influence. BR

Printed edition title: Legally Bound  

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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