Eleven of the 14 approval-winning firms were allowed to open their second offices while three Hong Kong firms got the greenlight for the first time.

The decision of the Ministry of Justice brings the number of overseas law firms' mainland offices to 163.

China allowed overseas law firms into its legal service market in 1992. However, before China's entry into the World Trade Organization, each overseas law firm could only set up one representative office in one of 15 cities on a Ministry of Justice list.

Danian Zhang, chief representative of the Shanghai office of the Chicago based law firm Baker & Mckenzie, said China's decision to allow overseas law firms to open their second offices was a new and firm step towards the opening-up of China's legal service market. Zhang's firm got approval Wednesday to set up a new office in Shanghai.

Duan Zhengkun, vice-minister of Justice, said the overseas law firms in China's legal service market have promoted overseas investment in China and economic and technical cooperation between overseas and Chinese businesses.

Duan pledged that his ministry would continue the policy to open up the domestic legal service market.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2003)