Permanent residents in Hong Kong and Macao with Chinese nationality will be able to enter for the national judicial exam and apply for official certification as a lawyer from Jan. 1, 2004.

The Ministry of Justice on Sunday issued a regulation enabling Hong Kong and Macao residents to become certified lawyers on the Chinese mainland.

Another three relevant regulations were also issued Sunday, including one defining how Hong Kong and Macao residents can start businesses on the Chinese mainland after obtaining certification as a lawyer, one regarding how Hong Kong and Macao lawyers with local certifications can be hired by mainland law firms, and another concerning joint ventures between Hong Kong, Macao and mainland law firms.

All the regulations will take effect from Jan. 1 next year.

The Ministry spokeswoman told Xinhua that the documents supported the mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and Mainland and Macao CEPA, which promised to open the legal service market on the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong and Macao.

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2003)