Official Reply of Ministry of Justice on Approving the Pilot Program of Exploring the Close Cooperation Mode and Mechanism of Chinese and Foreign Law Firms in China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone
3. In accordance with the Procedures
for the Administration of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the free trade
zone administrative committee as the assigned agency of Shanghai Municipal
People’s Government shall, as entrusted by relevant departments, assume
corresponding administrative functions. In consideration of the specificity of
legal service and the opening –up administration in particular, we intend to
strive to set up an assigned agency in SFTZ with the consent of the Municipal
People’s Government, assuming administrative supervision function relating to
the pilot opening-up, and coordinating the free trade zone administrative
committee in providing foreign (Hong Kong and Macao) law firms that participate
in the Pilot Program and their assigned lawyers with convenience in aspect of
places of practice, residence and office (habitation).
IV. Organization
and implementation of Pilot Program
1. In accordance with the essence of
joint conference between the departments of the State Council and SFTZ, and
implementation plans determined by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government,
the scheme for the measures about the pilot opening up of legal service shall be
reported for approval and the supportive implementation measures formulated
before the end of this year and promulgated for implementation on January 1,
2014. We request the Ministry of Justice to accelerate within the year the
examination of the pilot program submitted by us.
2. In accordance with
the program approved by the Ministry of Justice, we will lose no time in drawing
up and hammering out the operational rules and corresponding supportive measures
for guiding the pilot program, and make promulgation for implementation.
3. After starting the pilot program, we will, in accordance with the program
approved by the Ministry of Justice, follow the principle of being appropriate,
progressive and under control, adopt a mode of advancement by stages and in
groups, gradual expansion and deepening, conscientiously organize and implement
the pilot measures for cooperation of Chinese and foreign law firms to ensure
the progress of pilot work in a healthy, steady and orderly manner.