Guangdong judicial administration enhances support for pilot reforms in Shenzhen

Since this October, when China unveiled a five-year plan to build Shenzhen into a demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics by implementing pilot reforms, the judicial department of South China's Guangdong province has adopted a variety of measures to improve the city's legal environment.

Making best use of legislative power    

To support Shenzhen's role as a legislative test field, the department has cooperated with the standing committee of the provincial people's congress to guide and encourage the city to use its legislative power as a special economic zone to the greatest extent and in creative ways.

It has also helped advance Shenzhen's legislative projects in major fields such as artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, big data, bio-medicine, health care and information services. Meanwhile, it has stepped up its efforts to provide legal support for the development of the Shenshan (Shenzhen-Shantou) Special Cooperation Zone.

Advancing development of a law-based government

Since Shenzhen became one of China's first demonstration zones for the development of a law-based government, the department has taken a range of steps to raise the city’s profile in this respect and help it improve its major administrative decision-making procedures.

To advance the city's administrative law enforcement system reform, the department has guided the city to consolidate its administrative law enforcement services at the district level and establish unified administrative law enforcement agencies for its sub-districts. It is also drawing on online platforms to standardize and supervise administrative law enforcement in the city's Qianhai area.

To diversify Shenzhen's dispute resolution mechanisms, the department has helped the city launch all-round administrative reconsideration reforms, institutionalize the court appearances of chiefs of administrative agencies, and explore ways for government lawyers and legal counsels to participate in administrative reconsideration cases and lawsuits.

Improving international legal services and dispute resolution mechanisms 

To improve Shenzhen's international dispute resolution mechanisms, the department has given guidance on the establishment of an international arbitration center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the introduction of world-renowned arbitration institutions and relevant international organizations to the area.

The department has also taken a variety of measures to enhance Shenzhen's international legal service capability, including allowing Hong Kong and Macao lawyers to practice law in the city, helping the city attract more prestigious foreign law firms to open local branches, and enhancing its ability to serve Chinese enterprises in their overseas expansion.

More supporting measures

The department is actively cooperating with the provincial government to delegate more power on economic affairs and social management to Shenzhen and help the city explore a 'negative list' system.    

It has also joined hands with the standing committee of provincial people's congress to make necessary adjustments to the implementation of national and provincial legislation in the city.