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Academic publicationConflict of lawsChina, Hong Kong SAR China, Macao SAR China24 September 2026

The dynamics of internal legal unification in China’s Greater Bay Area

Lutz-Christian Wolff1 views

Image: Breather / Wikimedia Commons (CC0) · CC0-1.0

Development summary

In an article in the Uniform Law Review, Lutz-Christian Wolff examines the dynamics of legal unification in China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA), comprising nine cities in Guangdong province together with Hong Kong and Macau. Although the project, launched in 2017, is primarily aimed at economic integration, the region spans the three legal systems of Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

According to the author, this legal diversity complicates integration and unification in dedicated areas could give the GBA a significant boost, yet more than eight years after its launch hardly any legal unification has been achieved. The article assesses why by focusing on the impediments to legal unification.

Open original publication ↗The dynamics of (internal) legal unification: The intriguing case of China’s Greater Bay Area

PIL.OT RESEARCH NOTE

Research note

Issue

Impediments to internal legal unification in the multi-jurisdictional Greater Bay Area

Why does it matter?

It examines, through a concrete region, why legal unification between legal systems within one State is difficult.

Concepts

conflict of laws academic research applicable law comparative law connecting factors cross-border relations

ACADEMIC CITATION

Academic details

Lutz-Christian Wolff

“The dynamics of (internal) legal unification: the intriguing case of China’s Greater Bay Area”

Uniform Law Review · 2026

DOI 10.1093/ulr/unag030

Content language: English
Type: Journal article
Publisher / institution: Uniform Law Review

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Lutz-Christian Wolff, “The dynamics of (internal) legal unification: the intriguing case of China’s Greater Bay Area”, Uniform Law Review, 2026-09-24, 10.1093/ulr/unag030. https://doi.org/10.1093/ulr/unag030

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