The Shanghai Pudong New Area Market Supervision Administration announced a series of market access facilitation measures on the 13th. These include pioneering a pilot reform for law firm domicile registration, allowing law firms within the Shanghai Free Trade Zone to register their office premises as enterprise domiciles. At the same time, a "simplified deregistration" system will be implemented to relieve more entrepreneurs of the burden of "difficult exit."

    In March this year, Shanghai released measures for managing enterprise domicile registration, reducing requirements from multiple perspectives to support innovation and entrepreneurship. As a pioneer reform zone, Pudong has already launched pilot centralized registration sites in development areas such as Lujiazui, Zhangjiang, and Jinqiao. As of the end of July, six centralized registration sites were operational, registering 310 enterprises.

    Many small and micro enterprises reported that after the pilot launch, commercial properties, industrial plants, and enterprise warehouses can all serve as centralized registration sites, and a single building can register hundreds of enterprises. This not only effectively reduces rental costs but also allows enterprises to enjoy cost-effective business services.

    Building on the implementation of these measures, Pudong has also introduced a reform "optional move"—allowing law firms within the Shanghai Free Trade Zone to register their office premises as enterprise domiciles. Chen Yanfeng, Director of the Pudong New Area Market Supervision Administration, stated that this reform draws on Hong Kong SAR's mature practice of using law firms as addresses for enterprise communications and legal document delivery, helping Pudong further align with international norms. "Many enterprises, especially foreign ones entering China, often entrust various affairs to law firms. Using a law firm as a registration site is a natural step for them. Since this reform is unprecedented in mainland China, it is initially being piloted within the free trade zone."

    The head of Shanghai Tongli Law Firm stated: "After the new policy is implemented, in addition to resolving the issue of enterprise address registration, the law firm can also provide full tracking services such as registration agency, entrepreneurship guidance, business secretarial services, and legal assistance, promoting legal and standardized business operations."

    While lowering the entry threshold, Pudong, as one of the four national pilot areas for "simplified deregistration," is also focusing on broadening the "exit" channels for enterprises. The opinion proposes that Pudong will implement simplified deregistration procedures for limited liability companies and partnerships that have been established for less than three years, have not started operations or have no debts, and have not been listed in the list of abnormal operations. That is, relying on the enterprise credit information publicity system, there is no need for liquidation group liquidation or filing. The written materials submitted by applicant enterprises will be reduced from 6 copies to 3 copies, and the publicity period will be shortened from the current 45 days to 10 working days, significantly improving work efficiency. Currently, two enterprises in Pudong have completed the simplified deregistration procedures. (From Xinhua News Agency)