Yuexiu district people's court in Guangzhou handles the first case related to parties outside the Chinese mainland in the city that applys the system of sole-judge proceedings on March 3. [Photo/ycwb.com]

Yuexiu district people's court in Guangzhou handled the first case related to parties outside the Chinese mainland in the city that applied the system of sole-judge proceedings on March 3.

"The case was an agent contract dispute with a Hong Kong company, and the contract performance process happened in Hong Kong. However, the two parties in the case have clearly prescribed to handle the case under the legal system of the Chinese mainland," said Zhu Zhiliang, the judge in charge of the case.

Applying the system of sole-judge proceedings in handling cases under ordinary procedure trials has been listed as one of the major institutional innovations made by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) in simplifying civil procedures in designated areas.

Yuexiu district people's court has been handling civil and commercial case related to parties from Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan in six districts, namely Yuexiu, Haizhu, Liwan, Baiyun, Huadu, and Conghua, since Jan 1, 2019.

Currently, the court has handled more than 2,000 cases related to parties from Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan.