********************

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Judiciary today (October 3) announced the appointment of two Justices of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, two Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and the Chief Magistrate.

Justices of the Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court:

The Hon Mr Justice Frank STOCK and the Hon Mrs Justice Doreen LE PICHON are appointed Justices of the Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court. They were formerly judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. Mrs Justice LE PICHON is the first female judge appointed to the position of the Justice of Appeal.

Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court:

The Hon Madam Justice Carlye CHU and the Hon Mr Justice Louis TONG are appointed as Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court. Madam Justice Chu was formerly Registrar of the High Court and Mr Justice Tong was formerly Chief Magistrate.

Chief Magistrate:

Mr Patrick LI Hon-leung is appointed as Chief Magistrate. Mr Li was formerly a Principal Magistrate.

All appointments are made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission. The appointments take effect on October 3, 2000.

The Honourable Chief Justice Andrew Kwok-nang LI welcomes the appointments. "The appointees are all very competent judges and judicial officers. I am confident that they will continue to contribute to the Judiciary in its commitment to uphold the rule of law and to maintain an independent judicial system," he said.

The biographical notes of the newly-appointed Judges and Judicial Officers are as follows:

The Hon Mr Justice Frank STOCK

Mr STOCK was born in Rhodesia in 1945. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from University of Liverpool in 1967. He was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1968 and to the Hong Kong Bar in 1984. He was admitted as Barrister and Solicitor in Victoria in 1983. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in Hong Kong in 1985. He was in private practice since 1968. In 1978, Mr Justice STOCK joined the then Attorney General's Chambers in Hong Kong as Crown Counsel and became Solicitor General in 1987 until he left the Government in 1991. He was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as Deputy Judge and Judge of the High Court in 1991 and 1992 respectively. During 1993 to 1995, he was appointed Chairman of Insider Dealing Tribunal.

The Hon Mrs Justice Doreen LE PICHON

Mrs LE PICHON was born in Shanghai, China in 1946. Graduated from University of Oxford in 1969, she was called to the Bar in England, Hong Kong, New York and US District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York in 1969, 1972, 1987 and 1991 respectively. In 1970, she became Jenkins Scholar of Lincoln's Inn. Since then, She was in private practice in London, Hong Kong and New York. Mrs LE PHICHON joined the Hong Kong Judiciary as Deputy District Judge in 1992. She was appointed Senior Counsel of Securities & Futures Commission in the same year and was promoted to Deputy Chief Counsel in 1993. She became Judge of the High Court in 1995. In 1997, she became the Honourable Fellow of St. Hilda's College of Oxford University.

The Hon Madam Justice Carlye CHU

Ms CHU was born in Hong Kong in 1960. She obtained LL.B., P.C. LL and M.S SC (Criminology) from University of Hong Kong, LL.M from University of London between 1983 and 1994. She was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 1983. She was in private practice since 1985 before joining the Hong Kong Judiciary as Magistrate in 1991. She was appointed District Judge in 1995, and Deputy Registrar of the High Court in 1997. She was Registrar of the High Court since 1999.

The Hon Mr Justice Louis TONG

Mr TONG was born in Hong Kong in 1955. He obtained his LL.B. and PC.LL. from University of Hong Kong in 1985 and was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in the same year. Since then, he was in private practice. He was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as Temporary Magistrate in 1990, Magistrate in 1991, Principal Magistrate in 1997 and Chief Magistrate in 1998.

Mr Patrick LI Hon-leung

Mr LI was born in Hong Kong in 1955. He obtained his LL.B. and P.C.LL. from University of Hong Kong in 1986 and 1987. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong and joined the then Legal Department as Assistant Crown Counsel in 1987. He was promoted to Crown Counsel and Senior Crown Counsel in 1988 and 1991 respectively. He was appointed Magistrate in 1993 and was promoted to Principal Magistrate in 1999.

End/Tuesday, October 3, 2000

NNNN