Press Release

 

 

Judicial Appointment

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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Judiciary today (November 10) announced the reappointment of four Recorders of the High Court; and the appointment of four Recorders and two Deputy Registrars of the High Court.

Re-appointed Recorders of the High Court:

Ms Jacqueline Pamela LEONG, SC; Mr Kenneth KWOK Hing-wai, SC; Mr Lawrence LOK Ying-kam, SC; and Mr WONG Ching-yue, SC;

Newly-appointed Recorders of the High Court:

Mr Andrew LIAO Cheung-sing, SC; Ms Gladys Veronica LI, SC; Mr Geoffrey MA Tao-li, SC, and Mr. Michael LUNN, SC.

Deputy Registrars of the High Court:

Her Honour Judge Betty KWAN Ka-ching and Mr Lung Kim-wan. Her Honour Judge Betty Kwan was formerly a District Judge and Mr Lung was formerly Principal Presiding Officer of the Labour Tribunal.

The appointments and re-appointments are made by the Chief Executive in accordance with the recommendations of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission. The appointment and re-appointment of Recorders will take effect from December 1, 2000 for a term of three years while the appointment of Deputy Registrars will take effect from November 13, 2000.

The Honourable Chief Justice Andrew Kwok-nang LI welcomes the appointments. "The appointees are all very competent judge and judicial officer and legal professionals. 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.

"These re-appointments and appointments will bring the total number of Recorders to 11. Having more Recorders would assist in dealing with the heavy caseload as well as providing an opportunity for Senior Counsel to gain judicial experience," he said.

The biographical notes of the newly-appointed and re-appointed Recorders of the High Court, and Deputy Registrars of the High Court are as follows:

Re-appointed Recorders of the High Court :

Ms Jacqueline Pamela LEONG, SC

Ms LEONG was born in 1947. Ms LEONG was called to the Bar in 1970. She has been practicing in Hong Kong since 1971 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1990. Ms LEONG was Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association in 1992 and 1993. Ms LEONG was first appointed Recorder of the High Court in 1997.

Mr Kenneth KWOK Hing-wai, SC

Mr KWOK was born in 1949. Mr KWOK graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong in 1972. He was amongst the first locally trained lawyers called to the Hong Kong Bar in 1974 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1993. Mr KWOK was first appointed Recorder of the High Court in 1997.

Mr Lawrence LOK Ying-kam, SC

Mr LOK was born in 1955. He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong in 1977. Mr LOK was called to the Bar in 1978, and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1994. Mr LOK was first appointed Recorder of the High Court in 1997.

Mr. WONG Ching-yue, SC

Mr WONG was born in 1948. He was called to the English Bar in 1972. He practised for 18 months in England before returning to practise in Hong Kong in 1975. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1997. Mr WONG was first appointed Recorder of the High Court in 1997.

Newly-appointed Recorders of the High Court :

Mr Andrew LIAO Cheung-sing, SC

Mr LIAO was born in 1949. He was called to the English and Hong Kong Bar in 1974 and 1975 respectively. He was later admitted as Barrister and Solicitor in the State of Victoria in Australia in 1984. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1989 and was admitted as Advocate and Solicitor in Singapore in 1990. Mr LIAO has been in private practice since 1975.

Ms Gladys Veronica LI, SC

Ms LI was born in 1948. She was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1971 and Hong Kong Bar in 1978. She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1990 and admitted as Advocate and Solicitor in Singapore in 1994. Ms LI practised in London between 1972 and 1982 before returning to practise in Hong Kong. She was once appointed Deputy High Court Judge of the Hong Kong Judiciary in 1992 and was Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association from 1995 to 1997.

Mr Geoffrey MA Tao-li, SC

Mr MA was born in 1956. He was called to the Bar in England and Wales, in Hong Kong, in State of Victoria and in Singapore in 1978, 1980, 1983 and 1990 respectively. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1993. Mr MA was in private practice since 1978.

Mr Michael LUNN, SC

Mr LUNN was born in 1950. He was called to the English and Hong Kong Bar in 1973 and 1981 respectively. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1994. Mr LUNN was in private practice in England between 1974 and 1977. He served as Senior Crown Counsel in the Hong Kong Legal Department from 1977 to 1981. He has been in private practice in Hong Kong since 1981.

Deputy Registrars of the High Court :

Her Honour Judge Betty KWAN Ka-ching

Her Honour Judge KWAN was born in Hong Kong in 1944 and received her legal education in England. She was called to the Bar in 1981. Between 1983 and 1987, she was in private practice. She was appointed Magistrate of the Hong Kong Judiciary in 1987 and became Principal Magistrate in 1993. She was appointed District Judge in 1994.

Mr LUNG Kim-wan

Mr LUNG was born in 1953. He was admitted as Solicitor in Hong Kong and the Supreme Court of England in 1984 and 1988 respectively. He was admitted as Barrister of the Federal Court of High Court of Australia in 1988 and Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Australian Territory Capital in the same year. He was later admitted Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1990. Mr LUNG was in private practice between 1984 and 1990. He joined the Hong Kong Judiciary as Magistrate in 1990 and was appointed Principal Presiding Officer of the Labour Tribunal in 1997.

End/Friday, November 10, 2000

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