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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Chief Executive has accepted the recommendation of the Chief Justice to extend the term of office for a period of three years of two non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA), The Rt Hon The Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead and The Rt Hon The Lord Hoffmann.

The Court of Final Appeal Ordinance provides for a list of non-permanent Hong Kong judges and a list of judges from other common law jurisdictions. The term of appointment of such judges is three years. That term may be extended for one or more periods of three years by the Chief Executive acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Justice.

At present, there are 12 non-permanent Hong Kong judges and nine non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions. Among them, the term of the office of The Rt Hon The Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead and The Rt Hon The Lord Hoffmann, serving Law Lords in the United Kingdom, will expire on January 11, 2001.

"Having regard to the caseload of CFA, the contributions of the judges concerned and in the interest of continuity, the Chief Justice is of the view that the term of the two non-permanent judges should be extended," a spokesman for the Judiciary said.

"The Chief Executive had in July 2000 extended for three years the term of office of another 15 non-permanent judges of CFA," he added.

End/Friday, January 5, 2001

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