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

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Judiciary today (July 23, 2001) announced the appointment of a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, and the re-appointments of three Recorders of the Court of First Instance of the High Court.

The Hon Mr Justice Peter CHEUNG Chak-yau, Judge of the Court of First Instance, is appointed Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court. Mr Edward CHAN King-sang, SC; Mr Robert TANG Ching, SC, JP; and Mr Ronny WONG Fook-hum,SC, JP are re-appointed Recorders of the Court of First Instance of the High Court.

The appointment and re-appointments are made by the Chief Executive in accordance with the recommendations of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission. The appointment of the Justice of Appeal will take effect from July 23, 2001, while the re-appointment of the Recorders of the Court of First Instance of the High Court will be effective from September 25, 2001 for a term of three years upon expiry of the current term.

The Honourable Chief Justice Andrew Kwok-nang LI welcomes the appointments. "The appointees are all very competent judge and legal professionals. I am confident that they will 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 Judge and the re-appointed Recorders of the High Court are as follows:

The Hon Mr Justice Peter CHEUNG Chak-yau

Mr CHEUNG was born in Hong Kong in 1952. He obtained LL.B. from the University of Hong Kong in 1975. After graduated from Inns of Court School of Law in England in 1976, he obtained LL.M. from University of London in England in 1977. He was called to the Bar in Lincoln's Inn in 1976, and in Hong Kong in 1977. In 1989, he was admitted Barrister and Solicitor in British Columbia in Canada. He was in private practice since 1977. He was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as Deputy District Judge in 1990, and as District Judge in 1991. In 1994, he was promoted to be the Judge of the High Court.

Mr Edward CHAN King-sang, SC

Mr Edward CHAN was born in 1950. He graduated from the Law Faculty of the University of Hong Kong in 1972. He was called to the English Bar and Hong Kong Bar in 1974 and 1975 respectively. He has been in private practice in Hong Kong since 1975 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1989. Mr CHAN was appointed Recorder of the High Court since 1995.

Mr Robert TANG Ching, SC, JP

Mr Robert TANG was born in 1947. He graduated from the Law Faculty of the University of Birmingham in 1969. He was called to the English Bar and Hong Kong Bar in 1969 and 1970 respectively. He has been in private practice in Hong Kong since 1970. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1986, and was appointed Recorder of the High Court since 1995.

Mr Ronny WONG Fook-hum, SC, JP

Mr Ronny WONG was born in 1947. After graduated from the Law Faculty of the Hull University in 1969, he was called to the English Bar in 1970, and to the Hong Kong Bar in 1973. He has been in private practice in Hong Kong since 1970, and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1990. Mr WONG was appointed Recorder of the High Court since 1995.

End/Monday, July 23, 2001

NNNN