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The Government announced today (August 7) the appointment of Mr Benjamin Cheung King-man, Deputy Director of Legal Aid, to succeed Mr Chan Shu-ying as Director of Legal Aid with effect from tomorrow (August 8). Mr Chan will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day.
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph W P Wong, expressed full confidence in Mr Cheung's appointment. "Mr Benjamin Cheung has been working in the Legal Aid Department for 31 years, rising to the post of Deputy Director of Legal Aid in 1996. I am confident that given his profound professional experience, as well as proven leadership and administrative skills, he will be able to lead the Legal Aid Department in facing the challenges ahead. I look forward to seeing the department go from strength to strength under Mr Cheung's leadership," said Mr Wong.
"I would also like to thank Mr Chan Shu-ying for his dedicated and meritorious service in the Government for more than 38 years," Mr Wong added.
The biographical notes on Messrs Chan Shu-ying and Benjamin Cheung King-man are appended below:
Mr Chan Shu-ying, JP
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Mr Chan joined the Government as Temporary Clerk in Judiciary in October 1965. He was appointed as Judicial Clerk in January 1973. In October 1977, following the admission to the then Supreme Court of Hong Kong as a Solicitor, he was appointed as Assistant Crown Counsel in the then Legal Department. He rose through the ranks to Crown Counsel in October 1979, to Senior Crown Counsel in February 1982, to Deputy Principal Crown Counsel in July 1986, and to Principal Crown Counsel in December 1991. He has been the Director of Legal Aid since June 1996.
Aged 56, Mr Chan will proceed on pre-retirement leave tomorrow (August 8) after more than 38 years of service with the Government.
Mr Benjamin Cheung King-man
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Mr Cheung joined the Legal Aid Department as a Law Clerk in July 1973. He was appointed as Legal Aid Officer in March 1983 and was promoted to Senior Legal Aid Counsel in May 1988, to Assistant Principal Legal Aid Counsel in October 1990, to Deputy Principal Legal Aid Counsel in June 1994, and to Deputy Director of Legal Aid in April 1996. Mr Cheung is aged 52.
Ends/Saturday, August 7, 2004
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