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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
The Judiciary today (November 24) announced the appointment of five Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court.
His Honour Judge Barnabas Fung, the Chief District Judge; Her Honour Judge Judianna Barnes; His Honour Judge Alan Wright; Mr Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor, Deputy Registrar of the High Court and His Honour Judge John Saunders are appointed as Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court with effect from November 27, 2006.
All appointments are made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission.
The biographical notes of the appointees are as follow:
His Honour Judge Barnabas Fung
His Honour Judge Fung was born in Hong Kong in 1960. He obtained Bachelor of Commerce and LL.B. from the University of New South Wales, Australia in 1984 and 1985 respectively. He further obtained P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1986. He was called to the Bars in New South Wales, Australia and Hong Kong in 1985 and 1986 respectively. He became an Associate of Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants in 1986 and its fellow in 2004. He was also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the United Kingdom, since 1990. He was in private practice between 1987 and 1993, and a part-time lecturer at the University of Hong Kong from 1991 to 1993. He was appointed Magistrate in 1993, District Judge in 1998 and Chief District Judge in 2001.
Her Honour Judge Judianna Barnes
Her Honour Judge Barnes was born in China in 1952. After obtaining LL.B. and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1981 and 1982 respectively, she further obtained MSc in Forensic and Legal Psychology from the University of Leicester in 2000. She was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 1982 and was in private practice between 1983 and 1989. She was appointed Magistrate in 1989, Principal Magistrate in 1997 and District Judge the same year.
His Honour Judge Alan Wright
His Honour Judge Wright was born in the United Kingdom in 1947. He studied Law in South Africa and was admitted as Attorney of the Supreme Court of South Africa as well as High Court of Lesotho in 1973. He was also admitted as Barrister in Australia in 1985. He was in private practice between 1973 and 1987. He was appointed Magistrate in 1988 and District Judge in 1998.
Mr Jeremy Poon Shiu-chor, Deputy Registrar of the High Court
Mr Poon was born in Hong Kong in 1962. He obtained LL.B and P.C.LL from the University of Hong Kong in 1985 and 1986 respectively, and LL.M from the University of London in 1987. He was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 1986 and was in private practice between 1988 and 1993. He was appointed Magistrate in 1993 and Deputy Registrar of the High Court in 1999.
His Honour Judge John Saunders
His Honour Judge Saunders was born in New Zealand in 1946. He obtained LL.B from the Victoria University in Wellington in 1969. He was admitted as Solicitor and Barrister in the High Court of New Zealand in 1969 and 1970 respectively. He was also admitted as Solicitor in the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1994, Barrister in the Federal Court of Australia, and Barrister and Solicitor in the Supreme Court of Australian Capital Territory as well as Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia in 1996. He was in private practice between 1969 and 1986. He joined the then Legal Department as Crown Counsel in 1987 and was promoted to Senior Crown Counsel in 1988. He was appointed Magistrate in 1990, Principal Magistrate in 1999 and District Judge in 2000.
Ends/Friday, November 24, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:16
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