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The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced today (February 11) that Ms Christina Cheung Kam-wai, Deputy Law Officer (Civil Law), will succeed Mr Benedict Lai Ying-sie as Law Officer (Civil Law) with effect from February 26. Mr Lai will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day after 41 years of service with the Government.
Welcoming the appointment, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, said that Ms Cheung has solid professional knowledge and experience in civil law and proven leadership skills to lead the important work of the Civil Division of the DoJ.
"Ms Cheung is a lawyer with outstanding abilities. I have every confidence that she will ably lead the Civil Division to meet the challenges ahead and continue to deliver professional and quality service to Hong Kong," said Mr Yuen.
Mr Yuen also expressed his deep gratitude to Mr Lai for his dedication and valuable contributions over the years.
"Mr Lai has rendered 33 years of exemplary service to the DoJ and has commanded great respect from both the legal fraternity and within the civil service. In his 12 years as Law Officer (Civil Law), he has been an inspiring leader of the Civil Division and has made significant contributions to the development of law in Hong Kong. We warmly wish him a long and happy retirement."
The post of Law Officer (Civil Law), which is ranked at Law Officer (DL6) level, is responsible for advising on the civil law aspects of a wide range of complex and sensitive issues of government policy and overseeing the development and promotion of arbitration and mediation in Hong Kong.
Brief biographical notes on the two officers are set out below:
Mr Benedict Lai Ying-sie
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Mr Lai was admitted as a solicitor in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong in 1981. He was also admitted as barrister and solicitor in Australia in 1983. He joined the Government as an Executive Officer II in June 1973 and was appointed as a Crown Counsel in October 1981. He was promoted to Senior Crown Counsel in June 1985, to Deputy Principal Crown Counsel in August 1990, and to Principal Crown Counsel in October 1994. He was elevated to Law Officer in July 2004 and has since held the position of Law Officer (Civil Law). Mr Lai was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2011.
Ms Christina Cheung Kam-wai
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Ms Cheung was admitted as a solicitor in the United Kingdom in 1989 and in Hong Kong in 1996. She joined the Government in May 1995 as a Senior Crown Counsel. She was promoted to Deputy Principal Government Counsel in May 2001 and to Principal Government Counsel in August 2008.
Ends/Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:30
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