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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Judiciary today (Friday) announced the appointment of a Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, the Chief District Judge and a Special Magistrate.

Miss Susan KWAN Shuk-hing is appointed as Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, His Honour Judge Barnabas FUNG Wah as Chief District Judge and Mr Raymond WONG Kwok-fai as Special Magistrate.

All appointments are made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission. The appointments will take effect from May 2, 2001 except that of His Honour Judge Barnabas FUNG Wah which will become effective from May 16, 2001.

The Honorable Chief Justice Andrew Kwok-nang Li welcomes the appointments. "I am confident that the appointees will contribute to the Judiciary in its commitment to uphold the rule of law and to maintain and foster an independent judicial system," he said.

The biographical notes of the newly-appointed appointees are as follows:

Miss Susan KWAN Shuk-hing

Miss Susan KWAN Shuk-hing was born in 1954 in Macau. After obtaining LL.B. and P.C.LL. from University of Hong Kong in 1977 and 1978 respectively, she was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1979. She was in private practice since 1980 until when she joined the Judiciary as Deputy Registrar of the High Court in 1999. She was appointed as Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in addition to her own appointment as Deputy Registrar since March 2000.

His Honour Judge Barnabas FUNG Wah

His Honour Judge Barnabas FUNG Wah was born in 1960 in Hong Kong. He obtained Bachelor of Laws from University of New South Wales in 1985 and Postgraduate Certificate in Laws from University of Hong Kong in 1986. He was called to the Bars in New South Wales and Hong Kong in 1985 and 1986 respectively. In 1990, he became Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom. He was in private practice from 1987 to 1993, a Part-time Lecturer at University of Hong Kong from 1991 to 1993. He joined the Judiciary as Permanent Magistrate in 1993 and was appointed Deputy Judge of the District Court in February 1998. He was promoted to Judge of the District Court in September the same year.

Mr WONG Kwok-fai, Raymond

Mr Raymond WONG Kwok-fai was born in 1962 in Hong Kong. After obtaining Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from University of London in 1994, he was called to the Utter Bar of Middle Temple in 1996 and the Hong Kong Bar in 1997. He joined the former Legal Department as Court Prosecutor in 1989, and was promoted as Senior Court Prosecutor II since 1995.

End/Friday, April 27, 2001

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