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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

The Judiciary today (August 21) announced the appointments of five Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and a Judge of the District Court.

His Honour Judge Michael Anthony McMAHON, His Honour Judge Johnson LAM Man-hon, His Honour Judge Andrew CHEUNG Kui-nung, Mr Aarif Tyebjee BARMA, SC, Mr Anselmo Francisco Trinidad REYES, SC are appointed as Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court and Ms Marlene NG May-ling as Judge of the District Court.

All appointments are made by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission. They will take effect from August 22, 2003, except those of Mr Aarif Tyebjee BARMA, SC and Mr Anselmo Francisco Trinidad REYES, SC, which will be effective from September 15, 2003.

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 appointees are as follow:

His Honour Judge Michael Anthony McMAHON

His Honour Judge Michael Anthony McMAHON was born in 1948 in Australia. After obtaining LL.B. from Sydney University in 1976, he was admitted as Solicitor of Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1977 and as Barrister of New South Wales in 1978. He was in private practice since 1977 and joined the then Legal Department of Hong Kong in 1981. In 1994, he was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as District Judge.

His Honour Judge Johnson LAM Man-hon

His Honour Judge Johnson LAM Man-hon was born in 1961 in Hong Kong. He obtained LL.B. and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1983 and 1984 respectively. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1984 and was in private practice since 1985. In 2001, he was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as District Judge.

His Honour Judge Andrew CHEUNG Kui-nung

His Honour Judge Andrew CHEUNG Kui-nung was born in 1961 in Hong Kong. He obtained LL.B. and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1983 and 1984 respectively and graduated from Harvard University with LL.M. in 1985. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in the same year. He was a Part-time Demonstrator of the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong from 1983 to 1984 and became a Part-time Lecturer in 1986. He was in private practice from 1986 to 2001. In 1995, he was admitted as Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore. In 2001, he joined the Hong Kong Judiciary as District Judge.

Mr Aarif Tyebjee BARMA, SC

Mr Aarif Tyebjee BARMA, SC, was born in India in 1959. After obtaining Bachelor of Arts (Jurisprudence) and Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford in 1981 and 1982 respectively, he was called to both the Bar in Hong Kong and the Bar in England and Wales (Middle Temple) in 1983. He was admitted as Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1991, and was appointed as Senior Counsel in 2002. He was in private practice since 1985. He was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court for a period in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

Mr Anselmo Francisco Trinidad REYES

Mr Anselmo Francisco Trinidad REYES was born in 1959 in Manila. He obtained B.A.(Law), LL.M. and Ph.D.(Law) from Cambridge University, England in 1982, 1983 and 1987 respectively. He was called to the Bar in England (Inner Temple) in 1985 and the Bar in Hong Kong in 1986. He was admitted as Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1995 and was appointed as Senior Counsel in 2001. He was a Law Lecturer of the University of Hong Kong from 1986 to 1988 and was in private practice since 1989. He was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as Deputy Judge of the Court of First instance of the High Court for a period in 2002.

Ms Marlene NG May-ling

Ms Marlene NG May-ling was born in Hong Kong in 1960. She obtained LL.B. and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1982 and 1983 respectively. She was admitted as Solicitor of Hong Kong in 1990 and as Solicitor of Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1991. She was also admitted as Barrister and Solicitor of Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory in 1991 and as Solicitor of Supreme Court of New South Wales of Australia in 1993. She has been in private practice since 1983 and was appointed by the Hong Kong Judiciary as Temporary Deputy Registrar of the High Court for a period in 2002. She became a Deputy Judge of the District Court in 2003.

End/Thursday, August 21, 2003

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