The Government announced today (July 23) that the Chief Executive, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice, has appointed Mr Justice Wally Yeung Chun-kuen as the Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance under the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance. The appointment of the Commissioner will take effect from August 17, 2021, with a term for a period of three years.

     The Honourable Mr Justice Yeung obtained LL.B. and P.C.LL. from the University of Hong Kong in 1974 and 1975 respectively. He was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 1976 and was in private practice between 1976 and 1985. He was appointed as Magistrate in 1985 and as District Judge in 1987. He was appointed as Judge of the High Court in 1995, as Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court in 2002, and as the Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court in 2011.

     Commenting on the appointment, the Chief Executive said, "Mr Justice Yeung is a judge with a wealth of experience. I am confident that he will be able to perform this important task most capably, and to perform the role of an independent oversight authority under the Ordinance to ensure the law enforcement agencies' compliance and the effective operation of the regulatory regime."
 
     Mr Azizul Rahman Suffiad is currently the Commissioner. He has served the post since 2015 and will retire on August 16, 2021. The Chief Executive said, "We are grateful to the dedicated services provided by Mr Suffiad, who has effectively overseen the regulatory regime of the law enforcement agencies to conduct interception and covert surveillance. I express my gratitude for the valuable contribution by Mr Suffiad and wish him well in his future endeavours." 
 
     The Ordinance provides a comprehensive statutory framework for regulating the carrying out of interception and covert surveillance by designated law enforcement agencies, and aims to strike a balance between protecting the rights of the community to law and order and the privacy rights of the individuals.

Ends/Friday, July 23, 2021
Issued at HKT 11:30

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