The Government announced today (October 23) that the Chief Executive, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, has appointed two Judges of the Court of First Instance of the High Court as Panel Judges under the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance (Chapter 589).
      
     The Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Justice Poon Siu-tung as a Panel Judge under the Ordinance for a term of three years from October 25, 2026, to October 24, 2029. He has also appointed Mr Justice Leung Chun-man as a Panel Judge under the Ordinance for a term of three years from October 25, 2026, to October 24, 2029.
      
     Mr Justice Leung Chun-man was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1991. He was in private practice from 1992 until he joined the Judiciary as a District Judge in 2007. He was appointed as a Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court in 2024.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, "Mr Justice Poon Siu-tung has demonstrated full dedication in handling the law enforcement agencies' applications for authorisations under the Ordinance during the past term. I am confident that Mr Justice Poon Siu-tung and the newly appointed Panel Judge Mr Justice Leung Chun-man will make use of their expertise and experience to ensure the effective operation of the regulatory regime under the Ordinance."

     The Ordinance provides a comprehensive statutory framework for regulating the conduct of interception and covert surveillance by law enforcement agencies, and aims to strike a balance between maintaining law and order and protecting the privacy rights of individuals. Under the Ordinance, Panel Judges shall consider applications for authorisations of interception and Type 1 surveillance and for device retrieval warrants.

Ends/Friday, October 23, 2026
Issued at HKT 10:30

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