XN000022-1988-01-19 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1988

APPOINTMENT OF NEW AG ANNOUNCED

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, WILL BE LEAVING THE SERVICE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN MAY 1988 ON COMPLETION OF HIS CURRENT CONTRACT.

MR THOMAS WAS APPOINTED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL IN MAY 1983.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE PROMOTION OF MR JEREMY MATHEWS TO SUCCEED MR THOMAS.

MR MATHEWS IS 46 YEARS OF AGE. FOLLOWING A PERIOD OF ABOUT THREE YEARS' PRIVATE PRACTICE IN LONDON, HE JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN FEBRUARY 1968 AS A CROWN COUNSEL.

DURING HIS CAREER IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, MR MATHEWS SERVED MAINLY IN THE LAW DRAFTING DIVISION UNTII. HE WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY CROWN SOLICITOR IN FEBRUARY 1981.

MR MATHEWS WAS APPOINTED

LAW OFFICER, CROWN SOLICITOR, ON APRIL 2, 1982. HE HAS ACTED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.

MR MATHEWS IS MARRIED AND HAS TWO DAUGHTERS.

MATHEWS APPOINTED AS AG

MATHEWS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS BEEN PLEASED TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF MR JEREMY

AT PRESENT THE CROWN SOLICITOR, AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF HONG KONG TO SUCCEED MR MICHAEL THOMAS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LEGAL TODAY (TUESDAY).

DEPARTMENT SAID

11

AM GREATLY IT 13 AN AND I

COMMENTING ON HIS APPOINTMENT, MR MATHEWS SAID: HONOURED TO BE ASKED TO TAKE OVER AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. EXCITING JOB WHICH CARRIES WITH IT VERY HEAVY RESPONSIBILITIES LOOK FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE.

11AS A

OF

"I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO BE WORKING IN A DEPARTMENT THAT LONG AND DISTINGUISHED ||ISTORY AND 1 ALSO HAVE THE IMMENSE BENEFIT WORKING WITH LAWYERS OF A VERY HIGH CALIBRN.

HE SAID ONE OF HIS PRIORITIES ON TAKING OVER AS ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD BE TO CONTINUR DEVELOPING

DEPARTMENT'S POLICY

THE

OF

LOCALISATION,

/PAYING TRIBUTE