XN000022-1994-05-24 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1994

FIRST LOCAL LAW OFFICERS APPOINTED

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, TODAY (TUESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR PETER V T NGUYEN AND MR DANIEL R FUNG, QC AS HONG KONG'S FIRST TWO LOCAL LAW OFFICERS.

MR NGUYEN HAS BEEN APPOINTED THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS WHILE MR FUNG WILL BECOME THE SOLICITOR GENERAL.

MR NGUYEN, WHO WILL SUCCEED MR JOHN WOOD, WHO WILL RETIRE AND RETURN TO BRITAIN IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, WILL TAKE UP HIS APPOINTMENT IN JULY. MR FUNG WILL ASSUME OFFICE IN DECEMBER 1994.

MR MATHEWS, IN WELCOMING THESE APPOINTMENTS SAID MR NGUYEN AND MR FUNG, BOTH HIGHLY RESPECTED SENTOR BARRISTERS, WILL BRING A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

HE NOTED THAT THEIR APPOINTMENTS MARKED A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN THE LOCALISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT, AT A VERY SENIOR LEVEL. HE LOOKED FORWARD VERY MUCH TO WORKING WITH THEM.

UP

WITH THEIR APPOINTMENTS, 28.8 PER CENT OF THE LEGAL PER DEPARTMENT'S DIRECTORATE ARE LOCAL OFFICERS, AS COMPARED WITH 6.3 CENT IN 1988, WHEN A NUMBER OF SCHEMES WERE INTRODUCED TO SPEED LOCALISATION IN THE DEPARTMENT, WHILE THE PROPORTION OF LOCAL OFFICERS THE DEPARTMENT OVERALL HAS JUMPED FROM ONE THIRD IN 1988 ΤΟ OVER

IN HALF.

FOLLOWING ARE THE BIOGRAPHIES OF MR NGUYEN AND MR FUNG:

MR PETER V T NGUYEN, NEWLY-APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

BORN IN 1943, MR NGUYEN WAS CALLED TO THE BAR OF ENGLAND AND WALES IN 1970, AND TO THE HONG KONG BAR IN 1974.

1974,

MR NGUYEN SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT CROWN COUNSEL AND CROWN COUNSEL IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT FROM AUGUST 1970 TO NOVEMBER DURING WHICH PERIOD HE PROSECUTED IN ALL LEVELS OF THE COURTS.

WITH

AFTER

THAT

MR NGUYEN WENT INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE SINCE 1974, STARTING A MIXED PRACTICE DURING THE INITIAL FIRST FEW YEARS BUT HAVING AN EXCLUSIVELY CRIMINAL PRACTICE.

DURING THESE YEARS OF PRIVATE PRACTICE, HE HAS PROSECUTED DEFENDED IN MANY COMPLEX CASES, INCLUDING BRIBERY AND FRAUD CASES.

AND

MR NGUYEN SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE BAR COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION IN 1984; THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION SUB-COMMITTER ON BAIL IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS (1986-88); AND THE CORRUPTION PREVENTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE ICAC (1990-91).

MR NGUYEN IS MARRIED WITH TWO SONS.

/MR DANIEL