Benjamin Yu, SC, and Joseph Fok, SC, have been appointed Recorders of the Court of First Instance for three-year terms from today.

Four incumbent Recorders are being reappointed during the same period. They are Jacqueline Leong, SC, Kenneth Kwok, SC, Lawrence Lok, SC, and Ching Wong, SC.

Biographies
* Mr Yu was born in 1957 and obtained LL.B and P.C.LL. from HK University in 1978 and 1979 respectively and got his LL.M from the University of London in 1980. He was called to the HK Bar in 1979 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1995 and Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance for a period in 2002. He has been in private practice since 1979.

* Mr Fok was born in 1962 and graduated from the University of London in 1984, before being called to the Bar of England & Wales (Middle Temple) in 1985 and the HK Bar in 1986. In 1991 he was admitted as Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore and became Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 1997. He was appointed as Senior Counsel in 1999. He has been in private practice since 1987.

* Ms Leong was born in 1947 and called to the English and HK Bars in 1970 and 1971 respectively. She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1990 and as Recorder of the Court of First Instance in 1997. She is currently in private practice.

* Mr Kwok was born in 1949 and graduated from HK University's Faculty of Law in 1972. He was called to the HK Bar in 1974. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1993 and as Recorder of the Court of First Instance in 1997. He is currently in private practice.

* Mr Lok was born in 1955 and after graduating from HK University's Faculty of Law in 1977, he was called to the English and HK Bars in 1978 and 1979 respectively. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1994 and as Recorder of the Court of First Instance in 1997. He is currently in private practice.

* Mr Wong was born in 1948 and called to the English and HK Bars in 1972 and 1975 respectively. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1997 and as Recorder of the Court of First Instance in 1997. He is currently in private practice.