Govt reappoints Commissioner under Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance

The Government announced today (July 26) that the Chief Executive, on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, has reappointed the Commissioner on Interception of Communications and Surveillance under the Interception of Communications and Surveillance Ordinance (Chapter 589) (the Ordinance).

The Chief Executive has reappointed Mr Yeung Chun-kuen, former Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, as the Commissioner for a term of three years with effect from August 17, 2024. Under the Ordinance, the Commissioner performs the role of an independent oversight authority to ensure the law enforcement agencies' compliance with the requirements of the Ordinance.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, "Mr Yeung is a retired judge with a wealth of experience. He was first appointed as the Commissioner in August 2021, and has been devoted to performing his function as an independent oversight authority under the Ordinance to ensure the law enforcement agencies' compliance and the effective operation of the regulatory regime. I am confident that he will remain capable of taking up the important position as the Commissioner."

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.