Release No.: 26/APR 02-0/91/04/25

APPOINTMENT OF JUDICIAL COMMISSIONERS OF THE SUPREME COURT

) In accordance with article 94 ( 4) of the Constitution, the Prime Minister, after consulting the Chief Justice, has advised the President to appoint Mr Kan Ting Chiu and Miss as Judicial Commissioners of the Supreme Court for a period of one year each with effect from 2 May 1991.

The appointments are in accordance with the Chief Justice's programme to restructure the Supreme Court Bench, by making short-term appointments of Judicial Commissioners to facilitate the disposal of business in the Supreme Court. Under this programme, it · is also envisaged that Judges will be appointed in future from those who have had experience as Judicial Commissioners.

Mr Kan Ting Chiu, 44, graduated from the University of with·a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Degree in 1970, and gained a Master of Laws Degree from the National University of Sing&pore in 1988. From 1970 to 1976 he was in the Singapore Legal Service and served as a State Counsel in the Attorney- General's Chambers, and as a Senior Magistrate in the Subordinate Courts. Since 1976 he has been in private practice. He was a Council member .of the Law Society from 1982 to 1984 and is presently a member of the Inquiry Panel under the Legal Profession Act. ) 2

Miss Lai Siu Chiu, 42, was born in Malacca and is the first woman ever appointed to the Supreme Court of Singapore. She will also be the youngest person on the Supreme Court Bench. She graduated from the University of Singapore in 1972 with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Degree, and was awarded a Master of Laws Degree by the University of London in 1977. She joined the law firm of Allen & Gledhill soon after graduation, and has remained with the litigation side of the firm since then, becoming a partner in 1980.

1)

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE 25 APRIL 1991