Mr Leung was selected for the position through a promotion-cum-open recruitment exercise.
Welcoming the appointment, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, said that Mr Leung is a veteran prosecutor who has extensive professional experience in criminal law and strong leadership skills to lead the Prosecutions Division in its important work of public prosecutions.
"Mr Leung is an outstanding senior counsel. I have every confidence that he will lead the Prosecutions Division ably to meet the challenges ahead and discharge his role as the Director of Public Prosecutions in a fair and just manner," said Mr Yuen.
Mr Yuen again expressed his gratitude to Mr Keith Yeung Ka-hung, SC, who has completed his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions in September, for his great and valuable contribution during his term of service.
Ranked at Law Officer (DL6) level, the Director of Public Prosecutions is responsible for directing public prosecutions and advising on the development, enforcement and implementation of the criminal law.
A brief biographical note on Mr Leung is set out below:
Mr David Leung Cheuk-yin, SC, aged 51, was admitted as solicitor in Hong Kong in 1992 and subsequently called to the Bar in 1998. He has over 25 years' post admission experience in the legal profession. He joined the Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice in 1995 as Crown Counsel, and was promoted to Senior Government Counsel in 1997, Deputy Principal Government Counsel in 2009, and Principal Government Counsel in December 2013. He served in the Prosecutions Division throughout his service with the Department and has been a Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions since 2012. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2015.
Mr Leung's spouse is a Senior Government Counsel in the Prosecutions Division. After Mr Leung has assumed office, he will avoid any possible conflict of interest and any perception of such conflict in respect of prosecution cases handled by his spouse, and will not deal with any administrative or personnel matters concerning his spouse.
Ends/Friday, Dec 29, 2017