The Registrar, more specifically the Registrar of the Court of Final Appeal, is appointed by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong to assist in the work of the Court of Final Appeal. The Registrar may also be allowed to hold a concurrent judicial role, such as being a judge, in the lower courts.[1]

Duties of the Registrar

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The Registrar will consider each leave application (applying to appear in front of the Court of Final Appeal) has any reasonable grounds for arguing an appeal. If an appeal is considered arguable, it will appear before an Appeal Committee, who will then make a final decision. If the Registrar determines there is no grounds for an appeal, a "Rule 7 Summons" will be issued, in which the applicant is invited to show on paper why the Appeals Committee should hear their appeal.

The Registrar also helps with listing cases and liaising with the non-permanent judges from both Hong Kong and other common law jurisdictions on sitting in appeal cases.

List of Registrar's

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No. Name Term of office Concurrent judicial role Reason for tenure end Appointed by Silk
1 Mr. Edward Timothy Starbuck Woolley 1997 1999 None / full-time registrar Retired Tung Chee-hwa
Mr. Christopher Chan Cheuk, BBS (acting) 1999 2000 District Judge Appointed Registrar of the High Court Tung Chee-hwa
Ms. Betty Kwan Ka-ching, BBS (acting) 2000 2002 Deputy Registrar of the High Court Retired Tung Chee-hwa
The Hon Madam Justice Queeny Au-yeung Kwai-yue (acting) 2002 2007 Registrar of the District Court (2002–03)

District Judge (2003–07)

Appointed Registrar of the High Court Tung Chee-hwa
Mr. Simon Kwang Cheok-weung (acting) 2007 2014 District Judge

Temporary Deputy Registrar of the High Court

Appointed full-time Registrar of the Court of Final Appeal Donald Tsang
2 Mr. Simon Kwang Cheok-weung 2014 2018 Senior Deputy Registrar of the High Court Appointed Registrar of the High Court Leung Chun-ying
His Honor Judge Wong King-wah (acting) 2018 2023 District Judge Appointed full-time Registrar of the Court of Final Appeal Carrie Lam
3 His Honor Judge Wong King-wah 2023 Senior Deputy Registrar of the High Court John Lee Ka-chiu
  1. ^ "The Registrar". Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.