Veteran government lawyer Kevin Zervos has quietly taken on the role of Hong Kong's top prosecutor in a move that is expected to lead to him being appointed director of public prosecutions.
The 57-year-old Australian (pictured), who has been a prosecutor in the city for 19 years, took the helm on Monday, with outgoing DPP Ian McWalters, 59, on pre-retirement leave.
Long considered a front-runner for the job, Zervos is already listed as the Director of Public Prosecutions in the government's online directory. But a spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said he was serving in an acting capacity and an announcement on the successor to McWalters would be made 'in due course'. McWalters is tipped to join the judiciary.
The change in DPP - an important and sensitive position as it involves making key decisions on whether criminal cases should be taken to court or not - will be the second in little more than a year. McWalters took over from Grenville Cross, who held the post for 12 years, in October 2009.
Zervos, who had been deputy director of public prosecution, told the Sunday Morning Post that he understood the heavy responsibility which came with the job.
'We must acknowledge the great public responsibility this office imposes on the DPP. One should always be mindful of that and the responsibility we all have in terms of ensuring the rule of law is upheld and enforced,' he said.