Lawyer 'to be US envoy in Beijing'

A Hong Kong-based lawyer who is a college friend of George W. Bush is on course to become the new US ambassador to Beijing.

Clark Randt, a partner with Shearman & Sterling for the past seven years, has been selected by Mr Bush for the prestigious job, the Post confirmed last night.

Earlier, a report from Taiwan's Central News Agency said Mr Randt 'had crossed the most important hurdle' to take up the appointment.

The report said background checks were still being conducted and Washington had not informed the Chinese Government about the appointment.

Mr Randt knows Mr Bush from his days at Yale University in the 1960s. He received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan in 1975 after graduating from Yale in 1968.

Mr Randt studied Chinese law at the University of East Asia in Macau and speaks Putonghua. He advises US firms seeking to invest in China and also helps Chinese firms to list on Wall Street.

Between 1982 and 1984, he worked as first secretary and commercial attache in Beijing under ambassador Arthur Hummel.

Mr Randt was not available for comment last night.