Background
Thomas was born to parents Cardigan and Kathleen Thomas in southeast England.
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Michael Thomas
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Education
He attended Chigwell School and later the London School of Economics.
Career
He served the post from 1983 to 1988, under the Governorships of Sir Edward Youde and Lord David Wilson. He received a Middle Temple Blackstone Entrance Scholarship in 1952. He was called to the Middle Temple and became a barrister in 1955.
Until 1983 in England, Thomas specialised in commercial and maritime law.
He was Treasury Counsel for the Ministry of Defence and Royal Navy as a junior and advised on the "Torrey Canyon" casualty. He acted for the Tribunal at several maritime inquiries and an inquiry into an aircraft crash near Heathrow.
He was made a Queen"s Counsel in 1973. He was appointed a bencher of Middle Temple in 1981.
In silk, he appeared as counsel before tribunals in England (including the House of Lords and Privy Council), Singapore, Hong Kong, New York and Lisbon.
He sat as Chairman of Boards of Investigation appointed by the United Kingdom government and by the Liberian government into shipping casualties. In 1983, he was invited to become and served in that position until 1988. In 1984, he played a part in the ultimate settlement of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984.
After finishing his term as Attorney General, he recommenced private practice at the bar in England and Hong Kong.
Before his retirement he specialised in appellate advocacy before the Court of Final Appeal or Court of Appeal and cases of judicial review, but stopped undertaking trial work at first instance, either civil or criminal. He argued in cases on the government"s behalf in 2005 and 2009.
Thomas retired from practice at the end of 2013. His last court hearing was in the Hong Kong Court of Appeal in the case of Re Mably.
The Court of Appeal in their judgment thanked Thomas for his service to Hong Kong as follows:
We were told that this is the last case in which Mr Thomas would appear in court as counsel
In the circumstances, we consider it appropriate to join Mr Shieh and Mr Jat in paying tribute to Mr Thomas’ contribution to the healthy growth and development of the Hong Kong Bar when he served as the and thereafter as an eminent silk in the local Bar. Thomas has been married three times.
Achievements
Membership
In his capacity as Attorney General, he was a member of the Executive and Legislative Councils and Joint Chairman of the Law Reform Commission.
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Born
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Nationality
China
Awards
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Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later King George IV, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, King George III.The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later King George IV, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, King George III.