the first Criminal Law Conference 2012 which Zervos hoped would serve as "the catalyst for positive reform of the Hong Kong criminal justice system" by putting together topics for discussion to identify possible areas for reform. The Chairman of the Law Society's Criminal Law and Procedure Committee, Stephen Hung Wan-shun, praised him for making the Hong Kong criminal justice system more transparent and for increasing communication between the department and defence lawyers. He noted that Zervos was "open to different views" and more active than his predecessors in attending court sessions instead of sitting in his office." Zervos is a staunch supporter of human rights. Prompted by growing concern over international human trafficking, the department launched an initiative in 2013 to record and map cases of sex trafficking, enforced labour and abused domestic helpers. In September 2011, Zervos decided not to prosecute 109 out of 113 protesters arrested during an anti-budget demonstration in March that year but wrote to them instead to remind them that demonstrations should be peaceful. Zervos advocated compassion for some first time offenders of minor crimes. "I can see the positive effects of treating [first-time offenders] in a just and compassionate way. It is important to give a person a second chance and not to break their spirit. When you [give them a reprieve] the chances are they don't reoffend and you won't see them in the criminal court again," Zervos said. "We are mainly talking about people coming before the court for the first time – sometimes they are young, foolish; sometimes they are mature people who act out of character and do something foolish." On 30 June 2012, Zervos was appointed as a justice of the peace. Retirement as DPP Zervos retired as DPP on 8 September 2013. Before his retirement as DPP, the Hong Kong Bar Association has expressed its gratitude to Zervos "for his outstanding service and contribution to the community, the Rule of Law and administration of justice in Hong Kong". The Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong, Rimsky Yuen SC has also extended his gratitude to Zervos for his valuable service in the justice department for over 21 years. "During his tenure as the DPP, he has strived to uphold the rule of law by handling prosecutions in a just and impartial manner. He has also been active in promoting community awareness of the rule of law by organising a