P R E S S   R E L E A S E

        Formerly Vice-President of the Court of Appeal, Dr the Honourable Simon Li Fook Sean is a respectable philanthropist and prominent practitioner in the judiciary in Hong Kong. 

        Dr Li attended The University of Hong Kong and studied law in University College London of the United Kingdom after the war.  He obtained his LLB degree in 1950 and was called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn in 1951.  Upon his return to Hong Kong in 1953, Dr Li joined the judiciary and served on various important positions, which include crown counsel, Magistrate, and District Judge.  In 1971, he was appointed a Judge of the High Court, was elevated to Justice of Appeal in 1980, and was made Vice-President of the Court of Appeal in 1984.

        Dr Li played a significant role in the smooth reversion of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty.  In 1984, Dr Li accepted an appointment to the Independent Monitoring Team on the Assessment Office, to monitor the acceptability of the Sino British Draft Agreement.  He was also a Member of the Drafting Committee for the Basic Law, a Hong Kong Affairs Adviser, and Deputy Director of the Preliminary Working Committee of the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.  Dr Li is equally active in community service and has contributed significantly to the development of Hong Kong.  Over the years, he has taken up many public offices.  He is currently Vice-Chairperson of Fu Hong Society, Honorary Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Director of the Bank of East Asia Limited, Director of King's College Old Boys' Association School Board, and Director of Rev. Joseph Carra Education Fund Limited.  Previously, he was Council Member of the Society for Rehabilitation, Honorary President of the Scout Association of Hong Kong, Chairman of the Insurance Claims Complaints Board, as well as Director and Chairman of the Widow and Orphan Pension Board.  In recognition of the magnificent contributions of Dr Li to the judiciary service and public welfare, The Chinese University of Hong Kong conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa in 1986.  In 1997, Dr Li was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

        Dr Li has given generous support to the advancement of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, especially in nurturing local talents and the promotion of academic activities.  Over the years, Dr Li and his family have made generous donations to the Chinese University, one notable example being the establishment of the Mr Li Koon Chun Memorial Fund and the Dr Simon Li Fook Sean and Madam Yang Yen Ying Fund, which support research and university development and financed many student and staff development programmes and the improvement of teaching facilities on campus.