P R E S S   R E L E A S E

        The opening ceremony of Li Koon Chun Hall at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, took place on Thursday, 3 September 1998 on the University campus.  The officiating party consisted of Dr the Honourable Simon Li Fook Sean, GBM and Mrs Simon Li, Dr Lee Hon Chiu, Chairman of the Council of CUHK and Professor Arthur K C Li, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK.  Prominent members of the community and friends of the University including Dr Lee Quo-wei, GBM, Mr and Mrs Li Fook Hing, Sir Kenneth Fung, Dr and Mrs David K P Li,  and Ms Gladys Li attended the ceremony. 

        Dr the Honourable Simon Li Fook Sean pledged a generous donation to support the University's student and staff development programmes and academic exchange activities, and to improve facilities on campus.  As a token to show the sincere gratitude of the Chinese University to Dr Simon Li, a lecture theatre at the University was named after his late father, Mr Li Koon Chun.  At the ceremony, Professor Arthur K C Li thanked Dr Simon Li for his generous support to the University and expressed his appreciation to Mr Li Koon Chun and Dr Simon Li for their remarkable contribution to education. 

        In his speech, Dr Simon Li recalled that his late father was a humble and generous gentleman, with particular concern for education.  He had benefited his kinsmen in Hokshan by founding a high school in his hometown.  Dr Simon Li also took the opportunity to thank Professor Jao Tsung-i , Wei Lun Honorary Professor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong for his Chinese calligraphy of the plaque of Li Koon Chun Hall. 

        Mr Li Koon Chun, was a leading businessman and philanthropist in Hong Kong before the Second World War.  Mr Li was prominent in the rice trade, in the shipping business and in real estate dealings.  He was also a founder of the Bank of East Asia.  He was a Justice of the Peace and a director of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and of the Po Leung Kuk.  Mr Li was fluent in both English and Chinese and was one of the few Chinese at the time qualified to serve as a special juror.  Though he had little formal education, Mr Li highly recognized the importance of education. Besides founding a high school in his hometown, he also encouraged his off-springs to further their education who all became prominent figures in Hong Kong and contributed significantly to the development of the community. 
 

.