12 Facts About Simon Li

Simon Li Fook-sean was a Hong Kong senior judge and politician.

Simon Li studied law at University College London from 1947 to 1950 and was called to Lincoln's Inn Bar in London in 1951.

Simon Li was conferred a Doctor of Laws honoris causa by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1986.

Simon Li returned to Hong Kong and became a crown counsel in Hong Kong's Legal Department in 1953.

Simon Li was the first Chinese to be appointed Vice-President of the Court of Appeal in 1984.

Simon Li retired in 1987 at the age of 64 as the colony's most senior Chinese judge.

Simon Li subsequently was appointed by the Beijing government to many positions during the transition period.

Simon Li was a member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee, a Hong Kong Affairs Adviser, and deputy director of the preliminary working committee of the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Simon Li established the Mr Li Koon Chun Memorial Fund and the Dr Simon Li Fook Sean and Madam Yang Yen Ying Fund for supporting the finances of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Simon Li died of heart failure at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital surrounded by his family on 26 February 2013 at the age of 91.

Simon Li's nephews include former Legislative Councillor David Li Kwok-po, the Bank of East Asia chairman and Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, deputy chairman at the bank, former Secretary for Education and former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Simon Li represented the domestic helpers in the Vallejos v Commissioner of Registration.