He returned to Hong Kong and became a crown counsel in Hong Kong's Legal Department in 1953. He became a District Court judge in 1963.[1] Li was the first Chinese judge to be appointed to the High Court in 1971 and was elevated to Justice of Appeal in 1980. He was the first Chinese to be appointed Vice-President of the Court of Appeal in 1984.[2] In 1986 he became the first Hong Kong Chinese to act as Chief Justice for the then Chief Justice Denys Roberts. He retired in 1987 at the age of 64 as the colony's most senior Chinese judge.[1]
In the 1996 First Hong Kong Chief Executive election, Li campaigned against Yang Ti-liang, who succeeded Denys Robert as Chief Justice; Peter Woo, tycoon and son-in-law of Y. K. Pao, and the eventual winner Tung Chee-hwa.[1] Li initially supported Lo Tak-shing for the Chief Executive race. After Lo withdrew, Li announced his own candidacy and became the last of the four to join the race.[3] Li failed to get enough nominations, receiving just 43 votes, and was eliminated in the election. Tung won a landslide victory in the election by the 400-member Selection Committee orchestrated by the Beijing government. In 1997, Li received Hong Kong's highest honour, the Grand Bauhinia Medal.
Public services
Li also held numerous positions including the vice-chairperson of Fu Hong Society, honorary steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, director of his family owned Bank of East Asia, director of King's College Old Boys' Association School Board, director of Rev. Joseph Carra Education Fund, council member of the Society for Rehabilitation, honorary president of the Scout Association of Hong Kong, chairman of the Insurance Claims Complaints Board, and director and chairman of the Widow and Orphan Pension Board.
He also 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.[2]
Death and family
Li suffered from ill health and was sent to hospital with a chronic respiration problem in about 2012. He died of heart failure at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital surrounded by his family on 26 February 2013 at the age of 91.[1]
