Bulletin Number Four 1986

Citations The Honourable Mr. Justice Simon Fook-sean L i, L LB ， Barrister-at-law When the Qin Dynasty gave way to the Han Dynasty, men o f talent and ambition rose to take advantage o f the opportunities thus opened up and accomplished a great many monumental deeds. However, it was probably due to the methodical clerk Xiao He rather than anyone else that Han was able to unify China and bring peace to millions. Having shown no out standing qualities nor performed heroic feats, Xiao nevertheless did appreciate well before all others the importance o f gathering the maps, archives and census records o f the previous Dynasty, and o f understanding the woes and needs o f the common man. He was thus able to smoothly usher in a new start for the country. Today, Hong Kong is also at a major turning point, and men o f intelligence and drive are rising to the call o f the times ready to make their mark. Taking alesson from the past, do we not now also expect that the future peace and prosperity o f this city w ill again depend on the incessant efforts o f experienced men like Mr. Justice Li who are working quietly behind the scene? A native o f Heshan o f Guangdong Province ， Mr. Li grew up in Hong Kong and studied law in the University College o f London University after the War, earning his LLB in 1950. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1951 and took up an appoint ment in the Chancery Chambers during the following year. Returning to Hong Kong in 1953, he was appointed Crown Counsel and then Senior Crown Counsel in the Legal Department, crossed over to the Judiciary as a Judge o f the D istrict Court in 1962-71, was appointed a Judge o f the High Court in 1971-80 ， elevated to Justice of Appeal in 1980 and four years later on account o f his seniority was made Vice- President o f the Court o f Appeal, the highest position in the Judiciary ever held by a Hong Kong Chinese. In 1982 China and the United Kingdom com menced talks on the future o f Hong Kong, and two years later made a Joint Declaration announcing that Hong Kong would become a Special Administrative Region under Chinese sovereignty in 1997, and as such would be governed in accordance w ith principles laid down in the Joint Declaration and a set o f Basic Law to be made according to these principles. Once announced the Joint Declaration drew strong and divided public response, and i f the future o f Hong Kong was to be decided as agreed upon then it became essential that local views be conveyed to the British Parliament in order that there would be a basis on which for it to ratify the agreement reached in the Joint Declaration. A t this juncture Mr. Li decided to accept appointment as a member o f the Independent Monitoring Team on the Assessment Office testing the Acceptability o f the Sino-British Draft Agreement, and after months o f dedicated work was able to achieve his mission and made it possible for the Agreement to be signed by both sides on time ， As soon as the Agreement came into effect, the drafting o f the Basic Law became a pressing task if Hong Kong was to ensure future long-term stability. As a leading authority in the legal profession, Mr. Li again accepted appointment as a member o f the Basic Law Drafting Committee and as the person in charge o f the Working Group under the Committee on Inhabitants and Other Person's Rights, Freedom, Welfare and Duties, thus further increasing the heavy responsi bilities he is shouldering on behalf o f the people o f Hong Kong. It is indeed fortunate that Mr. Li comes from an established local fam ily w ith many o f its members taking key positions in business, industry, the professionals and the Government, and that Mr. Li is himself a scholar steeped in the legal tradition o f the West and most experienced in its practice. Clearly it would be propitious and reassuring to have a man o f his background, training and attitude to participate in the deliberations on the Basic Law, and his contri bution to this most important task can be expected to be substantial indeed. In recognition o f his distinguished service to the legal profession and o f the many efforts he has made for securing the future o f the Territory, Mr. Chancellor, may I request Your Excellency to confer on Mr. Justice Li the Degree o f Doctor o f Laws, honoris causa. NEWS 3