Simon K. Y. Lee Papers

Collection

Identifier: 2015-011

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains official documents as well as personal papers which provide insight into the public and private life of Dr Simon Y.K. Lee Life. It includes 9 mortgage documents regarding Inland Lot No. 2950 (No. 18 Tung Shan Terrace, Stubbs Road), two certified translations from French, a property deed certified by the Japanese during World War II, a receipt from Kowloon Motor Bus Co. Ltd (Kowloon bus advertising). As for the personal papers, the collection comprises 2 diaries which detail his round the world trip (1965) and his journey in Bangkok (1949) on a daily basis and one Year 1947 diary which is not completed (only January, February, July, August are filled in), some personal documents such as Dr Lee’s Republic of China Passport, his Chinese Seamen’s Union Membership book, a certificate from St. Joseph’s College stating the reason for leaving, a certificate from the Educational Department (1941) stating that Lee passed the Hong Kong School Certificate Examination and a certificate from the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service and 65 photos.

Dates

1927 - 1968

Creator

Lee, Simon Kwok Yin, MBE (Person)

Language of Materials

The majority of the documents are written in English, some are written in English and Chinese. The property deed certified by the Japanese during World War II is written in Japanese

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is open to all researchers

Biographic

Dr Simon K. Y. Lee was born on 21st July 1927 in Kwangtung (China). He was educated in Hong Kong. After graduating from St Joseph’s college in 1941, he first wanted to pursue further studies in law. At the age of 14, the war broke out and Dr Lee fled with his family to mainland China. After the war, Dr Lee’s father brought the family back to Hong Kong and founded “Sun Hing Hong” in 1945. He assisted his father in the fledging family business and when his father passed away in 1967, he took over as the head of the business. Under his leadership, “Sun Hing Hong” became the Sun Hing Group of Companies majoring in logistics, warehousing, transportation, insurance agency as well as investment and real estate in Hong Kong and Vancouver (Canada). From 1978 to 2006, he served on numerous committees appointed by the Hong Kong government, such as the Port Committee, Pilotage Advisory Committee and the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee. He also served on the General Committee of the General Chamber and was once the Chairman of the Shipping Committees. Over the course of five decades, he also made invaluable contributions to Lionism and once served as the President of the Club, Distric Governor of District 303, International Director and Board Appointee. Dr Lee was very concerned about the education of deaf children and served as the Chairman and President of the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf for four decades. In 1985 he established the Simon K. Y. Lee Foundation to further his commitment to philantropy. For his exemplary communitu services, he was made a Justice of the Peace in 1985 and was awarded the MBE in1993. In 2006 the University of Hong Kong awarded dr Lee the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Social Sciences.