David Lee

Sir David Li Kwok‑po GBM GBS OBE JP (born 13 March 1939) is a Hong Kong banker and politician. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of East Asia, Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, former Member of the Executive Council (2005–2008) and former Legislative Council member for the Financial Functional Constituency (1985–2012).

Early life and education

David Li was born in London in 1939. He attended St. Joseph’s College in Hong Kong, Imperial College London (Mathematics) and the University of Cambridge (Economics and Law). He received an OBE in 1991 and was named one of Hong Kong’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 1975. He was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2001.

Public office

In 1985 he was returned unopposed to the Legislative Council for the Financial sector; he continued to be re‑elected—sometimes unopposed—until 2012. In 2005 he chaired Donald Tsang’s election campaign and was appointed to the Executive Council, relinquishing his British citizenship but retaining his knighthood. He received the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2007. In 2011 he served as campaign chairman for Henry Tang in the 2012 Chief Executive election. He retired from the Legislative Council in 2012, endorsing Ng Leung‑sing as his successor.

Scandals

Extramarital affair

In 2002 David Li was photographed with Liao Bixin, daughter of the Chuang Hing Bank family, in Paris, leading tabloids to dub him “Baby Li.”

Insider trading with Dow Jones

As a director of Dow Jones he faced SEC claims of insider trading. He settled in 2008 for US$8.1 million. A public poll found over 90 % believed he should resign from public office. He resigned from the Executive Council on 16 February 2008.

Honours

Titles and orders

• JP (1982)
• OBE (1991)
• Knight Bachelor (2005)
• Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (2005)
• Gold Bauhinia Star (2001)
• Order of the Star of Italy, Grand Officer (2006)
• Grand Bauhinia Medal (2007)
• Order of the Crown of Belgium, Grand Officer (2007)
• Legion of Honour, Commander (2012)

Honorary degrees

• Honorary LL.D., University of Cambridge (1993)
• Honorary LL.D., University of Warwick (1994)
• Honorary LL.D., University of Hong Kong (1996)
• Honorary D.Sc., Imperial College London (2007)
• Honorary D.Soc.Sc., Chinese University of Hong Kong (2013)

See also

• Li Pek‑chai family
• Li Fook‑sze, father, former Executive and Legislative Councillor
• Sir Arthur Li, younger brother, Executive Councillor, Bank of East Asia vice‑chairman, former Education Secretary, former Vice‑Chancellor of CUHK
• Sir Kempson Li, cousin, former Chief Justice of Hong Kong
• Li Ming‑kiu and Li Man‑bun, sons

External links

• Bank of East Asia official website