Li Yip Kwong

Charles Lee Yeh-kwong is a Hong Kong lawyer and businessman born in Shanghai, Republic of China. He is a former member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, a former chairman of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, and a non-executive director of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited. He is a qualified lawyer in both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, as well as a certified public accountant and chartered secretary.

Lee received his early education at Shanghai Concord Elementary School and Wah Yan College, Kowloon (he was part of the first graduating class). In 1953, he obtained “Good” grades in History, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry in the Hong Kong School Certificate Examination in English-medium schools. He later earned a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and was one of the founders of the law firm Woo, Kwan, Lee & Lo.

From 1988 to 1991, Lee served as a council member of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and from 1992 to 1994 as its chairman. In 1999, he was appointed chairman of the newly merged Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. In October 2005, he was appointed by Chief Executive Donald Tsang as a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong. On 26 April 2006, his six-year term as chairman of the Stock Exchange ended and he stepped down as required by regulation.

Lee is fond of sailing and scuba diving. He is married to Connie Fong-lin Kong, and the couple has a son and a daughter.

Public Service

• 1968–1973: Secretary, Companies Law Revision Committee
• 1992–1997: Member, Governor's Business Council
• 1993–1997: Hong Kong Affairs Advisor to China
• 1995–1997: Chairman, Fundraising Committee, The Community Chest of Hong Kong
• 1996: Member, Selection Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
• 1996–2003: Member, Equal Opportunities Commission
• 1997–2002: Member, Executive Council of Hong Kong
• 1997–1998: Chairman, Executive Committee, The Community Chest of Hong Kong
• 1995–2002: Member, Advisory Committee, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• 1998–2004: Member, Council, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• 1998–2003: Chairman, Council, Open University of Hong Kong
• 2004–2009: Chairman, Council, Open University of Hong Kong
• 2010–2023: Pro-Chancellor, Open University of Hong Kong
• 1998: Chairman, Board of Trustees, Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority
• 1999–2006: Chairman, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited
• 2002–2003: President and Chairman of the Board, The Community Chest of Hong Kong
• 2003: Chairman, Hong Kong Arts Festival Association Limited

Honors

Decorations

• 1993: Justice of the Peace
• 1994: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
• 2000: Gold Bauhinia Star
• 2006: Grand Bauhinia Medal

Honorary Doctorates

• 2000: Honorary Doctor of Laws, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• 2001: Honorary Doctor of Business Administration, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• 2003: Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences, Open University of Hong Kong
• 2005: Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong