Obituary: Simon Li, the trailblazing judge who took on Tung Chee-hwa

Simon Li Fook-sean 1922-2013

The first Chinese Hongkonger to act as chief justice, Simon Li Fook-sean, died of heart failure in hospital surrounded by his family on Tuesday night. He was 91 years old.

Li - who stood in as the city's top judge under British rule back in 1986 and campaigned against Tung Chee-hwa to be the first chief executive - had battled ill health since being admitted to hospital with a chronic respiratory problem about a year ago.

His only daughter Gladys Li, ex-chairwoman of the Bar Association, was one of about a dozen relatives gathered by his bedside at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital in Happy Valley as he neared death.

Looking tired and sad, she was in the Court of Final Appeal yesterday where she is representing domestic helpers in their fight for right of abode. Despite holding very different political views from her father, they were known to be close. She refused comment to the South China Morning Post.

Simon Li's death was confirmed by his nephew Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung, the Academy of Medicine president, who was also present on Tuesday night. "Everyone was very sad when my uncle passed away," he said "Gladys was very sad."