Lee Hun Hoe

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Lee Hun Hoe (simplified Chinese: 李汉和; traditional Chinese: 李漢和; pinyin: Lǐ Hànhé; 27 September 1925 – 8 July 2005)[1] was a Malaysian lawyer and judge who served as the fourth Chief Justice of Borneo.

Yang Amat Arif Tan Sri Datuk Amar Lee Hun Hoe PMN DA SPDK PGDK PNBS ADK
李漢和
4th Chief Justice of Borneo
In office 1 January 1974 – 31 December 1990
Nominated by	Abdul Razak Hussein
Appointed by	Abdul Halim
Preceded by	Ismail Khan Ibrahim Khan
Succeeded by	Mohamad Jemuri Serjan
Personal details
Born	Lee Hun Hoe 27 September 1925 Alor Setar, Kota Setar District, Kedah, Unfederated Malay States (now Malaysia)
Died	8 July 2005 (aged 79) Kuching, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia
Resting place	Nirvana Memorial Park, Bau, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia
Citizenship	Malaysian
Nationality	Malaysia
Spouse(s)	Fredia Temiang Wong
Residence	Kuching, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia
Alma mater	University of Southampton Lincoln's Inn
Occupation	Judge
Profession	Lawyer

Early life and education

Lee was born the eldest son in Alor Setar in the then-British protectorate state of Kedah in 1925 before shortly moving to another British protectorate, the Raj of Sarawak on the island of Borneo, at the age of 1.[2] Growing up in Kuching, Lee would complete his primary and secondary education in 1948.[1][2] After electing to join the government service in 1949, he would serve in the secretariat department for a mere two years before being transferred to the judicial department in 1951. Then, he was awarded a Colonial and Development Fund Scholarship to read law at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.[3][2] In 1955, Lee graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Laws with honours (LL.B. (Hons)).[1]

Upon graduation, Lee was called to the English Bar at Lincoln's Inn. There, he received his postgraduate certificate from the Council of Legal Education and returned to Sarawak thereafter.[1][3]

Career

Following Lee's return from the UK, he served as a stipendiary magistrate from 1956 to 1965.[2] Concurrently, he had also acted as Crown Counsel, deputy public prosecutor (DPP) and registrar.[1][3] Later, he was also appointed chairman of the advisory committee from 1962 to 1964. Throughout his career, Lee would on various occasions be appointed judicial commissioner whenever a High Court judge was unavailable.[1]

On 17 May 1965, Lee was promoted to the High Court in Borneo Bench.[3] This led to him being appointed as chairman of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to look into the practice and administration of the Seremban Town Board.[1][2] After two years as judge, Lee was posted to Sabah on 30 August 1967 to serve as senior puisne judge.[3] On 1 January 1974, he was appointed to the office of Chief Justice of Borneo.[1][3] Lee held that office until his retirement on 31 December 1990. Lee currently holds the distinction of being the longest serving Chief Justice of the High Court in Borneo, now renamed the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak.[1][3][4]

Honours

•  Malaysia :
  • Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) - Tan Sri (1974)[5]
•  Sabah :
  • Member of the Order of Kinabalu (ADK)[1]
  • Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) - Datuk[1]
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) - Datuk Seri Panglima[1]
•  Sarawak :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) - Dato Sri[1]
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) - Datuk Amar (1988)[5]

Personal life

Lee was married to Puan Sri Datin Amar Fredia Temiang Wong, together, they have four daughters and an adopted son.[3]

• Chairman of Hexza Corporation Limited[3]
• Chairman of Wah Tat Bank[3]
• Chairman of Natural Avenue Propriety Limited[3]

Death

Lee passed away on 8 July 2005 after a short illness at his home in Kuching.[4][6][3]

References

1. "Former Chief Justice". judiciary.kehakiman.gov.my/. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
2. Kuek, Chee Ying (30 November 2014). "Lee Hun Hoe & George Seah". Retrieved 14 August 2019.
3. "Former Chief Justice of Borneo dies". The Star (Malaysia). 10 July 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
4. Shim, Steve Lip Kiong (20 December 2018). "IN REFERENCE TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE TAN SRI DATUK AMAR LEE HUN HOE ON 26TH AUGUST 2005 AT THE FEDERAL COURT, KUCHING". judiciary.kehakiman.gov.my/. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
5. "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 9 August 2019.
6. "Former Chief Justice of Borneo dies". Malaysian Bar. 10 July 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2019.