Rance Lee was a pioneer in medical and health sociology in Hong Kong and led many surveys on social issues and medical problems in both Hong Kong and China. As an academic, his services to the community included advising a number of government bodies as well as community organisations. In 1992, Dr. Lee was appointed as a Non-official Justice of the Peace and was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. At CUHK, Dr. Lee was Dean of Social Science, Head of Chung Chi College, and Founding Master of Wu Yee Sun College. He was conferred an Honorary Fellowship by CUHK in 2010.