Lee Chong (or Lee Chang) was one of the earliest Chinese immigrants to Victoria, and he managed the Kwong Lee Company from its establishment in this city in 1858, the year that large-scale Chinese immigration began to the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia

Because the Kwong Lee Company was so well-known among local residents, its name was sometimes used to refer to Lee Chong.

The Lee Cheong Building is a two-storey, brick-clad commercial and residential building located in the heart of Victoria's Chinatown. The front façade retains original storefront elements, including 'cheater' mezzanines. The upper storey is residential, and features segmental-arched window openings, brick corbelling, second floor doors and a central coloured glass door surround. A narrow passageway located between two of the storefronts connects to an internal courtyard and a brick tenement building behind.

The Lum Sam and Lee Cheong buildings, were restored in 2017 by Le Fevre & Company, and contain 28 units.