Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong

The Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong held the second-highest position during the British colonial rule in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1902.

Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong
ResidenceHeadquarter House
AppointerMonarch of the United Kingdom
Formation1843
First holderGeorge Charles D'Aguilar
Final holderSir William Gascoigne
Abolished1902
Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong
Traditional Chinese香港副總督
Transcriptions
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationHēung góng fu júng dūk
JyutpingHoeng1 gong2 fu3 zung2 duk1

History

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Although Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong was the second-highest position in Hong Kong, the Lieutenant Governor did not have any actual power in the Government – that power usually was gained by the Colonial Secretary.

The first Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong was George D'Aguilar and the post was subsequently held by the Commander British Forces in Hong Kong, thus all were British Army officers.[1]

List of lieutenant governors

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  British Hong Kong  
No. Portrait Name Term of Office Governor Ref
From To
1   George D'Aguilar
德忌笠
Major General
1843 1848  
Sir Henry Pottinger
(1843–1844)
 
Sir John Francis Davis
(1843–1848)
2   William Staveley

Major General

1848 1851  
Sir George Bonham
(1848–1854)
3   William Jervois

Major General

1851 1854
4   Sir Robert Garrett

Major General

1854 1857  
Sir John Bowring
(1854–1859)
5   Thomas Ashburnham

Major General

1857 1858
6   Sir Charles van Straubenzee
Major General
1858 1859
 
Sir Hercules Robinson
(1859–1865)
7   Sir James Grant

Major General

1860 1861
8   Sir John Michel

Major General

1861 1862
9   Sir Charles Staveley

Major General

1862 1863
10   William Brown

Major General

1863 1864
11   Sir Philip Guy

Major General

1864 1867
 
Sir Richard MacDonnell
(1866–1872)
12   James Brunker

Major General

1867 1869
Lieutenant Governor lapses from Formal Use; Second-in-command goes to Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong

Demise of the post

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From the 1870s to 1902, the role lapsed from formal use and the second in command was transferred to the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong (Chief Secretary from 1976 to 1997). The following individuals may (or may not) have retained the title for special occasions[2]

  British Hong Kong  
No. Portrait Name Term of Office Governor Ref
From To
1   Henry Whitfield
威非路
Major General
1869 1874  
Sir Richard MacDonnell
(1866–1872)
 
Sir Arthur Kennedy
(1872–1877)
2   Sir Francis Colborne
Lieutenant General
1874 1878
 
Sir John Pope Hennessy
(1877–1882)
3   Edward Donovan

Lieutenant General

1878 1882
4   John Sargent

Lieutenant General

1882 1885
 
Sir George Bowen
(1883–1887)
5   Sir William Cameron
金馬倫
Lieutenant General
1885 1889
 
Sir William Des Voeux
(1887–1891)
6   Sir James Edwards

Major General

1889 1890
7   Sir George Barker
白加
Major General
1890 1895
 
Sir William Robinson
(1891–1898)
8   Sir Wilsone Black
布力
Major General
1895 1898
9   Sir William Gascoigne

Major General

1898 1902
 
Sir Wilsone Black
(1 February 1898 – 25 November 1898)
 

Sir Henry Arthur Blake

(1898–1903)

Residence

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The Lieutenant Governor as Commander of British Forces resided at Flagstaff House, then known as Headquarter House, from 1844 to 1902.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ British and Indian armies on the China coast 1785–1985 by Harfield, A G, Published by A and J Partnership, 1990, pages 483–484 ISBN 0-9516065-0-6
  2. ^ "The Foundation of a Crown Colony – A Modern History of Hong Kong" Steve Tsang, 2004, pp 18–19