List of Legislative Council of Hong Kong members 1843–1941

This is a list of members of the Legislative Council in the colonial period from its establishment in 1843 to 1941. It consists of both official and unofficial members. The term of the Legislative Council was interrupted during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong.

Change in composition

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Year Number of
Official Members
exclusive of the Governor
Number of
Unofficial Members
1843 3
1844 5
1845 3
1850 5 2
1857 5 3
1858 6 3
1865 6 3
1868 5 4
1883 6 5
1896 7 6
1929 9 8

List of Official members

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Members Assumed office Left office Background Remarks
  Alexander Robert Johnston 1843 1844 former Administrator Founding members of the council[1]
  John Robert Morrison 1843 1843 Chinese Secretary and Interpreter Founding members of the council[1]
  William Caine 1843 1845 Chief Magistrate Founding members of the council[1]
  George Charles D'Aguilar 1844 1848 Army Major General [2]
  John Walter Hulme 1844 1860 Chief Justice
  Frederick Wright-Bruce 1844 1845 Colonial Secretary
  Robert Montgomery Martin 1844 1845 Colonial Treasurer
  Paul Ivy Sterling 1845 Attorney General
  William Staveley 1848 1851 Army Major General
  William Jervois 1851 1854 Army Major General
  William Thomas Bridges 1854 1856 Acting Attorney General
  Robert Garrett 1854 1857 Army Major General
  William Thomas Mercer 1857 1868 Colonial Secretary
  William Thomas Bridges 1857 1858 Acting Colonial Secretary
  Charles St George Cleverly 1857 1865 Surveyor General
  William Hepburn Rennie 1858 1870 Auditor-General
  William Henry Adams 1860 1865 Chief Justice
  John Jackson Smale 1866 1881 Chief Justice
  George Phillippo 1882 1888 Chief Justice
  James Russell 1888 1892 Chief Justice
  Fielding Clarke 1892 1896 Chief Justice
  John Worrell Carrington 1896 1901 Chief Justice
  William Meigh Goodman 1902 1905 Chief Justice
  Francis Piggott 1905 1912 Chief Justice
  Warren Delabere Barnes 8 June 1911 28 October 1911 Colonial Secretary [1]
  William Rees-Davies 1912 1924 Chief Justice
  Henry Gollan 1924 1930 Chief Justice
  Joseph Horsford Kemp 1930 1933 Chief Justice
  Atholl MacGregor 1934 1941 Chief Justice

List of Unofficial members

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Key:
  Elected by/representatives of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
  Elected by/representatives of the Justice of Peace
  Chinese representatives
  Portuguese representatives

Members Term of office Background Remarks
  David Jardine 14 June 1850 8 March 1857 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Senior Unofficial Member (1850–57)
  Joseph Frost Edger 14 June 1850 26 August 1857 Jamieson, How & Co.
  Joseph Jardine 9 March 1857 10 December 1860 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Senior Unofficial Member (1857–60);
vice David Jardine deceased
  George Lyall 15 May 1857 10 December 1860 Lyall, Still & Co. Senior Unofficial Member (1860)
  John Dent 26 December 1857 8 November 1861 Dent & Co.
12 May 1866 20 June 1867 Senior Unofficial Member (1866–67);
vice Francis Chomley resigned[3][4][5]
  Alexander Perceval 10 December 1860 12 March 1866 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Senior Unofficial Member (1861–64);
vice Joseph Jardine resigned
  Angus Fletcher 10 December 1860 16 March 1862 Fletcher & Co. Vice George Lyall resigned
  Francis Chomley 9 November 1861 26 April 1866 Dent & Co. Senior Unofficial Member (1864–66);
vice John Dent resigned
  Charles Wilson Murray 17 March 1862 13 September 1864 Birley & Co. Vice Angus Fletcher resigned
  James Whittall 5 April 1864 5 December 1867 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Senior Unofficial Member (1867);
vice Alexander Perceval resigned on leave
9 July 1872 13 July 1875 Vice William Keswick resigned
  Thomas Sutherland 25 February 1865 26 April 1866 P. & O. Steam Navigation Co. Vice C. W. Murray resigned on leave
  Hugh Bold Gibb 18 May 1866 1867? Gibb, Livingston & Co. Vice Thomas Sutherland on leave
1868? 11 November 1870 Senior Unofficial Member (1867–71);
resigned and replaced by Richard Rowett
29 May 1879 30 December 1879 Resigned and replaced by Ng Choy
  Phineas Ryrie 23 July 1867 1868? Turner & Co. Vice John Dent resigned
1870? 7 December 1891 Senior Unofficial Member (1871–92);
vice J. B. Taylor;
reappointed on 1 March 1890;
died in office
  Francis Parry 23 July 1867 21 February 1868 Birley & Co. Vice H. B. Gibb absent on leave
  William Keswick 21 February 1868 16 May 1872 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice James Whittall on leave
2 September 1875 23 September 1887 Vice James Whittall resigned
  James Banks Taylor 3 October 1868 30 September 1869 Smith, Archer & Co. Vice Phineas Ryrie on leave
  James Pender Duncanson 1 May 1868 23 May 1868 Gibb, Livingston & Co. Vice Francis Parry resigned
  Henry John Ball 26 February 1869 11 September 1871 Judge of the Summary Court Sitting as unofficial;
Absent on leave and replaced by Richard Rowett
10 December 1872 30 September 1873
  Richard Rowett 24 September 1869 1870? Holiday, Wise & Co.
25 January 1871? 18 November 1871 Absent on leave and replaced by Henry Lowcock
24 February 1873 16 November 1874 Resigned and replaced by Henry Lowcock
  Henry Lowcock 25 March 1872 11 February 1873 Gibb, Livingston & Co.
23 February 1875 26 February 1879 Resigned and replaced by H. B. Gibb
  James Greig 25 March 1872 25 September 1872 Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Vice Henry John Ball on leave
  William Hastings Alexander 29 May 1872 7 January 1876 Registrar of the Supreme Court Sitting as unofficial
  John MacNeile Price 2 March 1877 19 February 1878 Surveyor General Sitting as unofficial
18 January 1879 28 December 1883
  Ng Choy 26 February 1880 24 March 1883 Barrister-at-law First Chinese member;
Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1880–82)
  Francis Bulkeley Johnson 19 January 1878 29 April 1878 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice Wiliam Keswick absent on leave
3 June 1881 5 March 1884
  Thomas Child Hayllar 15 October 1878 21 December 1878 Sitting as an unofficial during J. M. Price acting as Colonial Secretary
  Emanuel Raphael Belilios 23 August 1881 5 September 1882 Belilios & Co. Vice J. M. Price absent on leave
25 February 1892 5 April 1900 Senior Unofficial Member (1892–1900);
vice Phineas Ryrie deceased;
reappointed on 25 February 1898
  Frederick Stewart 26 March 1883 28 December 1883 Registrar-General Sitting as an unofficial
  Thomas Jackson 28 February 1884 2 September 1887 Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Elected by the Chamber of Commerce on 2 January
  Frederick David Sassoon 28 February 1884 13 January 1888 David Sassoon Sons & Co.
  Wong Shing 28 February 1884 24 February 1890 Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1884–89)
  Henry George Thomsett 23 April 1884 3 July 1884 Royal Navy Harbour Master sitting as unofficial
27 August 1886 8 February 1888
  Alexander Palmer MacEwen 27 August 1886 1886? Holiday, Wise & Co. Elected 27 April vice Thomas Jackson on leave
19 September 1887? 21 July 1890 Elected 17 September on retirement of Thomas Jackson
  John Bell-Irving 27 August 1886 1886? Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice William Keswick on leave
14 August 1887? 29 April 1890 Vice William Keswick resigned
  Catchick Paul Chater 10 December 1886 1887? Broker Vice Frederick D. Sasssoon on leave

Appointed as one-day member on 19 July 1919 and 23 November 1925

17 January 1888? 7 December 1905
  Bendyshe Layton 4 June 1888 20 November 1889 Gibb Livingston & Co. Elected 22 May vice A. MacEwen on leave
  James Johnstone Keswick 18 April 1889 1889? Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice J. Bell-Irving absent on leave
2 May 1890? 1896? Vice J. Bell-Irving resigned
18 May 1899? 14 March 1901 Vice J. J. Bell-Irving absent on leave
  Ho Kai 1 March 1890 7 March 1912 Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1890–1914);
Senior Unofficial Member (1906–14);
re-appointed in 1896, 1902, 1908;
retired on 28 February 1914
2 May 1912 26 February 1914
  Thomas Henderson Whitehead 6 October 1890 14 June 1892 Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China Elected by 18 September, on resignation of A. MacEwen
7 March 1894 13 April 1902 Re-elected 19 September 1896 on expiry of term
  James Jardine Bell-Irving 16 November 1892 8 March 1893 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice J. J. Keswick on leave
23 May 1895 1895? Vice J. J. Keswick on leave
23 October 1896? 18 April 1899 Vice J. J. Keswick resigned
15 July 1901 30 April 1902 Vice J. J. Keswick on leave
  Alexander McConachie 11 June 1894 14 December 1895 Gilman & Co. Elected 9 June vice T. H. Whitehead on leave
  Wei Yuk 3 December 1896 11 October 1917 Senior Unofficial Member &
Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1914–17);
reappointed in 1902[6] 1908,[7] 1914;[8]
retired on expiry of term
  Roderick Mackenzie Gray 1 May 1900 14 March 1901 Reiss & Co. Vice Emanuel Belilios resigned
  Herbert Smith 7 May 1900 14 May 1900 Butterfield & Swire Elected 30 April vice T. H. Whitehead on leave
  John Thurburn 25 June 1900 12 July 1901 Chartered Mercantile Bank Elected 18 June vice H. Smith resigned
8 August 1901 10 April 1902 Vice R. M. Gray resigned
  George William Forbes Playfair 11 June 1902 23 December 1902 Acted during P. Chater's leave
  Charles Stewart Sharp 23 April 1902 27 February 1903 Gibb, Livingston & Co. Vice John Thurburn resigned[9][10]
  Charles Wedderburn Dickson 28 May 1902 17 May 1906 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice J. J. Bell-Irving resigned
  Robert Gordon Shewan 23 June 1902 7 December 1905 Shewan, Tomes & Co. Elected 5 June vice Whitehead on leave;
Elected 3 October, expiry of term
25 May 1917 27 December 1917 Vice Edward Shellim on leave
1 January 1919 23 December 1919 Vice Edward Shellim retired
  Henry Edward Pollock, K.C. 17 September 1903 17 May 1904 Barrister-at-Law Elected 12 August vice Robert Gordon Shewan on leave
22 February 1906 27 February 1919 Senior Unofficial Member (1917–41);
reappointed in 1912, 1918, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940
23 December 1919 5 March 1925
4 December 1925 26 April 1928
20 December 1928 12 September 1940
  Gershom Stewart 20 April 1903 1904? Bill Broker Vice C. S. Sharp absent
24 September 1904? 22 February 1906 Vice C. S. Sharp resigned
  William Jardine Gresson 17 May 1904 15 December 1904? Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice C. W. Dickson on leave
1 June 1906? 14 April 1910 Vice C. W. Dickson resigned
  Edward Osborne 17 May 1906 1907? H.K. and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. Vice G. Stewart absent
19 December 1907? 19 December 1912 Vice G. Stewart resigned
  Edbert Ansgar Hewett 17 May 1906 28 October 1915 P. & O. Steam Navigation Co. Elected 26 April vice Shewan resgined;
reappointed in 1912;
died in office
  Henry Keswick 23 May 1907 1908? Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice W. J. Gresson on leave
5 May 1910? 20 April 1911 Vice W. J. Gresson on resigned
  Murray Stewart 16 April 1908 1908? Stewart Bros. Elected 17 March vice Hewett on leave
29 May 1909? 27 October 1910 Nominated by JP vice H. E. Pollock on leave
23 May 1912 22 August 1912 Elected 25 May vice Hewett on leave
  Sir Henry Spencer Berkeley, K.C. 14 May 1908 24 July 1908 Barrister-at-Law Vice H. Keswick on leave
  Henry Adolphus Warre Slade 13 May 1908 1 April 1909 Gilman & Co. Vice E. Osborne on leave
  Charles Montague Ede 26 April 1911 19 October 1911 Union Insurance Society of Canton Vice Edward Osborne on leave
13 February 1913 30 October 1913 Elected by JP vice H. E. Pollock on leave
31 July 1924 29 December 1924 Vice A. O. Lang on leave
  Charles Henderson Ross 3 May 1911 17 April 1913 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice H. Keswick on leave
  John Whyte Cooper Bonnar 12 September 1912 19 December 1912 Gibb, Livingston & Co. Elected 10 September 1912 on resignation of M. Stewart
  Edward Shellim 16 March 1913 3 October 1918 David Sassoon & Co. Vice E. Osborne resigned
  David Landale 29 May 1913 31 October 1916 Jardine, Matheson & Co.
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Vice C. H. Ross resigned
21 February 1918 10 April 1919
  Lau Chu-pak 9 October 1913 30 March 1922 Vice Ho Kai absent;
appointed on 2 March 1914 vice Ho Kai retired;
Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1917–22);
reappointed in 1920;
died in office
  Percy Hobson Holyoak 16 December 1915 3 November 1921 Reiss & Co.
Holyoak, Massey & Co., Ltd.
Elected on 10 December 1915 vice E. A. Hewett deceased;
reappointed in 1921;
died in office
15 February 1923 18 March 1926 Return from leave on 3 January 1923;
appointed as one-day member on 18 July 1928
  Charles Edward Anton 7 November 1916 27 December 1917 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Appointed vice David Landale on leave
Stanley Hudson Dodwell 7 June 1917 October 1917? Dodwell & Co.
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Elected 29 May vice P. H. Holyoak on leave
11 October 1918? 1919? Appointed vice Edward Shellim on leave
10 March 1919? October 1919? Appointed vice R. G. Shewan on leave
1 January 1920? 4 March 1920 Appointed vice R. G. Shewan retired
8 November 1934 22 November 1934 Vice W. H. Bell on leave
6 April 1936 26 June 1941 Vice W. E. Shenton resigned
  Ho Fook 23 October 1917 14 November 1921 Appointed vice Wei Yuk retired
  Herbert William Bird 28 August 1918 17 October 1918 Architect, Palmer & Turner Elected by JP vice H. E. Pollock on leave
7 April 1921 1922 Vice A. V. D. Parr on leave
26 May 1922 26 October 1922 Vice A. G. Stephen on leave
31 July 1924 18 July 1928
  Chan Kai-ming 3 October 1918 13 November 1918 Vice Lau Chu-pak on leave
  Chaloner Grenville Alabaster K.C. 10 April 1919 31 October 1919 Barrister-at-Law Vice H. E. Pollock acting Attorney General
31 July 1924 1924? Vice H. E. Pollock on leave
21 March 1925? 23 November 1925 Vice H. E. Pollock on leave
  Edward Victor David Parr 17 May 1919 1919? Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co.
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Elected 13 May vice P. H. Holyoak on leave[11]
5 September 1919? 1919?
26 March 1920? 31 May 1923
  John Johnstone 5 June 1919 3 March 1921 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice David Landale retired
  Arthur Rylands Lowe 17 June 1920 24 June 1920 Lowe Bingham & Matthew Vice H. E. Pollock on leave
1 June 1922 1922? Vice H. E. Pollock on leave
30 October 1923? 22 May 1924 Vice H. W. Bird on leave
  Alexander Gordon Stephen 5 April 1921 14 June 1923 Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Vice on John Johnstone retired
  Archibald Orr Lang 22 April 1921 18 June 1921? Gibb, Livingston & Co. Elected 21 April 1921 vice H. Holyoak on leave
10 November 1921? 3 January 1923? Elected 24 November 1921 vice P. H. Holyoak on leave
11 June 1923? 18 July 1928 Vice E. V. D. Parr resigned
  Chau Siu-ki 28 April 1921 30 April 1921 Vice Ho Fook on leave
31 May 1923 1923? Vice Ng Hon-tsz deceased
5 March 1924? 28 August 1924 Vice Chow Shou-son on leave
  Chow Shou-son 8 December 1921 22 October 1931 Vice Ho Fook retired;
Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1922–31)
  Ng Hon-tsz 8 June 1922 22 February 1923 Vice Lau Chu-pak deceased
  Robert Hormus Kotewall 28 March 1923 3 October 1935 H.K. Mercantile Co., Ltd. Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1931–35);
Vice Robert Kotewall on leave
  Dallas Gerald Mercer Bernard 20 April 1926 29 March 1928 Jardine, Matheson & Co.
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
Elected 16 April 1926 vice P. H. Holyoak on leave;
Elected 14 June & appointed 15 June 1926 vice Mr. P. H. Holyoak deceased
  Wilfred Miller Vincent Koch 26 July 1926 15 October 1926 Medical Faculty, University Vice H. E. Pollock on leave
  Arthur Cecil Hynes 4 April 1927 23 January 1930 Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Vice A. O. Lang resigned
  John Owen Hughes 16 June 1927 2 April 1931 Harry Wicking & Co. Elected 16 May[12]
4 May 1934 22 November 1934
  William Edward Leonard Shenton 16 June 1927 1927? Solicitor Vice H. E. Pollock on leave
3 April 1928? 19 March 1936 Vice D. G. M. Bernard resigned
  Charles Gordon Stewart Mackie 28 June 1928 4 October 1928 Gibb, Livingston & Co. Vice H. E. Pollock on leave
19 June 1930 1931? Vice H. E. Pollock on leave
7 May 1931? 28 March 1935 Elected 4 May vice J. O. Hughes resigned
  Jose Pedro Braga 17 January 1929 6 January 1937 Braga & Co. First Portuguese representative
  Ts'o Seen-wan 24 January 1929 6 January 1937 Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1935–37)
  Benjamin David Fleming Beith 28 June 1928 31 October 1929 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Vice J. O. Hughes on leave
15 March 1930? 1933? Vice A. C. Hynes resigned
John Johnstone Paterson 17 April 1930 13 November 1941 Jardine, Matheson & Co. Provisionally vice B. D. F. Beith on leave;
appointed in succession of B. D. F. Beith;
reappoiinted in 1934, 1938
  Antonio Ferreira Batalha Silva-Netto 19 June 1930 26 June 1930 Silva-Netto & Co. Vice J. P. Braga on leave
21 May 1936 22 July 1936
  William Henry Bell 14 May 1931 1931? Asiatic Petroleum Co. (South China) Ltd. Vice J. O. Hughes resigned
1 April 1932? 1933? Vice C. G. S. on leave
12 April 1934? October 1934? Vice J. J. Paterson on leave
12 April 1935? 22 July 1936 Elected 5 April on resignation of C. G. S. Mackie
  Chau Tsun-nin 10 December 1931 16 November 1939 Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1937–39);
reappointed in 1935, 1939
  Lo Man-kam 9 November 1935 25 December 1941? Solicitor Senior Chinese Unofficial Member (1935–41)
  Marcus Theodore Johnson 8 June 1936 1936? Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co. Vice H. E. Pollock on leave
21 May 1937? 20 April 1938 Elected May vice A. W. Hughes resigned
  Edgar Davidson 26 August 1936 1936? Solicitor (Hastings & Co.) Vice S. H. Dodwell on leave
25 May 1937? 22 December 1937 Vice S. H. Dodwell on leave
7 June 1941 13 November 1941 Vice S. H. Dodwell on leave
  Arthur William Hughes 28 July 1936 14 April 1937 Union Insurance Society of Canton Ltd. Elected 26 July on resignation of W. H. Bell.
  Leo d'Almada e Castro, Jr. 3 February 1937 13 November 1941 Barrister-at-Law Vice J. P. Braga;
reappointed in 1941
  Li Shu-fan 3 February 1937 16 January 1941 Medical Practitioner Vice Tso Seen-wan
  Andrew Lusk Shields 29 April 1938 13 November 1941 Shewan Tomes & Co. Vice M. T. Johnson on leave;
elected 7 October on resignstion of M. T. Johnson
  John Keith Bousfield 27 May 1939 14 September 1939 Asiatic Petroleum Co. (South China) Ltd. Elected on 25 May vice A. L. Shields on leave
  Li Tse-fong 20 July 1939 28 December 1939 Vice Li Shu-fan on leave
20 February 1941 13 November 1941 Vice Li Shu-fan retired
  Thomas Ernest Pearce 11 March 1939 13 November 1941 J. D. Hutchison & Co. Vice J. J. Paterson on leave
  William Ngartse Thomas Tam 17 March 1939 13 November 1941 In succession of Chau Tsun-nin

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "The First in Legislative Council History" (PDF). Government of Hong Kong. 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  2. ^ Choa, Gerald Hugh (2000). The Life and Times of Sir Kai Ho Kai. Chinese University of Hong Kong. pp. 134–135. ISBN 9789622018730.
  3. ^ The Hong Kong Government Gazette. No. 125. 9 November 1861. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ The Hong Kong Government Gazette. No. 147. 10 August 1866. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ The Hong Kong Government Gazette. No. 109. 15 July 1867. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ The Hong Kong Government Gazette. No. 640. 22 October 1902. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ The Hong Kong Government Gazette. No. 918. 11 December 1908. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ The Hong Kong Government Gazette. No. 395. 16 October 1914. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ The Hong Kong Government Gazette. 29 April 1902. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ The Hong Kong Government Gazette (434). 17 July 1902. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ The Hong Kong Government Gazette (233). 23 May 1919. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ The Hongkong Government. No. 299. 20 May 1927. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Bibliography

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  • Endacott, G. B. Government and people in Hong Kong, 1841–1962 : a constitutional history Hong Kong University Press. (1964)
  • Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce 1925: Annual Report. (1925)
  • Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce 1966: Annual Report. (1966)