Brook Bernacchi
Encyclopedia
Brook Antony Bernacchi, OBE, QC
, JP
(Chinese:
貝納褀; 22 January 1922-1996), was a lawyer
and politician
in Hong Kong
. He was also the founder of the Reform Club, the oldest political group in Hong Kong. During his many years as a member of the Urban Council, he became known for his struggle for direct representation.
and Cambridge University and was called to the Bar
in Great Britain
in 1943. He arrived in Hong Kong in 1945 as part of the Royal Marines
. He decided to stay in Hong Kong and consequently became a member of the Hong Kong Bar Association
in 1946 and its chairman in 1963. In 1960 Bernacchi became a Queen's Counsel
.
In 1948 Bernacchi and his close friend, Elsie Elliot (later known as Elsie Tu), set up the Reform Club of Hong Kong
, whose main goal was to create public housing for all. He was elected to the Urban Council on 31 May 1952, where he was reelected until he stepped down in 1981, in order to protest the lack of universal suffrage. Even though he returned to politics two years later, he was only elected to the Council in 1989.
Bernacchi was one of the original founders of the Sea School, in Stanley, Hong Kong, which was set up to train young disadvantaged boys for a career in the Navy.
In 1949, Bernacchi, haviing been inspired by the tea farms he visited in Burma during the Second World War, bought a stretch of land on Ngong Ping plateau on Lantau Island, behind Po Lin Monastery, in order to produce the only Hong Kong grown tea available.
In 1994, he became the only Westerner to be sent on the first mission of Hong Kong advisers to China
.
He married Patricia Sheelagh Heath in 1970.
He died in 1996 of a brain tumor
at the age of 74 and is survived by three stepchildren; Robert Whitehead, SC (currently vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association), Dr. Ian Whitehead and Mrs. Sarah Driver (née Whitehead) as well as 11 grandchildren; Dominique Whitehead, Carina Anne Oechsner, Stefan Oechsner, John Brook Whitehead, Max Whitehead, Tiago Whitehead, Hugo Whitehead, Brook Driver, Millicent Driver, Faye Driver, and Archie Driver.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(Chinese:
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
貝納褀; 22 January 1922-1996), was a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. He was also the founder of the Reform Club, the oldest political group in Hong Kong. During his many years as a member of the Urban Council, he became known for his struggle for direct representation.
Life
Bernacchi was educated in Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and Cambridge University and was called to the Bar
Bar council
A bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in 1943. He arrived in Hong Kong in 1945 as part of the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
. He decided to stay in Hong Kong and consequently became a member of the Hong Kong Bar Association
Hong Kong Bar Association
The Hong Kong Bar Association is the professional regulatory body for barristers in Hong Kong, and was founded in 1949. Like other professional bodies, the HKBA has the authority to take disciplinary action to the members who breach the Code of Conduct of the Association...
in 1946 and its chairman in 1963. In 1960 Bernacchi became a Queen's Counsel
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
.
In 1948 Bernacchi and his close friend, Elsie Elliot (later known as Elsie Tu), set up the Reform Club of Hong Kong
Reform Club of Hong Kong
The Reform Club of Hong Kong was a Hong Kong political group founded in 1949 by Brook Bernacchi. For some time the Reform Club and the Civic Association were the closest to opposition parties in Hong Kong as its members contested Urban Council elections...
, whose main goal was to create public housing for all. He was elected to the Urban Council on 31 May 1952, where he was reelected until he stepped down in 1981, in order to protest the lack of universal suffrage. Even though he returned to politics two years later, he was only elected to the Council in 1989.
Bernacchi was one of the original founders of the Sea School, in Stanley, Hong Kong, which was set up to train young disadvantaged boys for a career in the Navy.
In 1949, Bernacchi, haviing been inspired by the tea farms he visited in Burma during the Second World War, bought a stretch of land on Ngong Ping plateau on Lantau Island, behind Po Lin Monastery, in order to produce the only Hong Kong grown tea available.
In 1994, he became the only Westerner to be sent on the first mission of Hong Kong advisers to China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
He married Patricia Sheelagh Heath in 1970.
He died in 1996 of a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
at the age of 74 and is survived by three stepchildren; Robert Whitehead, SC (currently vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association), Dr. Ian Whitehead and Mrs. Sarah Driver (née Whitehead) as well as 11 grandchildren; Dominique Whitehead, Carina Anne Oechsner, Stefan Oechsner, John Brook Whitehead, Max Whitehead, Tiago Whitehead, Hugo Whitehead, Brook Driver, Millicent Driver, Faye Driver, and Archie Driver.