Cecil Clementi
Encyclopedia
-
- There were two men known as Sir Cecil Clementi, both having been colonial governors in Singapore. Sir Cecil Clementi, who served between 1929 to 1934, was Sir Cecil Clementi SmithCecil Clementi SmithRt Hon Sir Cecil Clementi Smith G.C.M.G. , was a British colonial administrator. He was known for his effective work in quelling Chinese secret societies in the Straits Settlements, such as those in Singapore...
's nephew.Sir Cecil Clementi, GCMG, KStJ, FRGS, MRASRoyal Asiatic SocietyThe Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
(Chinese name 金文泰) (1 September 1875 – 5 April 1947), was a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong KongThe Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
from 1925–30, and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements from 1930–34.
- There were two men known as Sir Cecil Clementi, both having been colonial governors in Singapore. Sir Cecil Clementi, who served between 1929 to 1934, was Sir Cecil Clementi Smith
Early life and education
Born in Cawnpore, India, Clementi was the son of Colonel Montagu Clementi, Judge Advocate GeneralJudge Advocate General (India)
The post of Judge Advocate General in India is held by a major general who is the legal and judicial chief of the Army. The Indian Army has a separate JAG branch which consists of legally-qualified army officers. Officers can either be commissioned directly into the JAG Branch or can be...
in India, and his wife, Isabel Collard. He attended St Paul's School and Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, where he studied Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and the classics. In 1895, he won the Hertford Scholarship (an honorable mention), and 1st class mods
Honour Moderations
Honour Moderations are a first set of examinations at Oxford University in England during the first part of the degree course for some courses ....
a year later. He subsequently won the Ireland and Craven Scholarship (an honorable mention) in 1896, and a Boden Sanskrit Scholar in 1897.
Clementi became proxime accessit (runner-up in examination) of the Gaisford Greek Prose prize
Gaisford Prize
The Gaisford Prize is a prize in the University of Oxford, founded in 1855 in memory of Dr Thomas Gaisford . For most of its history, the prize was awarded for Classical Greek Verse and Prose...
in 1897, 2nd class lit. hum.
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
and attained his B.A. in 1898. Clementi was also proxime accessit of the Chancellor's Latin Essay prize in 1899, and attained his M.A. in 1901.
Early Colonial Services
In 1899, Clementi placed fourth in the competitive examinations for the civil service, which allowed him his choice of postings. His choice was Hong Kong, and upon his arrival he was sent up to Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, where he was a land officer until forced to return to Hong Kong by the events of the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
. Clementi's facility with languages was demonstrated when he passed the Cantonese examination in 1900, and the Pekingese examination six years later, in 1906.
After serving as an Assistant Registrar General in 1901, Clementi joined as a member of the Board of Examiners in Chinese, in 1902. In 1902, Clementi was seconded for special service under government of India and was created J.P.
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...
in that same year. A year later, he was seconded for famine relief work in Kwangsi (Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
). A year afterwards, Clementi was appointed Member of Land Court, Assistant Land Officer and Police Magistrate at New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
, Hong Kong, a position he served in until 1906.
Due to his outstanding performance in the services, Clementi was promoted to Assistant Colonial Secretary and Clerk of Council, in 1907. While he was in that position, Clementi represented the Hong Kong government in the International Opium Conference at Shanghai, in 1909. A year later, he became the Private Secretary to the Administrator at that time, Sir Francis Henry May
Francis Henry May
Sir Francis Henry May, GCMG was a British colonial administrator who became Governor of Hong Kong.-Early life and education:...
. Clementi eventually became Acting Colonial Secretary and Member of both the Executive Legislative Councils of Hong Kong. He would remain there until 1912.
In 1913, Clementi was appointed Colonial Secretary of British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
, a post he held until 1922. From there he was named the Colonial Secretary of Ceylon, where he served until 1925. Each position imparted considerably responsibility, and on more than one occasion he was in charge of administering the entire government of his area of responsibility.
Governor of Hong Kong
In 1925, Clementi was appointed as Governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
, a position he would serve in for five years, until 1930. Since Clementi was well versed in Cantonese and was a fan of Chinese culture, he had no problems communicating with local people.
During his tenure, a Hong Kong-Canton mega-strike that crippled the Hong Kong economy was resolved. Also, during Clementi's tenure, Kai Tak Airport entered operation (it would operate until Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
entered service in 1998.)
Clementi is remembered for ending the traditional Chinese "female maid servitude" system that often resulted in abuses of the maids by the employers. He also appointed Shouson Chow, a prominent Chinese merchant, as the first unofficial member of the Executive Council.
Governorship of the Straits Settlements
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
for the Malay States, from February 1930 to November 1934. This was his last post in the Colonial Services.
6 years later, in 1940, Clementi became the Master of the Mercers' Company.
Personal life
Clementi was the nephew of the Rt. Hon. Sir Cecil Clementi SmithCecil Clementi Smith
Rt Hon Sir Cecil Clementi Smith G.C.M.G. , was a British colonial administrator. He was known for his effective work in quelling Chinese secret societies in the Straits Settlements, such as those in Singapore...
(1860–1916), Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner in the period 1887 to 1893.
Clementi married Marie Penelope Rose Eyres, daughter of Admiral Cresswell John Eyres, in 1912. The couple had one son, Cresswell
Cresswell Clementi
Air Vice Marshal Cresswell Montagu Clementi CB, CBE was the son of Cecil Clementi, Governor of Hong Kong. Clementi was born in British Guiana during his father's posting there as Colonial Secretary. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and the RAF in 1939. He attended the British...
, and three daughters.
Clementi died in High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
, England on 5 April 1947.
Honours
- C.M.G.Order of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, 1916 - K.C.M.G., 1926
- G.C.M.G., 1931
- K.St.J.Venerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
, 1926 - Fellow, Royal Geographic Society (F.R.G.S.)
- Member, Royal Asiatic SocietyRoyal Asiatic SocietyThe Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
(M.R.A.S.) - Honorary Fellow, Magdalen College, OxfordMagdalen College, OxfordMagdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, 1938 - Recipient, Cuthbert Peek award of the Royal Geographical Society, 1912
- Honours LL.D. degree, Hong Kong University, 1925
Publications
Clementi published several books:- Cantonese Love Songs
- Pervigilium Veneris
- Summary of Geographical Observations taken during a journey from Kashgar to Kowloon (1907–8)
- The Chinese in British Guiana
- Elements in Analysis of Thought
- A Constitutional History of British Guiana
Place Names
Clementi has had several places named after him, such as Clementi Secondary SchoolClementi Secondary School
Clementi Secondary School , a secondary school in North Point of Hong Kong. Founded by Hong Kong Government, the school has the longest history in using Chinese language as medium of instruction in Hong Kong...
, Clementi Road, and Sir Cecil's Ride (金督馳馬徑) in Hong Kong and the town of Clementi
Clementi, Singapore
Clementi is a town in Singapore, located in the west between Jurong and Dover, and commonly refers to the Housing and Development Board's housing estate of Clementi New Town. The town was named after the Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner Sir Cecil Clementi Smith. The...
in Singapore
See also
- History of Hong KongHistory of Hong KongHong Kong began as a coastal island geographically located off the southern coast of China. While pockets of settlements had taken place in the region with archaeological findings dating back thousands of years, regular written records were not made...