Hugh Norman-Walker
Encyclopedia
Sir Hugh Selby Norman-Walker, KCMG, KStJ
, OBE (Traditional Chinese:羅樂民爵士, 17 December 1916 – 28 August 1985) was a British
colonial official. He served in India
from 1938 to 1948. Joining the Colonial Office
in 1949, he successively served as an Administrative Officer and an Assistant Secretary
in Nyasaland
, and was seconded to the Cabinet Office
of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
in 1953. He returned to Nyasaland to become Development Secretary in 1954, Deputy Financial Secretary in 1960 and Secretary to the Treasury in 1961. He remained in the government until 1965 when Nyasaland gained independence as Malawi
in 1964. In 1965, Sir Hugh was posted to the Bechuanaland Protectorate as Her Majesty’s Commissioner. Knighted in 1966, in September of the same year he witnessed the independence of the Protectorate as Botswana
. In the next year, Norman-Walker was posted to the Seychelles
as the Governor and Commander-in-Chief but his short tenure came to an end when he was assigned to succeed Sir Michael Gass
, who was in turn appointed High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, as Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong in 1969. He was once rumoured to be the designated candidate to succeed Sir David Trench as the Governor of Hong Kong
, but the rumour soon died out when the post was taken up by Sir Murray MacLehose, a career diplomat
, in 1971.
Sir Hugh was supposed to become the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
when his tenure in Hong Kong
ended in 1973. However, when it became known that his wife would not accompany him, he was forced to decline the offer. Sir Hugh was not compensated with another post for his withdrawal. He spent his retirement in England
and was appointed chairman of the Isle of Wight
County Structure Plan Panel in 1976.
on 17 December 1916 to Colonel J N Norman-Walker, CIE of the Indian Medical Service
in the Indian Army. Norman-Walker did not spend his childhood with his parents, who served far away in India
. He was educated first in St Cyprian's School
, Eastbourne
, and then Sherborne School
in Dorset
. Although living in England, he was able to pay several visits to his parents, and was familiar with the state of affairs in India.
Upon graduation from Sherborne School, Norman-Walker entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
where he was a noted member in the athletics team. He later graduated with a Master of Arts
degree.
as an Administrative Officer, and was promoted an Assistant Secretary in 1953.
In August 1953, when the British colony and the two protectorate
s in the southern Africa
, namely Southern Rhodesia
, Northern Rhodesia
and Nyasaland federated to become the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Norman-Walker was temporarily seconded to the Federation’s Cabinet Office to help facilitate its operation. In 1954, he returned to Nyasaland to serve as Development Secretary in the government. He was acting Financial Secretary
for several occasions before being appointed Deputy Financial Secretary in 1960. A year later he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and was appointed Secretary to the Treasury later in the year. When Nyasaland gained independence and renamed Malawi in 1964, Norman-Walker remained in the government and was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
Norman-Walker stayed in the Malawi government until 1965 when he was appointed Her Majesty’s Commissioner of the Bechuanaland Protectorate in June. Before this appointment was made, the Protectorate had been steadily on the way to independence. The capital city of the Protectorate was relocated from South Africa
's Mafikeng
to the Protectorate’s Gaborone
in February 1965. A month later self-rule was granted to the Protectorate. Norman-Walker was the last Commissioner of the Protectorate and was there to prepare for the independence
, though he had very little to do in his short tenure. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the New Year Honours List of 1966 and he witnessed the independence of the Republic of Botswana on 30 September 1966.
After the independence of Botswana, Norman-Walker was posted to the Seychelles in February 1967 to succeed Lord Oxford and Asquith
as the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, President of both the Executive and Legislative Councils of the Seychelles and Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory
. However, his governorship coincided with the economic downturn of the islands. In a move to revitalize the economy, he agreed with the plans of local politicians like (later Sir) James Mancham
to promote tourism
in the islands and was a staunch supporter to the construction plan of the new Seychelles International Airport
. The new airport
plan was a huge project for the Seychelles at that time. When it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II
in 1972, it became one of the most important airports in the region.
Apart from that, Norman-Walker positively supported political reform during his governorship by granting universal adult suffrage to the Legislative Council in December 1967, an important move which paved way for autonomy
granted later in 1970.
on 29 March 1969 to serve as Colonial Secretary, taking over from Sir Michael Gass who was in turn appointed High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. The career background of Norman-Walker was a concern in Hong Kong when his appointment was first announced. Norman-Walker had never served in the Far East
. He had visited Hong Kong once, briefly landing on the Kowloon
side, but had never been to Hong Kong Island
. Local people and even some senior officials in the government were concerned that his limited experience on the Far East might hinder his work as Colonial Secretary. Elsie Tu
, an Urban Councillor, even commented that the post of Colonial Secretary should be held by a local Chinese. Yet, there were also comments that selecting Norman-Walker in lieu of a senior official from within the government of Hong Kong showed a lack of suitable local candidates from the point of view of the British government. In respond to these opinions, Norman-Walker said that he had served in Africa for many years and was well experienced in public administration
. He said he was ready for the challenge and would build friendship with the Chinese people of Hong Kong.
In his capacity as Colonial Secretary, Norman-Walker focused primarily on social, industrial and commercial development. In 1970, accompanied by Sir Sik-nin Chau, he led a delegation representing Hong Kong to the Expo in Osaka
, Japan
. Norman-Walker was also an ex-officio member of both the Executive
and Legislative Councils
of Hong Kong. He administered the government for several occasions on the absence of the Governor. In October 1971, he was the acting Governor who welcomed the seven-day royal visit paid by the Princess Anne
.
Rumour persisted in Hong Kong when Norman-Walker, who gave up his more prestigious governorship in the Seychelles, assumed the post of Colonial Secretary. It was alleged that a backdoor deal was made between the British government and Norman-Walker that he would take up the post of Colonial Secretary only when the British government promised to make him the successor to Sir David Trench, the incumbent Governor of Hong Kong. However, this information was never verified by Norman-Walker. The rumour died out in 1971 when Sir Murray MacLehose, a career diplomat, was announced by the British government as the Governor-designate.
Nevertheless, another rumour followed when the new Governor MacLehose, who brought many new policies to Hong Kong, was said to be 'diplomatic' in style and did not get on well with some of his colleagues. Some of the more old-fashioned colonial officials, such as (later Sir) Donald Luddington
were alleged to have found it difficult to get on with the new Governor and were soon posted out of Hong Kong. Norman-Walker was one of these “old-fashioned colonial officials” and news emerged in the beginning of 1972 that he was going to retire from the government at the turn of 1973. This was not confirmed until July 1972 when the UK government announced that the term of Norman-Walker as Colonial Secretary would be extended to the autumn of 1973. In May 1973, it was further announced that Norman-Walker would become the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man.
As a kind of benefit, overseas civil servants in Hong Kong were entitled to a free exclusive sea passage when they retired. Norman-Walker was eligible and chose to enjoy the benefit when he left Hong Kong on 30 September 1973. He was supposed to get on board an ocean liner
like his counterparts, but it turned out that there was no ocean liner calling at Hong Kong at the time of his departure. As a result, he was forced to enjoy the entitlement on a cargo ship
. On his departure, in the presence of the members of the Executive and Legislative Councils and senior government officials, Norman-Walker boarded Lady Maurine from HMS Tamar
and travelled across the Victoria Harbour
to the Kowloon side. From there he travelled to Kwai Chung Container Port and boarded the cargo ship, which sailed for Britain.
was negative, and the Tynwald
insisted that Lady Norman-Walker should accompany her husband in order to assist the Lieutenant Governor in carrying out his social duties. In fact, it was not the first time that Norman-Walker had taken up a new post alone. When he arrived at Hong Kong to become Colonial Secretary in 1969, his wife was not with him. The absence of his wife did not attract any criticism at that time in Hong Kong, and she arrived later.
At first, Norman-Walker insisted that he would take up the new post as scheduled no matter whether his wife was with him or not. However, after several failed attempts to persuade the Tynwald, he offered to decline the new post on 31 October 1973. The incumbent Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Peter Stallard, was requested to stay until the British government had found another candidate. On 3 November, Lady Norman-Walker responded to the incident for the first time. She explained that she had been serving out of Britain for too long a time and was eager to reside in England again. She claimed that she had had no intention to be impolite to the Manx people
. After the dispute, Norman-Walker was not given another post for compensation and this episode marked an end to his overseas service.
, Wiltshire
in retirement. In 1976, he was appointed by the government to chair the Isle of Wight County Structure Plan Panel to consult the people of the Isle of Wight
on the possible change of the county structure. Before the panel was formed, the Isle of Wight had been planned to be merged with Hampshire
under the Local Government Act 1972
, but the plan came to a halt when it met with much opposition from local residents. The panel led by Norman-Walker did not achieve any special breakthrough and it was in 1995 that the Isle of Wight finally became a unitary authority
.
Norman-Walker died in his home in Farley on 28 August 1985, aged 68. His death was mourned by the government of Hong Kong. His former colleagues in Hong Kong, then Chief Secretary Sir David Akers-Jones
and then Chief Justice
Sir Denys Roberts
, also grieved over his death.
.
Venerable Order of Saint John
The 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...
, OBE (Traditional Chinese:羅樂民爵士, 17 December 1916 – 28 August 1985) was a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
colonial official. He served in India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
from 1938 to 1948. Joining the Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
in 1949, he successively served as an Administrative Officer and an Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary is a grade in the British Civil Service, now more commonly styled Divisional Manager or Deputy Director. In the grading scheme they are denoted Grade 5....
in Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
, and was seconded to the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
in 1953. He returned to Nyasaland to become Development Secretary in 1954, Deputy Financial Secretary in 1960 and Secretary to the Treasury in 1961. He remained in the government until 1965 when Nyasaland gained independence as Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
in 1964. In 1965, Sir Hugh was posted to the Bechuanaland Protectorate as Her Majesty’s Commissioner. Knighted in 1966, in September of the same year he witnessed the independence of the Protectorate as Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
. In the next year, Norman-Walker was posted to the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
as the Governor and Commander-in-Chief but his short tenure came to an end when he was assigned to succeed Sir Michael Gass
Michael David Irving Gass
Sir Michael David Irving Gass, KCMG , was the penultimate High Commissioner of the Western Pacific and also in his junior days Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1965 - 1969.He married Elizabeth Periam Fuller Acland Hood in 1975....
, who was in turn appointed High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, as Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong in 1969. He was once rumoured to be the designated candidate to succeed Sir David Trench as the Governor of Hong Kong
Governor 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...
, but the rumour soon died out when the post was taken up by Sir Murray MacLehose, a career diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, in 1971.
Sir Hugh was supposed to become the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man
The Lieutenant Governor is the representative on the Isle of Man of the Lord of Mann . He/she has the power to grant Royal Assent and is styled His Excellency. In recent times the Governor has either been a retired diplomat or senior military officer...
when his tenure 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...
ended in 1973. However, when it became known that his wife would not accompany him, he was forced to decline the offer. Sir Hugh was not compensated with another post for his withdrawal. He spent his retirement in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and was appointed chairman of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
County Structure Plan Panel in 1976.
Early years
Norman-Walker was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 17 December 1916 to Colonel J N Norman-Walker, CIE of the Indian Medical Service
Indian Medical Service
The Indian Medical Service was one of the military medical services, which also had some civilian functions, in British India. It served during the two world wars, and was in existence until the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947...
in the Indian Army. Norman-Walker did not spend his childhood with his parents, who served far away in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was educated first in St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School was an English preparatory school for boys, which operated in the early 20th century in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Like other preparatory schools, its purpose was to train pupils to do well enough in the examinations to gain admission to leading public schools, and to provide an...
, Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, and then Sherborne School
Sherborne School
Sherborne School is a British independent school for boys, located in the town of Sherborne in north-west Dorset, England. It is one of the original member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. Although living in England, he was able to pay several visits to his parents, and was familiar with the state of affairs in India.
Upon graduation from Sherborne School, Norman-Walker entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
where he was a noted member in the athletics team. He later graduated with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree.
Colonial career
In 1938, Norman-Walker followed in the footsteps of his parents to India and joined the Indian Civil Service. Throughout his ten-year long career in the Indian government, he held various posts in different departments across a wide variety of fields. However, he left India in 1948, a year after its independence, and was briefly involved in industrial business in England. This did not last long as his experience as a civil servant in India allowed him to join the Colonial Administrative Service of the Colonial Office soon in 1949, of which he was posted to Nyasaland in AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
as an Administrative Officer, and was promoted an Assistant Secretary in 1953.
In August 1953, when the British colony and the two protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
s in the southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
, namely Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
, Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
and Nyasaland federated to become the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Norman-Walker was temporarily seconded to the Federation’s Cabinet Office to help facilitate its operation. In 1954, he returned to Nyasaland to serve as Development Secretary in the government. He was acting Financial Secretary
Financial secretary
Financial secretary is an administrative and executive government position within the governance of a State, corporation, private or public organization, small group or other body with financial assets....
for several occasions before being appointed Deputy Financial Secretary in 1960. A year later he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and was appointed Secretary to the Treasury later in the year. When Nyasaland gained independence and renamed Malawi in 1964, Norman-Walker remained in the government and was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
Norman-Walker stayed in the Malawi government until 1965 when he was appointed Her Majesty’s Commissioner of the Bechuanaland Protectorate in June. Before this appointment was made, the Protectorate had been steadily on the way to independence. The capital city of the Protectorate was relocated from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's Mafikeng
Mafikeng
Mahikeng – formerly legally, but still commonly known as Mafikeng – is the capital city of the North-West Province of South Africa. It is best known internationally for the Siege of Mafeking, the most famous engagement of the Second Boer War.Located on South Africa's border with Botswana, it is ...
to the Protectorate’s Gaborone
Gaborone
' is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 191,776 based on a 2006 survey, about 10% of the total population of Botswana....
in February 1965. A month later self-rule was granted to the Protectorate. Norman-Walker was the last Commissioner of the Protectorate and was there to prepare for the independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
, though he had very little to do in his short tenure. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the New Year Honours List of 1966 and he witnessed the independence of the Republic of Botswana on 30 September 1966.
After the independence of Botswana, Norman-Walker was posted to the Seychelles in February 1967 to succeed Lord Oxford and Asquith
Julian Asquith, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith
Julian Edward George Asquith, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith KCMG , was a British colonial administrator.-Background and education:...
as the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, President of both the Executive and Legislative Councils of the Seychelles and Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory
Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory
The Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory is the head of government in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of the British Indian Ocean Territory. The Commissioner is appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office...
. However, his governorship coincided with the economic downturn of the islands. In a move to revitalize the economy, he agreed with the plans of local politicians like (later Sir) James Mancham
James Mancham
Sir James Richard Marie Mancham KBE was the first President of Seychelles from 1976 to 1977.-Political background:...
to promote tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
in the islands and was a staunch supporter to the construction plan of the new Seychelles International Airport
Seychelles International Airport
Seychelles International Airport or Aéroport de La Pointe la Rue as it is known locally is located on the island of Mahé, Seychelles near the capital city of Victoria...
. The new airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
plan was a huge project for the Seychelles at that time. When it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 1972, it became one of the most important airports in the region.
Apart from that, Norman-Walker positively supported political reform during his governorship by granting universal adult suffrage to the Legislative Council in December 1967, an important move which paved way for autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
granted later in 1970.
Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong
Norman-Walker served in the Seychelles for less than two years when he arrived at Hong KongHong 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...
on 29 March 1969 to serve as Colonial Secretary, taking over from Sir Michael Gass who was in turn appointed High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. The career background of Norman-Walker was a concern in Hong Kong when his appointment was first announced. Norman-Walker had never served in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. He had visited Hong Kong once, briefly landing on the Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
side, but had never been to Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
. Local people and even some senior officials in the government were concerned that his limited experience on the Far East might hinder his work as Colonial Secretary. Elsie Tu
Elsie Tu
Elsie Hume Elliot Tu or Elsie Tu , GBM, CBE, is a prominent social activist, former elected member of the Urban Council of Hong Kong, and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong...
, an Urban Councillor, even commented that the post of Colonial Secretary should be held by a local Chinese. Yet, there were also comments that selecting Norman-Walker in lieu of a senior official from within the government of Hong Kong showed a lack of suitable local candidates from the point of view of the British government. In respond to these opinions, Norman-Walker said that he had served in Africa for many years and was well experienced in public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
. He said he was ready for the challenge and would build friendship with the Chinese people of Hong Kong.
In his capacity as Colonial Secretary, Norman-Walker focused primarily on social, industrial and commercial development. In 1970, accompanied by Sir Sik-nin Chau, he led a delegation representing Hong Kong to the Expo in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Norman-Walker was also an ex-officio member of both the Executive
Executive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
and Legislative Councils
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
of Hong Kong. He administered the government for several occasions on the absence of the Governor. In October 1971, he was the acting Governor who welcomed the seven-day royal visit paid by the Princess Anne
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
.
Rumour persisted in Hong Kong when Norman-Walker, who gave up his more prestigious governorship in the Seychelles, assumed the post of Colonial Secretary. It was alleged that a backdoor deal was made between the British government and Norman-Walker that he would take up the post of Colonial Secretary only when the British government promised to make him the successor to Sir David Trench, the incumbent Governor of Hong Kong. However, this information was never verified by Norman-Walker. The rumour died out in 1971 when Sir Murray MacLehose, a career diplomat, was announced by the British government as the Governor-designate.
Nevertheless, another rumour followed when the new Governor MacLehose, who brought many new policies to Hong Kong, was said to be 'diplomatic' in style and did not get on well with some of his colleagues. Some of the more old-fashioned colonial officials, such as (later Sir) Donald Luddington
Donald Luddington
Sir Donald Collin Cumyn Luddington, KBE, CMG, CVO was a British colonial government official and civil servant who served firstly in the Hong Kong Government and became District Commissioner, New Territories and the Secretary for Home Affairs successively, during which he had also served as an...
were alleged to have found it difficult to get on with the new Governor and were soon posted out of Hong Kong. Norman-Walker was one of these “old-fashioned colonial officials” and news emerged in the beginning of 1972 that he was going to retire from the government at the turn of 1973. This was not confirmed until July 1972 when the UK government announced that the term of Norman-Walker as Colonial Secretary would be extended to the autumn of 1973. In May 1973, it was further announced that Norman-Walker would become the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man.
As a kind of benefit, overseas civil servants in Hong Kong were entitled to a free exclusive sea passage when they retired. Norman-Walker was eligible and chose to enjoy the benefit when he left Hong Kong on 30 September 1973. He was supposed to get on board an ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
like his counterparts, but it turned out that there was no ocean liner calling at Hong Kong at the time of his departure. As a result, he was forced to enjoy the entitlement on a cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
. On his departure, in the presence of the members of the Executive and Legislative Councils and senior government officials, Norman-Walker boarded Lady Maurine from HMS Tamar
HMS Tamar (shore station)
HMS Tamar was the name for the Royal Navy's base in Hong Kong from 1897 to 1997. It took its name from HMS Tamar a ship that was used as the base until replaced by buildings ashore.-19th Century:...
and travelled across the Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent...
to the Kowloon side. From there he travelled to Kwai Chung Container Port and boarded the cargo ship, which sailed for Britain.
Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man Dispute
Norman-Walker was supposed to take up the new post as the Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man after he had returned to England. But a problem arose when it became known that his wife would not accompany him. The reaction in the Isle of ManIsle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
was negative, and the Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
insisted that Lady Norman-Walker should accompany her husband in order to assist the Lieutenant Governor in carrying out his social duties. In fact, it was not the first time that Norman-Walker had taken up a new post alone. When he arrived at Hong Kong to become Colonial Secretary in 1969, his wife was not with him. The absence of his wife did not attract any criticism at that time in Hong Kong, and she arrived later.
At first, Norman-Walker insisted that he would take up the new post as scheduled no matter whether his wife was with him or not. However, after several failed attempts to persuade the Tynwald, he offered to decline the new post on 31 October 1973. The incumbent Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Peter Stallard, was requested to stay until the British government had found another candidate. On 3 November, Lady Norman-Walker responded to the incident for the first time. She explained that she had been serving out of Britain for too long a time and was eager to reside in England again. She claimed that she had had no intention to be impolite to the Manx people
Manx people
The Manx are an ethnic group coming from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea in northern Europe. They are often described as a Celtic people, though they have had a mixed background including Norse and English influences....
. After the dispute, Norman-Walker was not given another post for compensation and this episode marked an end to his overseas service.
Later years
Norman-Walker enjoyed a quiet life in FarleyFarley
-People :*Chris Farley , U.S. comedian*Christopher John Farley, U.S. journalist*David Farley, U.S. author and journalist*James Farley , U.S. politician, Postmaster General*James T. Farley , U.S. politician...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in retirement. In 1976, he was appointed by the government to chair the Isle of Wight County Structure Plan Panel to consult the people of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
on the possible change of the county structure. Before the panel was formed, the Isle of Wight had been planned to be merged with Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, but the plan came to a halt when it met with much opposition from local residents. The panel led by Norman-Walker did not achieve any special breakthrough and it was in 1995 that the Isle of Wight finally became a unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
.
Norman-Walker died in his home in Farley on 28 August 1985, aged 68. His death was mourned by the government of Hong Kong. His former colleagues in Hong Kong, then Chief Secretary Sir David Akers-Jones
David Akers-Jones
Sir David Akers-Jones, KBE, CMG, GBM, JP was the Chief Secretary of Hong Kong from 1985 to 1987, and was briefly Acting Governor of Hong Kong.-Biography:...
and then Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong
Chief Justice of Hong Kong or erroneously Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong was the most senior judge in the court system in Hong Kong until 1997....
Sir Denys Roberts
Denys Roberts
Dato Seri Paduka Sir Denys Tudor Emil Roberts, KBE, SPMB, QC , is a British former colonial official and judge. Joining the colonial civil service as a Crown Counsel in Nyasaland in 1953, he became Attorney-General of Gibraltar in 1960...
, also grieved over his death.
Family
Sir Hugh was married to Janet Baldock in 1948. There was no issue from the marriage. Sir Hugh’s hobbies included sailing, shooting and bridge. He was a member of the East India ClubEast India Club
The East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public Schools' Club, usually known as the East India Club, is a gentlemen's club founded in 1849 and situated at 16 St. James's Square in London...
.
| colspan="2" style="background: #CFCFCF; text-align: center" Major Experience | |
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(1938–1948)
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Honours
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (New Year Honours List 1961)
- Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (Queen's Birthday Honours List 1964)
- Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (New Year Honours List 1966)
- Knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (20 June 1967)
- Official Justice of the PeaceJustice of the PeaceA 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...
, Hong Kong (June 1969)
Styles from birth
- Hugh Norman-Walker, Esq (17 December 1916 - 27 December 1961)
- Hugh Norman-Walker, OBE (27 December 1961 - 5 June 1964)
- Hugh Norman-Walker, CMG, OBE (5 June 1964 - 31 December 1966)
- Sir Hugh Norman-Walker, KCMG, OBE (31 December 1966 - 20 June 1967)
- Sir Hugh Norman-Walker, KCMG, KStJ, OBE (20 June 1967 - June 1969)
- Sir Hugh Norman-Walker, KCMG, KStJ, OBE, JP (June 1969 - September 1973)
- Sir Hugh Norman-Walker, KCMG, KStJ, OBE (September 1973 - 28 August 1985)
See also
- Federation of Rhodesia and NyasalandFederation of Rhodesia and NyasalandThe Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
- Politics of SeychellesPolitics of SeychellesPolitics of Seychelles takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Seychelles is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government...
- Politics of the Isle of ManPolitics of the Isle of ManThe government of the Isle of Man is a parliamentary representative democracy. As a Crown Dependency, it is not subordinate to the government of the United Kingdom. That government, however, is responsible for defence and external affairs and could intervene in the domestic affairs of the isle...
External links
- Valedictories, Legislative Council of Hong Kong, 1 August 1973
- Biography from the Seychelles National Archives