Robert Brown Black
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Brown Black GCMG
, OBE
(Chinese:
柏立基, 1906 – 29 October 1999) was a British colonial administrator. He would spend three decades overseas and return to Britain in the 1960s: he was Governor of Hong Kong
from 23 January 1958 to 1 April 1964, having been Colonial Secretary
of Hong Kong from 1952 – 1955. He served as Governor of Singapore from 1955 to 1957.
and University of Edinburgh
. Robert and his wife Anne have two daughters, Barbara and Kathryn.
After the war ended, he returned to the colonial service and served in North Borneo
and Hong Kong before moving on to Singapore as Governor (1955–57). Subsequently, he became Governor of Hong Kong from 1958 to 1964.
During his governorship, Hong Kong became increasingly prosperous, despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of refugees were illegally crossing the border from China every year. Although this influx placed an enormous burden on the colonial authorities, Black repeatedly appealed to the British Government for help in housing the refugees. In this, he was largely successful.
During Black's administration, Hong Kong also experienced severe drought, with water available for only 3–4 hours per day, creating a certain amount of hardship. He also helped establish Chinese University of Hong Kong
by united several smaller institutions. He served as Chancellor of both CUHK and University of Hong Kong during his tenure as Governor in Hong Kong.
in 1962. He died on 29 October 1999.
Order of St Michael and St George
The 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....
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(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...
柏立基, 1906 – 29 October 1999) was a British colonial administrator. He would spend three decades overseas and return to Britain in the 1960s: he was 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...
from 23 January 1958 to 1 April 1964, having been Colonial Secretary
Chief Secretary
The Chief Secretary is the title of a senior civil servant in members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and, historically, in the British Empire. Prior to the dissolution of the colonies, the Chief Secretary was the second most important official in a colony of the British Empire after the...
of Hong Kong from 1952 – 1955. He served as Governor of Singapore from 1955 to 1957.
Family
Sir Robert was born in Edinburgh and educated at George Watson's CollegeGeorge Watson's College
George Watson's College, known informally as Watson's, is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871 and was merged with its sister school...
and University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. Robert and his wife Anne have two daughters, Barbara and Kathryn.
Colonial administration career
Sir Robert Brown Black served in the administration of Britain's colonies for more than 30 years. Entering the colonial service, Black was assigned to Trindad, but the remainder of his postings were in Asia. During World War II, he spent several years in a Japanese prison camp in Malaysia. During his posting in North Borneo. Black was commissioned into the Intelligence Corps and involved in guerilla resistance against the Japanese. He was captured in 1942 and spent the remainder of World War II in prison camp. He rejoined the Colonial service following his release.After the war ended, he returned to the colonial service and served in North Borneo
North Borneo
North Borneo was a British protectorate under the sovereign North Borneo Chartered Company from 1882 to 1946. After the war it became a crown colony of Great Britain from 1946 to 1963, known in this time as British North Borneo. It is located on the northeastern end of the island of Borneo. It is...
and Hong Kong before moving on to Singapore as Governor (1955–57). Subsequently, he became Governor of Hong Kong from 1958 to 1964.
During his governorship, Hong Kong became increasingly prosperous, despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of refugees were illegally crossing the border from China every year. Although this influx placed an enormous burden on the colonial authorities, Black repeatedly appealed to the British Government for help in housing the refugees. In this, he was largely successful.
During Black's administration, Hong Kong also experienced severe drought, with water available for only 3–4 hours per day, creating a certain amount of hardship. He also helped establish Chinese University of Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
by united several smaller institutions. He served as Chancellor of both CUHK and University of Hong Kong during his tenure as Governor in Hong Kong.
Post-governorship
Black return to Britain and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth 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 1962. He died on 29 October 1999.
Tributes and honours
- Robert Black College, a graduate college of the University of Hong Kong.
- Robert Black Health Center in San Po KongSan Po KongSan Po Kong is an area in New Kowloon in Hong Kong. South of Wong Tai Sin and Diamond Hill, and north of the former Kai Tak International Airport, the area is bounded by Choi Hung Road and Prince Edward Road. San Po Kong is largely industrial and partly residential. Administratively, it belongs...
, Hong Kong, as well as the former Black Teacher's College were named after him. - Sir Robert Black College of Education, now merged into the Hong Kong Institute of EducationHong Kong Institute of EducationThe Hong Kong Institute of Education is one of eight subsidised tertiary institutes under the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong. It is the only one dedicated to teacher education....
. - Black's Link, a road on Hong Kong island linking Wong Nai Chung gap with the Peak (not open to private vehicles)