'Governor, Traveller, Scholar, Spy': Sir Cecil Clementi and the making of 'modern' Hong Kong

In this talk, Graham Hutchings will introduce his new biography of Sir Cecil Clementi.

Of Hong Kong’s 27 British governors, Clementi was the most intellectually accomplished, the most widely travelled in China, and probably the most fluent in written and spoken Chinese, especially Cantonese. He spent more than half of his 34-year career in Hong Kong, arriving as a government cadet at the close of 1899 and serving in a variety of positions in the following 13 years. He played an important part in the land settlement of the New Territories, the creation of Hong Kong University and the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. He also published a translation of Chinese poetry and undertook an epic journey from Kashgar to Kowloon. 

Clementi returned to Hong Kong as the 17^th governor (1925-1930) when China’s National Revolution threatened British control of the territory. He responded by cultivating close ties with local Chinese elites as a means of defending Hong Kong’s ‘traditional’ way of life and shoring up British prestige. A man of extraordinary energy as well as ability, he nevertheless found himself out of tune with the times in China as well as the policies of the British government towards that country.

Registration

This event is open to the public and free to attend; however, registration is required. This event is taking place on campus and will not be recorded or live-streamed.

Organiser

This event has been organised by the SOAS China Institute.