Sir Cecil Clementi, GCMG, KStJ, FRGS, MRAS (Chinese Translated Name ???) (1875 - 1947) was a British colonial administrator, who became Governor of Hong Kong.

Early life and education

Clementi was born in Cawnpore, India on 1 September, 1875. His father was the Colonel Montagu Clementi, Judge-Advocate-General in India.

Clementi attended St Paul's School and Magdalen College, Oxford. In 1895, he won the Hertford Scholarship (an honorable mention), and 1st class mods a year later. He subsequently won the Ireland and Craven Scholarship (an honorable mention) in 1896, and a Boden Sanskrit Scholar in 1897.

He became proxime accessit (runner-up in examination) of the Gaisford Greek Prose prize in 1897, 2nd class lit. hum. and attained his B.A. in 1898. Clementi was also proxime accessit of the Chancellor's Latin Essay prize in 1899, and attained his MA in 1901.

Early Colonial Services

In 1899, Clementi was posted to Hong Kong, where he was a land officer. Clementi further showed his academic prowess by passing 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. in that same year. A year later, he was seconded for famine relief work in Kwang Si (Guangxi). A year afterwards, Clementi was appointed Member of Land Court, Assistant Land Officer and Police Magistrate at New Territories, 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. 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 (until 1922), and of Ceylon (1922-1925).

Governor of Hong Kong

In 1925, Clementi was appointed as Governor of Hong Kong, 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 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 appointed Shouson Chow, a prominent Chinese merchant, as the first unofficial member of the Executive Council.

Governorship of the Straits Settlements

Sir Cecil, as the Governor of Straits Settlements

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 Smith (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, and three daughters.

Clementi died in High Wycombe, England on 5 April, 1947.

Honours

• C.M.G., 1916
• K.C.M.G., 1926
• G.C.M.G., 1931
• K.St.J., 1926
• Fellow, Royal Geographic Society (F.R.G.S.)
• Member, Royal Asiatic Society (M.R.A.S.)
• Honorary Fellow, Magdalen College, Oxford, 1938
• Receipient, 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 School, Clementi Road, and the Clementi Equestrian Trail (formerly Sir Cecil's Ride) (?????) in Hong Kong and the town of Clementi in Singapore

See also

• History of Hong Kong

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