David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn Facts for Kids

Academic positions

Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen
In office 6 June 1997 – 6 January 2013
Preceded by	Sir Kenneth Alexander
Succeeded by	Queen Camilla
Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge
In office 1 January 2002 – 3 March 2008
Preceded by	John Meurig Thomas
Succeeded by	Adrian Dixon

Personal details

Born

David Clive Wilson

14 February 1935 (age 90)
Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland

Nationality

British

Spouse

Natasha Helen Mary Alexander

(m. 1967)

Children

2, including Peter Wilson

Education

Trinity College, Glenalmond

Alma mater

Profession

Colonial administrator, diplomat, sinologist

Chinese name

Traditional Chinese

衛奕信

Simplified Chinese

卫奕信

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Wèi Yìxìn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	wai6 jik6 seon3

David Clive Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn (Chinese: 衛奕信, born 14 February 1935) is a British diplomat and administrator who is now retired. He was the 27th Governor of Hong Kong from 1987 to 1992. A governor is like a leader of a territory. He also served as the British Monarch's representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2010 and 2011. He retired from the House of Lords in 2021. The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament.

Early Life and Career
Hong Kong Governorship
- His Chinese Name
After Being Governor
Places Named After Him
Personal Life
His Views
Honours
Styles
Arms
See also

Early Life and Career

David Wilson was born in Alloa, Scotland, on 14 February 1935. He went to Trinity College, Glenalmond, and then to Keble College, Oxford. He also studied Chinese history at the University of London.

He learned Chinese at the University of Hong Kong from 1960 to 1962. After that, he worked for the British government in Beijing, China. He can speak Mandarin Chinese very well. He spent 10 years of his 30-year career as a diplomat working in China. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations.

In 1968, Wilson left his job to edit a magazine called The China Quarterly. He rejoined the Diplomatic Service in 1974. He worked in the Cabinet Office and then became a political adviser in Hong Kong. From 1977 to 1981, he advised Sir Murray MacLehose, who was the Governor of Hong Kong at the time.

Later, he helped write the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. This was an important agreement about Hong Kong's future. He then became the first British representative for the group that followed this agreement. When the Governor of Hong Kong, Edward Youde, passed away in 1986, David Wilson took his place. He became Governor on 9 April 1987.

Hong Kong Governorship

Wilson (right) in 1991 with John Yaxley

As Governor, David Wilson faced several big challenges in Hong Kong. There was a major economic problem in 1987, which affected the stock market. He also had to deal with the impact of the 1989 protests in Beijing.

Another challenge was the large number of Vietnamese refugees. This problem grew, and in 1988, a policy was made to send back those who did not qualify as refugees.

In 1989, Wilson suggested building a new airport on Lantau Island. This project was called the Rose Garden Project. The old airport, Kai Tak Airport, was not big enough for modern planes. The new airport would help Hong Kong grow.

In December 1991, Britain announced that Wilson would be leaving his role. He had been Governor for five years. Before he left, he started political changes. These changes allowed more people in Hong Kong to directly elect their representatives. Chris Patten became the next Governor after Wilson left in June 1992.

His Chinese Name

When David Wilson first studied Chinese, he was given a Chinese name, Wei Dewei. "Wei" was short for "Wilson," and "Dewei" sounded like "David." However, when he became Governor of Hong Kong, people noticed something. The Cantonese pronunciation of his name sounded very different from his English name.

Some people thought his old Chinese name sounded like "hypocrisy to the extent of danger." Others said it sounded like "two ghosts knocking at the door," which was considered unlucky.

So, when he became Governor, he changed his Chinese name to Wai Yik-Shun (Chinese: 衛奕信). This new name sounded much more like his English name. It also had a better meaning and was thought to be a lucky name.

After Being Governor

After his time as Governor, David Wilson was given a special title. He became Baron Wilson of Tillyorn. This is a "life peerage," which means he could be a member of the House of Lords for the rest of his life.

From 1993 to 2000, he was the chairman of an energy company called Scottish Hydro Electric. He also served on the board of the British Council. He was the Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen from 1997 to 2013. He also led other important groups, like the Hong Kong Society. In 2000, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Thistle. This is a very high honor in Scotland.

He retired from the House of Lords on 12 February 2021.

Places Named After Him

The Wilson Trail in Hong Kong is named after him. It is a long hiking path, about 78 kilometers, that goes from north to south.

Also, the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust was created in December 1992. This trust helps to protect and save Hong Kong's history and important places.

Personal Life

David and Natasha Wilson at Cambridge University, March 2013.

David Wilson married Natasha Helen Mary Alexander in 1967. They have two sons, Peter and Andrew.

His Views

David Wilson has shared his thoughts on events in Hong Kong. During the 2014 protests, he supported the Hong Kong Police. He said their actions were "largely proportionate," meaning they were mostly fair.

During the 2019 protests, he believed the British government should not tell Hong Kong what to do. He said the protests started peacefully with young people who cared about their future. However, he noted that they became more violent. He felt that while police actions should be looked at, the police were under great stress. Their families were also threatened.

Some people who supported democracy criticized Wilson. They felt he did not move fast enough to allow more people to vote for their leaders. They also thought he listened too much to the Chinese government.

Honours

Lord Wilson's heraldic banner as Knight of the Order of the Thistle in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh.

He became a Knight of the Order of the Thistle (KT) in 2000.
He received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in 1991.
He has received honorary degrees from several universities. These include the University of Sydney, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of Hong Kong.

Viceregal styles of David Wilson (1987-1992)

Reference style	His Excellency the Right Honourable
Spoken style	Your Excellency

Styles

Mr David Clive Wilson (1937–1972)
Dr David Clive Wilson (1972–1987)
His Excellency The Rt Hon. Sir David Clive Wilson, K.C.M.G. (advanced G.C.M.G. in 1991) (1987–1992)
The Rt Hon. The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, G.C.M.G. (1992–2000)
The Rt Hon. The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, K.T., G.C.M.G. (2000–present)

Arms

Arms of David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn
	Coronet Coronet of a Baron Crest A Talbot's Head erased Sable langued Gules gorged of a Collar Argent charged with two Mullets Gules Escutcheon Sable on a Chevron Argent between a Dragon passant guardant Or in chief and a Demi Wolf holding in its paws a Pearl proper in base a Celtic Cross Azure Orders Order of the Thistle

David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn facts for kids

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