Murray MacLehose, Baron MacLehose of Beoch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord MacLehose of Beoch
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| 25th Governor of Hong Kong | |||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 19 November 1971 – 8 May 1982 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Colonial Secretary | Hugh Norman-Walker Denys Roberts |
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| Chief Secretary | Denys Roberts Jack Cater Philip Haddon-Cave |
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| Preceded by | David Trench | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Edward Youde | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 21 May 1982 – 27 May 2000 Life Peerage |
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 October 1917 Glasgow, Scotland |
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| Died | 27 May 2000 (aged 82) Ayrshire, Scotland |
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| Resting place | Alloway Parish Church, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Profession | Diplomat, colonial administrator | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 麥理浩 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 麦理浩 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Crawford Murray MacLehose, Baron MacLehose of Beoch (16 October 1917 – 27 May 2000), was an important British politician and diplomat. He is best known for being the 25th Governor of Hong Kong. He served from 1971 to 1982, making him the longest-serving governor of the area. He was often called "Jock the Sock" by people in Hong Kong.
Contents
Early Life and Becoming a Diplomat
Murray MacLehose was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in October 1917. He was the second child of Hamish Alexander MacLehose and Margaret Bruce Black. He went to Rugby School and then to Balliol College at the University of Oxford.
During World War II, MacLehose worked as a British vice-consul. He secretly trained Chinese fighters to work behind enemy lines. Their goal was to carry out sabotage against the Japanese.
Later, in the 1960s, MacLehose worked for George Brown, who was the Foreign Secretary. This job meant he helped the Foreign Secretary with important international matters.
MacLehose became a diplomat, representing Britain in other countries. He served in the British Embassy in Beijing. He was also the British Ambassador to South Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. After that, he became the Ambassador to Denmark until 1971.
Leading Hong Kong: Governor MacLehose
In November 1971, Murray MacLehose became the Governor of Hong Kong. A governor is like a leader of a territory or colony. He held this important job for 10 years and 6 months, until May 1982. This made him Hong Kong's longest-serving governor ever.
MacLehose was a very tall man, standing over six feet. He did not like wearing his formal governor's uniform. He felt much more comfortable in regular clothes.
He brought many big changes to Hong Kong. These changes helped make Hong Kong the modern place it is today. He made Chinese an official language, alongside English. This was a very important step for local people.
Big Changes for Hong Kong
As Governor, MacLehose started many new programs. He greatly improved welfare services for people. He also began a huge public housing program. This helped many families get affordable homes.
He created the ICAC. This group was set up to fight against corruption in the government and public life. He also set up District Boards. These groups helped the government be more responsible to its citizens.
MacLehose also oversaw the building of the Mass Transit Railway. This is Hong Kong's main transportation system. He also expanded community centers and arts facilities. He started public campaigns to keep the city clean and reduce crime.
Some other important changes during his time included:
- Nine years of compulsory education for children.
- A plan to build more homes over ten years, starting in 1972.
- Building new towns like Sha Tin and Tuen Mun.
- Creating Country Parks for nature and recreation.
- Introducing new laws to protect workers.
- Setting up social help programs for those in need.
- Introducing paid holidays for workers.
- Increasing support for elderly people.
- Starting programs to help people with disabilities.
- Helping workers who lost their jobs.
- Creating the Home Ownership Scheme to help people buy their own homes.
- Building more schools and hospitals.
- Setting up systems to help victims of crime and traffic accidents.
- Creating the Jubilee Sports Centre.
- Establishing The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Talking About Hong Kong's Future
In 1979, MacLehose met with Deng Xiaoping, a leader in China. They talked about the future of the New Territories. This area of Hong Kong was leased to Britain for 99 years. These talks were the first step in deciding what would happen to Hong Kong.
These discussions eventually led to the agreement for Hong Kong to return to China. This happened on 1 July 1997.
Life After Being Governor
After his time as Governor ended in 1982, MacLehose was given a special honor. He was made a life peer, becoming Baron MacLehose of Beoch. This meant he could sit in the House of Lords in the British Parliament for the rest of his life.
In 1983, he received another high honor, becoming a Knight of the Thistle. In 1992, the University of Hong Kong gave him an honorary doctorate degree.
Even when he was 80 years old, he attended the ceremony in 1997 when Hong Kong was handed back to China. He passed away in Ayrshire, Scotland, in May 2000.
Awards and Tributes
Murray MacLehose received many awards and honors for his service:
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) (1946)
- Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) (1964)
- Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG) (1971)
- Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (KStJ) (1972)
- Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) (1975)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE) (1976)
- Life Peerage (1982)
- Knight of the Thistle (KT) (1983)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Hong Kong
Several places in Hong Kong are named after him or his wife to remember their contributions:
- The 100-kilometer MacLehose Trail, a famous hiking path.
- The MacLehose Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
- The MacLehose Dental Centre.
- The Lady MacLehose Holiday Village.
- The Sir Murray MacLehose Trust Fund.
