Hong Kong's First: The Lasts

Featured Photo

Ella Zoyara (b.1840-d.1879) was the star trick-rider of the Great World Circus, the first circus to ever come to town in Hong Kong. Six shows were given by the circus from March 27, 1868 before it left for its next destination - Manila. Unbeknown to the circus-goers in Hong Kong, the St. Louis born Zoyara was in fact a man named Omar Kingsley and that he was even married - to a woman named Sallie Stickney. Zoyara's "true" gender was discovered in Manila and as a result both she (he) and the circus master Adolf Gonsalez were thrown into jail.

This is one of the over 600 fun facts about Hong Kong, as far as the first of its kind events go, that are included in the Welcome page under Who's Who and What's What.

Updated October 12, 2015

Why not! it's only fair that I do something about the "last of its kind" events that took place in Hong Kong since I've logged hundreds the "firsts" in this blog. There probably is only a handful of them and I should be able to put all of them in a single post. This by no means is an exhaustive list; I'm simply following my own tradition of publishing unfinished post and keep on writing them after they have been made public. So, here goes...

Hong Kong's Last

Chief Justice, Briton	Denys Tudor Emil Roberts Roberts was Chief Justice between 1979 and 1988. He was succeeded by Yang Ti-Liang, who resigned in 1996 to run for the office of the Chief Executive. His office was temporarily filled by Acting Chief Justice Noel Power.
Chief Secretary, Briton	David Robert Ford Ford was Chief Secretary between 1987 and 1993. He was succeeded by Anson Chan Fong On-sang.
Colonial Governor	Chris Patten Pattern was Governor between July 9, 1992 and June 30, 1997. He departed Hong Kong after the handover ceremony (to mark the transfer of the sovereignty over Hong Kong to PRC) with Prince Charles on board the royal yacht, HMY Britannia. In his last cable sent to the Secretary of State, he said, "I have relinquished the administration of this Government. God Save the Queen."
Colonial Flag	British Blue Ensign with Coat of Arms of Hong Kong This design was used between 1959 and 1997. The last official Colonial Flag was lower at the ceremony to mark the transfer of the sovereignty over Hong Kong to PRC and was presented to Chris Patten, Hong Kong's last governor, who took it back to Britain.
Colonial Secretary	Denys Tudor Emil Roberts Roberts was Colonial Secretary between 1973 and 1976. The position was renamed Chief Secretary in 1976. Roberts remained in the position of Chief Secretary until 1978; he was succeeded by Jack Cater, who was the first Commissioner of ICAC. Roberts became the Chief Justice in 1979.
Colonial Surgeon 皇家醫生	Philip Bernard Chenery Ayres Ayres was Colonial Surgeon between 1873 and 1894. The position was renamed Principal Civil Medical Officer upon his stepping down from the office. John Mitford Atkinson, his successor as Hong Kong's medical chief, was the first PCMO.
Colonial Treasurer	Alfred Lister Lister was Colonial Treasurer between 1883 and 1886.
Catholic Bishop, European	Lorenzo Bianchi 白英奇 Bianchi was Bishop of Hong Kong between October 26, 1952 ans November 30, 1968. He was succeeded by Francis Hsu Chen-ping 徐誠斌.
Director of Medical and Sanitary Services 醫務衛生總監	Arthur Robartes Wellington, Dr. Welling, medical chief of Hong Kong between 1929 and 1936 was the only holder of office under this name. It was known previously as Principal Civil Medical Officer, and was again, upon his stepping down from the office, to Director of Medical Services.
Financial Secretary, Briton	Hamish Macleod Macleod was Financial Secretary between 1991 and 1995. He was succeeded by Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.
Lieutenant Governor	William Julius Gascoigne, Maj-Gen 加士居 Gascoigne, Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong, was Lieutenant Governor between 1898 and 1902. The position was eliminated in 1902. Gascoigne Road 加士居道 was named in his honor.
Police Commissioner, Briton	Raymon Harry Anning 顏理國 Anning was Commissioner of Police between 1985 and 1989. He was succeeded by Li Kwan-ha 李君夏.
Principal Civil Medical Officer 首席民事醫務官	Joseph Barlett Addison Addison was PCMO between 1924 and 1928. The position was renamed Director of Medical ans Sanitary Services upon his stepping down from the office.