1952 Hong Kong municipal election explained

Election Name:1952 Hong Kong municipal election
Country:Hong Kong
Flag Image:Flag of Hong Kong 1876.svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1940 Hong Kong municipal election
Previous Year:1940
Next Election:1953 Hong Kong municipal election
Next Year:1953
Seats For Election:2 Elected (of 13) seats to the Urban Council
Election Date:30 May 1952
Registered:9,700
Turnout:3,368 (34.72%)
Image1:Brook_Bernacchi_1952.png
Nominee1:Brook Bernacchi
Party1:Reform Club of Hong Kong
Popular Vote1:1,168
Percentage1:17.83%
Nominee2:William Louey
Party2:Kowloon Residents' Association
Popular Vote2:1,068
Percentage2:16.31%
Members
After Election:Brook Bernacchi
William Louey
Map Size:325px

The 1952 Hong Kong Urban Council election was held on 30 May 1952 for the two elected seats of the Urban Council of Hong Kong. It was the first Urban Council election since the end of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the previous election having been held in 1940. Barrister Brook Bernacchi of the Reform Club of Hong Kong and William Louey, chief manager of Kowloon Motor Bus won the two seats.

Overview

See also: Young Plan (Hong Kong). It was the first Urban Council election after the Second World War. Prior to the election, the former Governor Sir Mark Aitchison Young suggested a further constitutional reform by a new elected Municipal body replacing the Urban Council. The Young Plan was strongly opposed by the conservatives and the then Governor Sir Alexander Grantham. At the end, the Governor restored the election for two seats in the Urban Council which had existed before the war after the Young Plan was shelved.

The polling station was held at the Murray Parade Ground. Some 3,368 men cast ballots, about one-third of the 9,700 registered voters, lower than expectations. The China Mail said it could "scarcely be regarded as a convincing sign that the Colony is desperately anxious to enjoy extended franchise."[1] Brook Bernacchi of the Reform Club of Hong Kong and William Louey of the Kowloon Residents' Association, chief manager of Kowloon Motor Bus, were elected out of nine candidates. Pro-Communist barrister Percy Chen, son of former Foreign Minister of the Republic of China Eugene Chen, was on the ballot. He urged voters to treat the election as a referendum to press London for a further constitutional reform promised by Young. He ranked sixth of the nine candidates, getting 461 votes. The other Reform Club candidate Woo Pak-chuen lost the race by only 38 votes.[2]

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Council Election. China Mail. 31 May 1952.
  2. Book: Memorandum and articles of Association of the Reform Club of Hong Kong : incorporated the 20th day of January, 1949. Reform Club of Hong Kong. Ts'o & Hodgson. 1949.