Leo d'Almada e Castro explained

Leo d'Almada e Castro
Native Name Lang:zh-hk
Birth Date:28 May 1904
Birth Place:Hong Kong
Office:Member of the Executive Council
Appointed:Alexander Grantham
Term Start:1949
Term End:28 May 1959
Successor:Alberto Maria Rodrigues
Office1:Member of the Legislative Council
Appointed1:Andrew Caldecott
Term Start1:3 February 1937
Term End1:13 November 1941
Appointed2:Mark Aitchison Young
Term Start2:1 May 1946
Term End2:29 April 1953
Office3:Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association
Term Start3:January 1961
Term End3:January 1963
Predecessor3:Lo Hin Shing
Successor3:Brook Bernacchi
Term Start4:January 1959
Term End4:January 1960
Predecessor4:John McNeill
Successor4:Lo Hin Shing
Term Start5:January 1957
Term End5:January 1958
Predecessor5:John McNeill
Successor5:John McNeill
Term Start6:January 1954
Term End6:January 1955
Predecessor6:Charles Loseby
Successor6:John McNeill
Term Start7:January 1951
Term End7:January 1952
Predecessor7:Charles Loseby
Successor7:John McNeill
Alma Mater:St. Joseph's College

University of Hong Kong

  • Exeter College, Oxford
  • Occupation:Barrister-at-law
    Death Date:1996 (aged 91-92)[1]
    Death Place:Portugal
    Nationality:Portugal
    United Kingdom
    Spouse:Clothilde Belmira Barretto

    Leonardo Horácio d'Almada e Castro Jr. (; 28 May 1904 – 1996) was a barrister and prominent leader of the Portuguese community in Hong Kong.

    Biography

    He was born in Hong Kong in the d'Alamda family which had existed since the British rule of Hong Kong in 1842. He was educated as St. Joseph's College and the University of Hong Kong. He later claimed he failed in completing his studies because of his laziness. He left for England and graduated in jurisprudence from the Exeter College, Oxford in 1926 and was called to the Bar as a member of the Middle Temple in 1927.[2] He briefly lectured commercial law at the University of Hong Kong before he started practising law in Hong Kong. Until 1960, he was one of the only four Queen's Counsel practising in Hong Kong, the others were namely, John McNeil, Charles Loseby and Brook Bernacchi.[3] He was appointed as an unofficial member in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1937 to 1941 in the succession of José Pedro Braga and 1946 to 1953 after the war.[4]

    During the Second World War he lived in Macao and served as a liaison officer between the Portuguese and British governments in connection of refugees.[2] He was appointed to the Hong Kong Planning Unit in London during the last years of the war after his difficult journey through Japanese-occupied China to India, and then to England. He served as President of the General Military Court during the short-term British military rule after the surrender of Japan in 1945. He became the first Hong Kong Portuguese King's Counsel in 1947 and his wife was appointed one of Hong Kong's first female Justices of the Peace at this time. In 1949, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Hong Kong.

    He was also the member of the court of the University of Hong Kong from 1937 and President of the Hong Kong Bar Association five times from 1951 to 1962.[4] In the business sector, he was the director of the China Light & Power Co., China Underwriters and Far East Investment, Vice-President of the Boy Scouts Association of Hong Kong, Member of the Lusitano Club and Club Recreio.[5]

    According to the Asia Who's Who in 1958, he lived in 12 Kadoorie Avenue, Kowloon.[5]

    Notes and References

    1. http://www.clublusitano.com/leonardo-dalmada-e-castro-cbe-qc-lld-1904-1996/ Club Lusitano: Leonardo d’Almada e Castro CBE QC LLD 1904 to 1996
    2. Book: Cunich, Peter. An impossible dream: Hong Kong University from foundation to re-establishment, 1910-1950. 2002. Oxford University Press. 172.
    3. Book: Yu, Patrick Shuk-siu. Tales from Number Nine Ice House Street. Hong Kong University Press. 2002. 23.
    4. Book: Ure, Gavin. Governors, Politics, and the Colonial Office: Public Policy in Hong Kong, 1918-58. 2012. Hong Kong University Press. 254.
    5. Book: Asia Who's Who. Pan-Asia Newspaper Alliance. 1958. 144.