Cecil Clementi

There were two men known as Sir Cecil Clementi, both having been colonial governors in Singapore. Sir Cecil Clementi, who served between 1930 to 1934, was Sir Cecil Clementi Smith's nephew.

Sir Cecil Clementi
17th Governor of Hong Kong
In office 1 November 1925 – 9 May 1931
Preceded by	Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs
Succeeded by	Sir William Peel
Personal details
Born	1 September 1875(1875-09-01) Cawnpore, India
Died	5 April 1947(1947-04-05) (aged 71) High Wycombe, England
Spouse(s)	Marjory Stubbs
Alma mater	Oxford University
Profession	colonial administrator, merchant

Sir Cecil Clementi, GCMG, KStJ, FRGS, MRAS (Chinese name 金文泰) (1 September 1875 – 5 April 1947), was a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Hong Kong from 1925–30, and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements from 1930–34.

Early life and education

Born in Cawnpore, India, Clementi was the son of Colonel Montagu Clementi, Judge Advocate General in India, and his wife, Isabel Collard. He attended St Paul's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied Sanskrit and the classics. In 1895, he won the Hertford Scholarship (an honorable mention), and 1st class mods a year later. He subsequently won the Ireland and Craven Scholarship (an honorable mention) in 1896, and a Boden Sanskrit Scholar in 1897.

Clementi became proxime accessit (runner-up in examination) of the Gaisford Greek Prose prize in 1897, 2nd class lit. hum. and attained his B.A. in 1898. Clementi was also proxime accessit of the Chancellor's Latin Essay prize in 1899, and attained his M.A. in 1901.

Early Colonial Services

In 1899, Clementi placed fourth in the competitive examinations for the civil service, which allowed him his choice of postings. His choice was Hong Kong, and upon his arrival he was sent up to Canton, where he was a land officer until forced to return to Hong Kong by the events of the Boxer Rebellion. Clementi's facility with languages was demonstrated when he passed the Cantonese examination in 1900, and the Pekingese examination six years later, in 1906.

After serving as an Assistant Registrar General in 1901, Clementi joined as a member of the Board of Examiners in Chinese, in 1902. In 1902, Clementi was seconded for special service under government of India and was created J.P. in that same year. A year later, he was seconded for famine relief work in Kwangsi (Guangxi). A year afterwards, Clementi was appointed Member of Land Court, Assistant Land Officer and Police Magistrate at New Territories, Hong Kong, a position he served in until 1906.

Due to his outstanding performance in the services, Clementi was promoted to Assistant Colonial Secretary and Clerk of Council, in 1907. While he was in that position, Clementi represented the Hong Kong government in the International Opium Conference at Shanghai, in 1909. A year later, he became the Private Secretary to the Administrator at that time, Sir Francis Henry May. Clementi eventually became Acting Colonial Secretary and Member of both the Executive Legislative Councils of Hong Kong. He would remain there until 1912.

In 1913, Clementi was appointed Colonial Secretary of British Guiana, a post he held until 1922. From there he was named the Colonial Secretary of Ceylon, where he served until 1925. Each position imparted considerably responsibility, and on more than one occasion he was in charge of administering the entire government of his area of responsibility.

Governor of Hong Kong

In 1925, Clementi was appointed as Governor of Hong Kong, a position he would serve in for five years, until 1930. Since Clementi was well versed in Cantonese and was a fan of Chinese culture, he had no problems communicating with local people.

During his tenure, a Hong Kong-Canton mega-strike that crippled the Hong Kong economy was resolved. Also, during Clementi's tenure, Kai Tak Airport entered operation (it would operate until Hong Kong International Airport entered service in 1998.)

Clementi is remembered for ending the traditional Chinese "female maid servitude" system that often resulted in abuses of the maids by the employers. He also appointed Shouson Chow, a prominent Chinese merchant, as the first unofficial member of the Executive Council.

Governorship of the Straits Settlements

Sir Cecil, as the Governor of Straits Settlements

After his tenure as Governor of Hong Kong ended, Clementi went on to serve as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements, which included Singapore, and High Commissioner for the Malay States, from February 1930 to November 1934. This was his last post in the Colonial Services.

6 years later, in 1940, Clementi became the Master of the Mercers' Company.

Personal life

Clementi was the nephew of the Rt. Hon. Sir Cecil Clementi Smith (1860–1916), Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner in the period 1887 to 1893.

Clementi married Marie Penelope Rose Eyres, daughter of Admiral Cresswell John Eyres, in 1912. The couple had one son, Cresswell, and three daughters.

Clementi died in High Wycombe, England on 5 April 1947.

Honours

• C.M.G., 1916
• K.C.M.G., 1926
• G.C.M.G., 1931
• K.St.J., 1926
• Fellow, Royal Geographic Society (F.R.G.S.)
• Member, Royal Asiatic Society (M.R.A.S.)
• Honorary Fellow, Magdalen College, Oxford, 1938
• Recipient, Cuthbert Peek award of the Royal Geographical Society, 1912
• Honours LL.D. degree, Hong Kong University, 1925

Publications

Clementi published several books:

• Cantonese Love Songs
• Pervigilium Veneris
• Summary of Geographical Observations taken during a journey from Kashgar to Kowloon (1907–8)
• The Chinese in British Guiana
• Elements in Analysis of Thought
• A Constitutional History of British Guiana

Place Names

Clementi has had several places named after him, such as Clementi Secondary School, Clementi Road, and Sir Cecil's Ride (金督馳馬徑) in Hong Kong and the town of Clementi in Singapore

See also

• History of Hong Kong

Government offices
Preceded by William Henry Manning	Governor of Ceylon, acting 1925	Succeeded by Edward Bruce Alexander, acting
Preceded by Claud Severn, Acting Administrator	Governor of Hong Kong 1925–1930	Succeeded by Sir Wilfrid Southorn, Acting Administrator
Preceded by Sir Hugh Charles Clifford	Governor of Straits Settlements & British High Commissioner in Malaya 1930–1934	Succeeded by Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas