17 Facts About Brook Bernacchi

Brook Antony Bernacchi was a lawyer and politician in Hong Kong.

Brook Bernacchi was the long-time chairman of the Reform Club of Hong Kong, the then quasi-opposition party in the colony and the longest serving elected officeholder in Hong Kong history, sitting on the Urban Council of Hong Kong, from 1952 to 1981,1983 to 1986 and 1989 to 1995.

Brook Bernacchi was well known for his efforts of pushing direct elections and political reform in Hong Kong.

Brook Bernacchi was called to the Bar in 1943 and joined the Royal Marines during World War II.

Brook Bernacchi arrived in Hong Kong as part of the liberation forces in 1945 and joined the Hong Kong Bar Association in 1946 and was its chairman in 1963.

In 1949, Brook Bernacchi founded the Reform Club of Hong Kong, a political organisation consisting mostly of expatriates in the midst of the discussion on the Young Plan, a proposed constitutional reform put forward by Governor Mark Aitchison Young.

Brook Bernacchi represented the club to run in the first Urban Council election in the post-war period, in 1952, and went on to hold the position for most of his public life.

The club, under Brook Bernacchi's chairmanship, was involved in grassroots politics, calling for public housing for all, as thousands of refugees flooded into Hong Kong from the Communist uprising in China.

Brook Bernacchi helped set up various groups including the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers and the Discharged Prisoners Aid Society.

Brook Bernacchi was criticised for his dictatorial style of chairing the club.

Brook Bernacchi showed rare support to the colonial government during the 1967 leftist riot and endorsed an outright crackdown.

Brook Bernacchi had been one of the leading voices for constitutional reform in Hong Kong since the 1950s.

Brook Bernacchi warned the British government that "if the voice of the people is not taken heed of now" there could be "disturbances".

Brook Bernacchi had three stepchildren, Robert Whitehead, SC, Dr Ian Whitehead and Mrs Sarah Driver.

Brook Bernacchi became the first Westerner to settle on Lantau Island in 1948.

Brook Bernacchi was one of the original founders of the Hong Kong Sea School, in Stanley, Hong Kong, which was set up to train young disadvantaged boys for a career in the Navy.

Brook Bernacchi developed a brain tumour in 1961 which was diagnosed as benign but which left him with impaired use of his left arm and a limp.