Donald Luddington was later promoted to Oceania and was High Commissioner for the Western Pacific and Governor of the Solomon Islands during the period from 1973 to 1976.
26 Facts About Donald Luddington
1.
2.
Donald Luddington returned to Hong Kong in 1977 to replace Sir Ronald Holmes as chairman of the Public Service Commission.
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Donald Luddington was the second person, after Sir Jack Cater, to hold the post of Commissioner of ICAC from 1978 until his retirement in 1980.
4.
Donald Luddington's father, Norman John Luddington, was a civil servant in British Ceylon and his mother was Myrtle Amethyst Payne.
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Donald Luddington studied at Dover College and then the University of St Andrews, where he obtained a MA degree.
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Donald Luddington was initially commissioned as a second lieutenant in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on 28 December 1940, and transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps on 22 October 1941.
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Donald Luddington saw action in India and Arakan, Burma amongst others, and was Mentioned in Despatches on 5 April 1945.
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In February 1949, Donald Luddington arrived at Hong Kong as a Colonial Service cadet and began his career as an official in Hong Kong.
9.
Donald Luddington was initially sent to Tai Po as a District Officer and later served in various government departments, including the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Colonial Secretariat, and the Commerce and Industry Department.
10.
Donald Luddington later served successively as Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs and Deputy Director of Commerce and Industry in the mid-1960s and became a member of the Hong Kong Management Association.
11.
In May 1971, Donald Luddington succeeded Ronald Holmes as the Secretary for Home Affairs and became a principal government official.
12.
However, as Rafael Hui, a former junior colleague to Donald Luddington recalled, he was too upright, and therefore, was not on very good terms with the diplomat-turned-new-governor, Sir Murray MacLehose.
13.
Nevertheless, Donald Luddington deemed the diplomatic-like orders were nonsense and dismissed all of them.
14.
Donald Luddington was appointed High Commissioner for the Western Pacific on 10 October 1973, and his major duty was to administer a small and remote British colony, the British Solomon Islands.
15.
Yet, to let Donald Luddington leave Hong Kong with dignity, he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George before being appointed as high commissioner.
16.
Donald Luddington was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for his hospitality to the Queen.
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Donald Luddington left the governorship in January 1976 and self-government was established immediately.
18.
Donald Luddington was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 1976 for his services to Oceania.
19.
In May 1977, Sir Donald Luddington returned to Hong Kong to succeed Sir Ronald Holmes as chairman of the Public Service Commission.
20.
Donald Luddington left the post in March 1978 but was appointed to replace Jack Cater as the second Commissioner of ICAC by Governor MacLehose on 4 July in the same year.
21.
Donald Luddington finally retired from the government in November 1980.
22.
Donald Luddington spent his later years in retirement in Easingwold, Yorkshire.
23.
Donald Luddington died in a hospital in Harrogate on 26 January 2009 at the age of 88.
24.
Donald Luddington died the last surviving former high commissioner for the Western Pacific.
25.
Lady Donald Luddington once served as the Vice President of the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association.
26.
Donald Luddington was a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Hong Kong Club.