16 Facts About Edward Youde

Edward Youde served as Governor of Hong Kong from 20 May 1982 until his death on 5 December 1986.

In 1947, Edward Youde joined the Foreign Office, where he would serve the rest of his life, and was swiftly posted to the British embassy in Nanking, then the capital of the Republic of China.

Edward Youde's negotiations came to naught, but bought enough time for the Amethyst to plan a successful escape to Hong Kong under the cover of darkness.

Edward Youde was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his actions.

Edward Youde went on to serve a total of four tours of Foreign Office duty in China, the last as ambassador, from 1974 to 1978.

Edward Youde served in Washington and as a member of the British mission to the United Nations.

When Edward Youde took office as Governor in 1982, he sought to expand Hong Kong's further education system which he considered to be lacking.

In view of this, Edward Youde created the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Edward Youde promulgated many laws to control and supervise the banking, insurance, securities, finance and trade industries.

Edward Youde is especially remembered for his tenure as the Hong Kong Governor and his role in negotiating the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which was signed in Beijing in 1984.

Edward Youde had to deal with a substantial emigration wave after it became apparent Hong Kong citizens would not be offered British citizenship during the handover, so many many Hong Kongers made private arrangements with emigration to Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom being popular destinations with outflows between 1988 and 1994 averaged about 55,000 per year, although some Hong Kong people returned after in the early years after 1997.

Edward Youde was Hong Kong's only Welsh Governor was widely liked for his kindly demeanour and greatly admired for his formidable erudition.

Edward Youde once claimed he read several Chinese newspapers every day when he had breakfast.

Edward Youde was the only Governor of Hong Kong to die in office.

Edward Youde was cremated, and his ashes interred at Canterbury Cathedral in England, and a memorial plaque was installed in the nave.

Edward Youde married Pamela Fitt and the couple had two daughters, Jennifer and Deborah.