'Mayor of HK' - an education trailblazer and champion of children's rights - dies at 99

"Mayor of Hong Kong" Hilton Cheong-Leen, the first Chinese chairman of the defunct Urban Council, has passed away. He was 99.

The cause of death of Cheong-Leen, a politician and businessman, yesterday morning at his home was not made public.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor praised the "Mayor of Hong Kong" for his contribution to education development.

Cheong-Leen was born in 1922 in Georgetown in the then British Guiana, where his father was a Chinese immigrant. His family moved to Hong Kong when he was nine. He studied at La Salle College.

"Uncle Hilton has contributed to Hong Kong in innumerable ways," a spokesman of the Hong Kong Council of Early Childhood Education and Services said in June last year when he retired after six years as its chairman. Cheong-Leen's condition at the time was said to be "frail" though he was "alert and lucid."

Before Cheong-Leen started his political career, he was a businessman in the import trade in 1945 and specialized in bringing in Swiss watches.

Cheong-Leen was honorary life president of the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association. His company - H Cheong-Leen & Co (HK) - has been a member of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce since 1946.

Cheong-Leen cofounded the Hong Kong Civic Association, the city's oldest surviving political group, in 1954. Three years later, he joined the defunct Urban Council, which was dissolved in 1999, and became its longest continuously serving elected member - 34 years from 1957 to 1991.

That was when he was dubbed the "Mayor of Hong Kong," being the first Chinese chairman of the council from 1981 to 1986.

Cheong-Leen was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1973 for six years. He was then elected to the chamber in 1985 and held a seat for close to three years.

"His relentless push for replacing the overheated, substandard rooftop schools built after 1953 resulted in the government adopting a nine-year free education program in 1978," the CECES said.

Cheong-Leen also called for banning child labor in factories and restaurants in Hong Kong.

He held several official titles, such as chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

Lam, on behalf of the government, expressed her deepest sorrow for Cheong-Leen's passing and sent her condolences to his family.

"Mr Cheong-Leen had actively participated in public services for a long time ... He commanded the respect of different sectors. He was committed to community services and was particularly concerned about the development of local education," said Lam.

"He actively promoted the construction of schools and implementation of free education, and served in the Hong Kong Council of Early Childhood Education and Services for many years, making significant contributions to society."

Cheong-Leen is survived by his four children. His youngest offspring, Flora Cheong-Leen, is a ballerina-turned-fashion designer.

maisy.mok@singtaonewscorp.com