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{{Short description|Hong Kong politician (1904–1991)}}
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'''David Mercer MacDougall''' (Chinese: 麥道高; 8 December 1904 – 13 May 1991) was a [[Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong|Colonial Secretary]] of Hong Kong between 1945 and 1949.
[[File:MacDougall 4.jpg|thumb|David Mercer MacDougall]]
'''David Mercer MacDougall''' ({{zh|c=麥道高}}; 8 December 1904 – 13 May 1991) was a [[Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong|Colonial Secretary]] of Hong Kong between 1945 and 1949.


In 1928, while a Cadet Officer, MacDougall was seconded to the [[Colonial Office]], and posted to Hong Kong. By 1941 he was part of the [[Ministry of Information (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Information (MoI)]] in Hong Kong. The [[Kuomintang|Chinese Nationalists]] had worked undercover with the British Police and Intelligence Services since the Japanese invasion of Southern China in 1938, running a network of Nationalist agents which Admiral [[Chan Chak]] had operated. These helped in keeping the local Chinese population on-side, controlling the Triad gangs and identifying Japanese sympathisers. During the [[Battle of Hong Kong]] he worked directly with [[Chan Chak|Admiral Chan Chak]] who had been brought in to assist in matters of the Chinese public morale and civil order within the British colony. MacDougall and Chan were among a total of sixty eight British, Chinese and Danish intelligence, naval and marine personnel saved from the [[Japanese occupation of Hong Kong]] by a dramatic [[Breakout (military)|break-out]] in five small torpedo boats on Christmas Day 1941. Eventually making it to [[Chungking]], MacDougall then travelled on to [[Burma]].
In 1928, while a Cadet Officer, MacDougall was seconded to the [[Colonial Office]], and posted to Hong Kong. By 1941 he was part of the [[Ministry of Information (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Information (MoI)]] in Hong Kong. The [[Kuomintang|Chinese Nationalists]] had worked undercover with the British Police and Intelligence Services since the Japanese invasion of Southern China in 1938, running a network of Nationalist agents which Admiral [[Chan Chak]] had operated. These helped in keeping the local Chinese population on-side, controlling the Triad gangs and identifying Japanese sympathisers. During the [[Battle of Hong Kong]] he worked directly with Admiral Chan Chak who had been brought in to assist in matters of the Chinese public morale and civil order within the British colony. MacDougall and Chan were among a total of sixty eight British, Chinese and Danish intelligence, naval and marine personnel saved from the [[Japanese occupation of Hong Kong]] by a dramatic [[Breakout (military)|break-out]] in five small torpedo boats on Christmas Day 1941. Eventually making it to [[Chongqing]], MacDougall then travelled on to [[Burma]].


MacDougall was put in charge of the Hong Kong Planning Unit in London in September 1944, charged with preparing for the return of Hong Kong to the UK when the war ended.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/990638586|title=Architect of prosperity : Sir John Cowperthwaite and the making of Hong Kong|last=Monnery|first=Neil|publisher=LPP|year=2017|isbn=9781907994692|location=London|pages=|oclc=990638586}}</ref> After Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 McDougall arrived back in Hong Kong on 7 September 1945 as Chief Civil Affairs Officer with the rank of Brigadier. He had responsibility for Civil Administration, reporting to [[Cecil Harcourt|Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt]] who was appointed Commander-in-Chief. MacDougall witnessed the Japanese surrender to Admiral [[Cecil Harcourt|Harcourt]] in Government House on 16 September.
MacDougall was put in charge of the Hong Kong Planning Unit in London in September 1944, charged with preparing for the return of Hong Kong to the UK when the war ended.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Architect of prosperity : Sir John Cowperthwaite and the making of Hong Kong|last=Monnery|first=Neil|publisher=LPP|year=2017|isbn=9781907994692|location=London|oclc=990638586}}</ref> After Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 McDougall arrived back in Hong Kong on 7 September 1945 as Chief Civil Affairs Officer with the rank of Brigadier. He had responsibility for Civil Administration, reporting to [[Cecil Harcourt|Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt]] who was appointed Commander-in-Chief. MacDougall witnessed the Japanese surrender to Admiral [[Cecil Harcourt|Harcourt]] in Government House on 16 September.


Civilian rule in Hong Kong was reestablished under [[Mark Aitchison Young|Governor Sir Mark Young]] on 1 May 1946 at which time McDougall became Colonial Secretary reporting to Young.<ref name=":0" /> When Young retired, MacDougall served briefly as acting Governor from May 1947 – 25 July 1947.
Civilian rule in Hong Kong was reestablished under [[Mark Aitchison Young|Governor Sir Mark Young]] on 1 May 1946 at which time McDougall became Colonial Secretary reporting to Young.<ref name=":0" /> When Young retired, MacDougall served briefly as acting Governor from May 1947 – 25 July 1947.


Chan Chak likewise became Mayor of [[Guangzhou|Canton]] after the war. He died six weeks before the city fell to Communists forces in 1949.
Chan Chak likewise became Mayor of [[Guangzhou|Canton]] after the war. He died six weeks before the city fell to Communist forces in 1949.


After his retirement from the Colonial Service in 1949, MacDougall farmed in Suffolk until the late 1960s. Thereafter he divided his time between East Anglia and Scotland. He died in [[Strathtay]], near his home town of [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], in May 1991 at the age of 86.
After his retirement from the Colonial Service in 1949, MacDougall farmed in Suffolk until the late 1960s. Thereafter he divided his time between East Anglia and Scotland. He died in [[Strathtay]], near his home town of [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], in May 1991 at the age of 86.

== See also ==
* [[List of heads of Hong Kong by education]]


==References==
==References==
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| title = [[Governor of Hong Kong]] (Administrator)
| title = [[Governor of Hong Kong]] (Administrator)
| years = May 1947 – 25 July 1947
| years = May 1947 – 25 July 1947
| before = Sir [[Cecil Harcourt]]
| before = Sir [[Mark Aitchison Young|Mark Young]]
| after = Sir [[Alexander Grantham]]
| after = Sir [[Alexander Grantham]]
}}
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{Chief Secretary for Administration}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Macdougall, David Mercer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macdougall, David Mercer}}
[[Category:Chief Secretaries of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Chief secretaries of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1991 deaths]]
[[Category:1991 deaths]]

Latest revision as of 20:49, 19 September 2024

David Mercer MacDougall

David Mercer MacDougall (Chinese: 麥道高; 8 December 1904 – 13 May 1991) was a Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong between 1945 and 1949.

In 1928, while a Cadet Officer, MacDougall was seconded to the Colonial Office, and posted to Hong Kong. By 1941 he was part of the Ministry of Information (MoI) in Hong Kong. The Chinese Nationalists had worked undercover with the British Police and Intelligence Services since the Japanese invasion of Southern China in 1938, running a network of Nationalist agents which Admiral Chan Chak had operated. These helped in keeping the local Chinese population on-side, controlling the Triad gangs and identifying Japanese sympathisers. During the Battle of Hong Kong he worked directly with Admiral Chan Chak who had been brought in to assist in matters of the Chinese public morale and civil order within the British colony. MacDougall and Chan were among a total of sixty eight British, Chinese and Danish intelligence, naval and marine personnel saved from the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong by a dramatic break-out in five small torpedo boats on Christmas Day 1941. Eventually making it to Chongqing, MacDougall then travelled on to Burma.

MacDougall was put in charge of the Hong Kong Planning Unit in London in September 1944, charged with preparing for the return of Hong Kong to the UK when the war ended.[1] After Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 McDougall arrived back in Hong Kong on 7 September 1945 as Chief Civil Affairs Officer with the rank of Brigadier. He had responsibility for Civil Administration, reporting to Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt who was appointed Commander-in-Chief. MacDougall witnessed the Japanese surrender to Admiral Harcourt in Government House on 16 September.

Civilian rule in Hong Kong was reestablished under Governor Sir Mark Young on 1 May 1946 at which time McDougall became Colonial Secretary reporting to Young.[1] When Young retired, MacDougall served briefly as acting Governor from May 1947 – 25 July 1947.

Chan Chak likewise became Mayor of Canton after the war. He died six weeks before the city fell to Communist forces in 1949.

After his retirement from the Colonial Service in 1949, MacDougall farmed in Suffolk until the late 1960s. Thereafter he divided his time between East Anglia and Scotland. He died in Strathtay, near his home town of Perth, in May 1991 at the age of 86.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Monnery, Neil (2017). Architect of prosperity : Sir John Cowperthwaite and the making of Hong Kong. London: LPP. ISBN 9781907994692. OCLC 990638586.
Government offices
Preceded by Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong
1945–1949
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Hong Kong (Administrator)
May 1947 – 25 July 1947
Succeeded by