Chau Cham Son
Encyclopedia
Chau Cham-son OBE
, CStJ
, JP
, was the Chief Commissioner
of the Scout Association of Hong Kong
from 1985 to 1996. He was the son of the late Sir Chau Tsun-nin.
, an eminent Roman Catholic Jesuit secondary school in Hong Kong
, and later graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a degree in Architecture
. He qualified as a Registered Architect. He also undertook further post-graduate studies at the University of Liverpool
and the University of Melbourne
and qualified as a registered town planner.
in 1990 as Director (General) of Buildings and Lands after 30 years of public service. He has been described as "instrumental in establishing a fully-fledged town planning office in the 1980s with the modern concept of urban planning". He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1987 and a Commander of Order of Saint John
in 2002. Chau was a steward of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, beginning in 1989; from 1998 to 2002 he served as Deputy Chairman.
. He was appointed Assistant District Commissioner in 1957 and succeed Tse Ping Fui as District Commissioner in 1962. He had been Honorary Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of The Scout Association of Hong Kong
. He also was Chairman of Campsites and Properties Committee between 1978 and 1984.
He became Chairman of the Scout Association of Hong Kong in 1983 and also chaired the Headquarters Building Management Committee in the crucial period during the fund raising, planning and construction of the 25 storey Hong Kong Scout Centre. Chamson became Chief Commissioner
of the Scout Association of Hong Kong in 1985, a post he held for the next 11 years.
As Chief Commissioner, Chau streamlined the Organization of the Scout Movement in Hong Kong and his greatest legacy is the 25 storey Hong Kong Scout Centre, one of the largest, most advanced and well equipped Scout Headquarters in the World.
(APR) Regional Committee from 1986 to 1992. He was awarded with the Bronze Wolf
in 1990 and was elected a member of the World Scout Committee (1993–1999).
Chau co-founded the APR Scout Foundation in 1992. By making the first contribution he became its first Foundation Member. He is a Baden Powell Fellow of the World Scout Foundation.
and Thailand
. He was awarded the APR Scout Medallion (1986) and the APR Distinguished Service Award (1995).
Chau has been a Vice President of the Scout Association of Hong Kong since his retiring from the post of Chief Commissioner in 1997. He is also a holder of Long Service Medal
with four stars signifying he has served faithfully for no less than 55 years as an adult leader of Hong Kong Scouts.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CStJ
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, was the Chief Commissioner
Chief Commissioner
A Chief Commissioner is a commissioner of a high rank, usually in chief of several Commissioners or similarly styled officers.-Colonial:In British India the gubernatorial style was Chief Commissioner in various provinces , the style being applied especially where an elected assembly did not exist,...
of the Scout Association of Hong Kong
The Scout Association of Hong Kong
The Scout Association of Hong Kong is the overall Scouting organization in Hong Kong. After the first Scouting initiatives in 1909, the Hong Kong branch of The Scout Association of the United Kingdom was started in 1914 by registering the St. Joseph's College Scout Group, and was formally...
from 1985 to 1996. He was the son of the late Sir Chau Tsun-nin.
Education
He attended the single-sex Wah Yan CollegeWah Yan College
Wah Yan College may refer to:* Wah Yan College, Hong Kong* Wah Yan College, Kowloon...
, an eminent Roman Catholic Jesuit secondary school in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and later graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a degree in Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. He qualified as a Registered Architect. He also undertook further post-graduate studies at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and qualified as a registered town planner.
Career
He was the first registered town planner in Hong Kong. Chau retired from the Hong Kong Government Civil ServiceCivil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
in 1990 as Director (General) of Buildings and Lands after 30 years of public service. He has been described as "instrumental in establishing a fully-fledged town planning office in the 1980s with the modern concept of urban planning". He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1987 and a Commander of Order of Saint John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
in 2002. Chau was a steward of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, beginning in 1989; from 1998 to 2002 he served as Deputy Chairman.
Scouting
Chau joined the Scout Movement in 1946 as a Boy Scout. He became a Scoutmaster in 1949 for his alma mater, the 15th Hong Kong Group of Wah Yan College, Hong KongWah Yan College, Hong Kong
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong is an eminent grant-in-aid secondary school in Hong Kong. It was founded on 16 December 1919, by Tsui Yan Sau Peter . It is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys run by the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus...
. He was appointed Assistant District Commissioner in 1957 and succeed Tse Ping Fui as District Commissioner in 1962. He had been Honorary Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of The Scout Association of Hong Kong
The Scout Association of Hong Kong
The Scout Association of Hong Kong is the overall Scouting organization in Hong Kong. After the first Scouting initiatives in 1909, the Hong Kong branch of The Scout Association of the United Kingdom was started in 1914 by registering the St. Joseph's College Scout Group, and was formally...
. He also was Chairman of Campsites and Properties Committee between 1978 and 1984.
He became Chairman of the Scout Association of Hong Kong in 1983 and also chaired the Headquarters Building Management Committee in the crucial period during the fund raising, planning and construction of the 25 storey Hong Kong Scout Centre. Chamson became Chief Commissioner
Chief Commissioner
A Chief Commissioner is a commissioner of a high rank, usually in chief of several Commissioners or similarly styled officers.-Colonial:In British India the gubernatorial style was Chief Commissioner in various provinces , the style being applied especially where an elected assembly did not exist,...
of the Scout Association of Hong Kong in 1985, a post he held for the next 11 years.
As Chief Commissioner, Chau streamlined the Organization of the Scout Movement in Hong Kong and his greatest legacy is the 25 storey Hong Kong Scout Centre, one of the largest, most advanced and well equipped Scout Headquarters in the World.
International
Chamson served in Asia-Pacific RegionWOSM-Asia-Pacific Region
The Asia-Pacific Scout Region is the divisional office of the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, headquartered in Makati City, Philippines, with satellite offices in Australia and Japan...
(APR) Regional Committee from 1986 to 1992. He was awarded with the Bronze Wolf
Bronze Wolf
The Bronze Wolf Award is bestowed by the World Scout Committee to acknowledge "outstanding service by an individual to the World Scout Movement"...
in 1990 and was elected a member of the World Scout Committee (1993–1999).
Chau co-founded the APR Scout Foundation in 1992. By making the first contribution he became its first Foundation Member. He is a Baden Powell Fellow of the World Scout Foundation.
Awards/Honours
Besides the Bronze Wolf, he received Scouting awards from the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. He was awarded the APR Scout Medallion (1986) and the APR Distinguished Service Award (1995).
Chau has been a Vice President of the Scout Association of Hong Kong since his retiring from the post of Chief Commissioner in 1997. He is also a holder of Long Service Medal
Long Service Medal
Long Service Medal could mean:* Long Service Medal awarded to a member of the Singapore Armed Forces* Long Service Medal awarded to military personnel of the AFP...
with four stars signifying he has served faithfully for no less than 55 years as an adult leader of Hong Kong Scouts.