Kevin Sinclair
Encyclopedia
Kevin Sinclair, MBE
, (December 12, 1942 – December 23, 2007) was a journalist, author and passionate supporter of Hong Kong
. He spent more than 50 years reporting the news and over 40 of those in Hong Kong. Born in New Zealand, Sinclair worked at various points in his career for the The Star
, the Hong Kong Standard, and, for a long time, the South China Morning Post
.
Kevin Sinclair was one of the first Western journalists to visit China, even before the "Bamboo Curtain
" opened up. He reported from many remote provinces where he became known as the famous "mad journalist with the hole in his throat", due to a 1978 tracheostomy that robbed him of his natural voice and left him with the trademark hole through which he learned to speak again.
Sinclair is the author of some 24 books. His first, No Cure, No Pay: Salvage in the South China Seas was published by SCMP Books in 1981 and his most recent, Tell Me A Story: Forty Years of Newspapering in Hong Kong and China, also by SCMP Books, was published shortly before his death. 4 days before his death, he attended a book signing at Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondent's Club
- an event even attended by Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang
, one of Sinclair's many friends.
In 1983, Sinclair received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth
for his contribution to the community through journalism
.
Sinclair died at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer.
As was his wish, his body was donated to science and no funeral services were held. However, a celebration of his life was held at the Hong Kong Police Officer's Club on January 7, 2008. Many of his close friends and colleagues and government officials attended.
Sinclair was named "Person Of The Year" for 2007 in a poll run by the Government-owned radio station, RTHK. He beat out Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang as well as pro-democracy champion Anson Chan and received four times as many votes as any other nominee.
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...
, (December 12, 1942 – December 23, 2007) was a journalist, author and passionate supporter of 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...
. He spent more than 50 years reporting the news and over 40 of those in Hong Kong. Born in New Zealand, Sinclair worked at various points in his career for the The Star
The Star (Hong Kong)
The Star was Hong Kong's first tabloid newspaper, founded in 1965 and closed down in 1984. It was founded by Graham Jenkins, an Australian journalist, who was the newspaper's editor until 1979. After the 1967 riots, Graham decided to add a Chinese language edition. The newspaper was printed and...
, the Hong Kong Standard, and, for a long time, the South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post
The South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
.
Kevin Sinclair was one of the first Western journalists to visit China, even before the "Bamboo Curtain
Bamboo Curtain
The Bamboo Curtain was a euphemism for the east Asian version of the Iron Curtain. As a physical boundary, it was marked by the borders around the Communist states of East Asia, in particular those of the People's Republic of China that were shared with non-Communist nations, during the Cold War...
" opened up. He reported from many remote provinces where he became known as the famous "mad journalist with the hole in his throat", due to a 1978 tracheostomy that robbed him of his natural voice and left him with the trademark hole through which he learned to speak again.
Sinclair is the author of some 24 books. His first, No Cure, No Pay: Salvage in the South China Seas was published by SCMP Books in 1981 and his most recent, Tell Me A Story: Forty Years of Newspapering in Hong Kong and China, also by SCMP Books, was published shortly before his death. 4 days before his death, he attended a book signing at Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondent's Club
Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong
The Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong is a members-only club and meeting place for the media, business and diplomatic community. It is located at 2 Lower Albert Road in Central, next to the Hong Kong Fringe Club, and they both occupy the Old Dairy Farm Depot at the top of Ice House Street,...
- an event even attended by Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang
Donald Tsang
Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, GBM, KBE is the current Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong....
, one of Sinclair's many friends.
In 1983, Sinclair received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
for his contribution to the community through journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
.
Sinclair died at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer.
As was his wish, his body was donated to science and no funeral services were held. However, a celebration of his life was held at the Hong Kong Police Officer's Club on January 7, 2008. Many of his close friends and colleagues and government officials attended.
Sinclair was named "Person Of The Year" for 2007 in a poll run by the Government-owned radio station, RTHK. He beat out Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang as well as pro-democracy champion Anson Chan and received four times as many votes as any other nominee.