Lydia Dunn, Baroness Dunn
Encyclopedia
Lydia Selina Dunn, Baroness Dunn, DBE
, JP was the Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council
and Executive Council
in Hong Kong
in 1985-1988 and 1988-1995, after Rogerio Hyndman Lobo
and Chung Sze Yuen
respectively. She has been deputy chairman of banking giant HSBC
in 1992-2008.
As one of the most senior politicians in Hong Kong, Dunn had considerable influence in the Government of Hong Kong
before her retirement in 1992, after Chris Patten
was made Governor.
(唐明治), CMG
, QC
, Attorney General
of Hong Kong
from 1983 to 1988.
, and at the College of the Holy Names and the University of California, Berkeley
.
in 1964 and now she is an Executive Director of John Swire & Sons Limited and a Director of Swire Pacific Limited. She was appointed to a seat on the Legislative Council in 1976.
Being a non-executive director
since 1990 and a non-executive Deputy Chairman in 1992-2008 of the HSBC
Group, she also served as a non-executive director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited from 1981 to 1996.
in 1989. In 1990 she was made a life peer
as Baroness Dunn, of Hong Kong Island
in Hong Kong
and of Knightsbridge
in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
, and so became a member of the House of Lords
. In July 2010, it was announced that Baroness Dunn had given up her seat in the Lords in order to retain her non-domiciled tax status following the passing of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
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...
, JP was the Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
and Executive Council
Executive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
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...
in 1985-1988 and 1988-1995, after Rogerio Hyndman Lobo
Rogerio Hyndman Lobo
Sir Rogerio Hyndman "Roger" Lobo, CBE, JP is a Macanese businessman of Portuguese and Scottish descent and has been an active philanthropist and politician in Hong Kong....
and Chung Sze Yuen
Chung Sze Yuen
Sir Sze-yuen Chung, GBE, GBM is a mechanical engineer, industrialist, business executive and politician in Hong Kong. He succeeded Sir Yuet Keung Kan, as the Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council and Executive Council in 1980 and served in the latter body until his first retirement...
respectively. She has been deputy chairman of banking giant HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
in 1992-2008.
As one of the most senior politicians in Hong Kong, Dunn had considerable influence in the Government of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
before her retirement in 1992, after Chris Patten
Chris Patten
Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC , is the last Governor of British Hong Kong, a former British Conservative politician, and the current chairman of the BBC Trust....
was made Governor.
Personal life
Born in Hong Kong to Yen Chuen Yih Dunn and Bessie Dunn on 29 February 1940, Lydia Dunn is married to Michael David ThomasMichael David Thomas
Michael David Thomas , CMG, QC, SC was the penultimate Attorney General of Hong Kong before the Transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997. He served the post from 1983 to 1988, under the Governorship of Sir Edward Youde and Lord Wilson of Tillyorn.Thomas was born to parents Cardigan and...
(唐明治), CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, Attorney General
Secretary for Justice
The Secretary for Justice is a member of the Hong Kong Government responsible for prosecutions and legal matters. He or she heads the Department of Justice....
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...
from 1983 to 1988.
Education
She was educated at St. Paul's Convent School in Hong KongHong 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 at the College of the Holy Names and the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Career
She joined the Swire GroupSwire Group
The Swire Group is a transnational corporation headquartered in the Swire House in the City of Westminster, London, England. It controls a range of wholly owned businesses, including deep-sea shipping, cold storage, road transport, and agricultural activities. The current chairman is James...
in 1964 and now she is an Executive Director of John Swire & Sons Limited and a Director of Swire Pacific Limited. She was appointed to a seat on the Legislative Council in 1976.
Being a non-executive director
Non-executive director
A non-executive director or outside director is a member of the board of directors of a company who does not form part of the executive management team. He or she is not an employee of the company or affiliated with it in any other way...
since 1990 and a non-executive Deputy Chairman in 1992-2008 of the HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
Group, she also served as a non-executive director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited from 1981 to 1996.
Honours and titles
Dunn was created a DBEOrder 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...
in 1989. In 1990 she was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baroness Dunn, of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
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 of Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
, and so became a member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In July 2010, it was announced that Baroness Dunn had given up her seat in the Lords in order to retain her non-domiciled tax status following the passing of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
- Miss Lydia Dunn (1940-1976)
- Lydia Dunn, JP (1976-1978)
- Lydia Dunn, OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe 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...
, JP (1978-1983) - Lydia Dunn, CBE, JP (1983-1989)
- Dame Lydia Dunn, DBE, JP (1989-1990)
- The Right Honourable The Baroness Dunn, DBE, JP (1990-)