Sir Mark Aitchison Young'''Sir Mark Aitchison Young''' (1886 - 1974) was a
British administrator.
Young was born on 30 June 1886 and was educated at
Eton and
King's College, Cambridge. He entered Ceylon Civil Service in 1909 and served in the European War from 1915. He served as Principal Assistant Colonial Secretary of Ceylon from 1923 to 1928, then as Colonial Secretary of
Sierra Leone from 1928 to 1930.
From 1930 to 1933, he served as Chief secretary to the Government of
Palestine, during the
British Mandate of Palestine. From 5 August 1933 to March 1938, he served as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of
Barbados. From November 1937 to February 1938, he served at the administered Government of
Trinidad and Tobago. Then from 1938 to 1941, he became the last Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the
Tanganyika Territory British Mandate.
He served as
Governor of Hong Kong between 1941 and 1947. During his term, which coincided with the Pacific theatre of
World War II,
Hong Kong came under the threat of
Japanese invasion. At 08:00,
December 8, 1941, several hours after
Pearl Harbor was attacked,
Hong Kong came under fire of Imperial Japanese Forces. The attacks only lasted for 18 days, and ended when Young and his army surrendered to the Japanese General
Takashi Sakai. That day was
December 25, the
black Christmas known by Hong Kong people, who were then subject to Japanese rule for next 3 years and 8 months.
Young was a prisoner of war in Japanese hands from December 1941 to August 1945. He resumed duties in Hong Kong on 1 May 1946. He retired in 1947 and died on 12 May 1974.
He and his wife, Josephine Mary, had two sons and two daughters.
Young was created
C.M.G. in 1931, K.C.M.G. in 1934, and G.C.M.G. in 1946.
Young, Mark Aitchison
Young, Mark Aitchison
Young, Mark Aitchison
Young, Mark Aitchison
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