John Joseph Swaine

Sir John Joseph Swaine, CBE, QC, JP (Traditional Chinese: 施偉賢爵士, 22 April 1932 – 7 August 2012) was the President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1993 to 1995. A barrister by training, Swaine was an appointed and unofficial member of the council. Before 1993, the President was the Governor of Hong Kong.

The Honourable Sir John Joseph Swaine CBE QC SC JP
John J. Swaine KBE, 1988 Oil on Canvas, 24x 20 in, Painting by Swaine's nephew Neil Grayson
President of the Legislative Council
In office 19 February 1993 – 30 September 1995
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor	Chris Patten
Preceded by	Chris Patten
Succeeded by	Andrew Wong
Deputy President of the Legislative Council
In office 1991 – 19 February 1993
Member of the Legislative Council
In office 1980–1995
Personal details
Born	22 April 1932 Shanghai, Republic of China
Died	7 August 2012 (aged 80) Malta
Children	John Joseph Edward Swaine Jason Mark Swaine Jeremy Nicholas Swaine
Alma mater	University of Hong Kong University of Cambridge

Career

He was the Deputy President of the Council between 1991 and 1993, when the Governor refrained from presiding over the Council meetings. The post was abolished with the election of the President of the Council from amongst the councillors (thus replacing the Governor).

After his work at the Legco, Swaine return to the private practice of law.

The Swaine family (John Joseph, his son John Joseph Edward, and Jason Mark) owns Intergood Limited. John Joseph Edward Swaine is also a barrister and CEO of the Media Bank. His son John L. Swaine is a law student in England.

Swaine was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1975, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1980 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1987. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995. He died in Malta on 7 August 2012 while on holiday.

References

• Burkes Peerage entry
• CE saddened by death of Sir John J Swaine