Sidney Gordon (businessman)
Sir Sidney Gordon GBE CBE JP (20 August 1917 – 11 April 2007) was a major force in the development of colonial period of Hong Kong from 1956 until his death in 2007.
Sir Sidney Gordon | |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the China Light and Power | |
| In office 1992–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Lawrence Kadoorie |
| Succeeded by | Michael Kadoorie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sidney Samuel Gordon 20 August 1917 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 11 April 2007 (aged 89) Happy Valley, Hong Kong |
| Spouse(s) | Olive Eldon
(m. 1950; died 1992) |
| Children | Fiona Jane Lamb Carolyn Mary Mitchell |
Life in Scotland
Sidney Samuel Gordon was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and was the son of the managing director of British Lion Films in Scotland. In his early life he suffered from chronic ill health and was diagnosed with pleurisy as a child. This tendency towards sickness meant that Sidney, unlike his brother Lesley, never saw action during World War II. However, due to the experience he had accumulated in the Scottish accounting industry he was asked to work in the United Kingdom's biggest munitions factory at Ardeer in Ayrshire.
It was while working as an accountant here that Sidney was offered a position with Lowe, Bingham and Thomsons (which later became Lowe, Bingham and Mathews, and later PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Hong Kong. Sidney accepted this position in 1947, and by 1956 had become a senior partner at the firm.
He died on 11 April 2007, aged 89, in Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
Life in Hong Kong
As a Senior Partner in Lowe, Bingham and Matthews, Gordon became the primary accountant to Sir Elly Kadoorie and Sons, the corporation that, to this day, is the major shareholder in such companies as Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels group, China Light and Power, and Tai Ping Carpets. It was through his appointment as the accountant for this company that Sidney developed a deep friendship with Lord Kadoorie and the Kadoorie family, and when he left Lowe Bingham and Matthews, he joined the Board of Directors of Sir Elly Kadoorie and Sons, eventually becoming the group's chairman.
Sidney Gordon was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1967 and was knighted in 1972 for services to Hong Kong. He also received the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 1999, the highest award available to the Hong Kong government.
Positions held
| Organization | Position Held |
|---|---|
| Lowe, Bingham and Matthews Hong Kong (PricewaterhouseCoopers) | Senior Partner |
| The Royal Hong Kong Golf Club | President and Captain |
| The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club | Senior Steward |
| Executive Council of Hong Kong, ExCo | Member; 1965–1980 |
| Kadoorie Group, Sir Elly Kadoorie and Sons | Chairman |
| China Light and Power | Chairman |
| The Community Chest of Hong Kong | Co-Founder |
| Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels group | Director and Chairman |
References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Kan Yuet-keung |
Senior Unofficial Member of the Executive Council March 1980 – August 1980 |
Succeeded by Sir Chung Sze-yuen |