Honoring Hilton Cheong-Leen (1922–2022)
This collection is more than an archive—it is a love letter from his four children, Reginald, Susan, Franklin and me, to our beloved father, Hilton Cheong-Leen. His life was a testament to courage, vision, and an unwavering dedication to Hong Kong. Through his letters, draft speeches, photographs, and recordings, we see not just a towering public figure, but the father who taught us the meaning of service, the power of perseverance, and the importance of leaving the world better than we found it.
Hilton Cheong-Leen was a pioneer in every sense, a Guyanese born son of Chinese descent who rose to become one of Hong Kong’s most enduring leaders. For 34 remarkable years (1957–1991), he served on the Urban Council, making history as its first Chinese chairman. As a founding force behind the Hong Kong Civic Association, he spent decades championing education, justice, and the arts, driven by a profound belief that a society thrives only when its people are empowered.
His legacy is woven into the very fabric of this city from his tireless advocacy for compulsory public education to his historic election as one of the first Legislative Council members in 1985. He carried the torch of progress with quiet determination, guided by his conviction that “government should be of laws rather than of men.” Yet beyond the titles and triumphs, what truly defined him was his humanity his belief in cultural exchange, his admiration for Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s ideals, and his lifelong commitment to lifting others.
To us, his children, he was simply Dad the man whose stories filled our home, whose principles shaped our lives, and whose absence we feel deeply every day. This collection is our way of honoring not only his public contributions but also the private moments of wisdom, warmth, and wit that made him extraordinary.
We invite you to explore these materials not merely as historical records, but as fragments of a life lived with purpose. Whether you are a researcher, a student, or simply someone who believes in the power of one person to make a difference, may you find inspiration in his journey, just as we have.
His work lives on. His memory endures. And his love for Hong Kong remains a guiding light for us all.
Flora Cheong-Leen
June 2025
