Born in 1858 as James Haldane Stewart Lockhart in Ardsheal, Argyllshire, Scotland, to parents Anna Rebecca Charlotte Stewart and Miles Lockhart of Lismore, Argyll He attended King William’s College (1868–72) in the Isle of Wight , George Watson’s College, and the University of Edinburgh.
Lockhart took a Colonial Service cadetship in Hong Kong in 1878 and subsequently joined the Hong Kong Government in 1882. He enjoyed a succession of promotions ultimately appointed as Hong Kong’s Colonial Secretary. He was also made a member of the Legislative and Executive Councils. He was an extremely talented linguist and sinologist and developed a very positive relationship with the Chinese Business Community. Lockhart was a talented sportsman. In 1886. he founded the Hong Kong Football Club.
Alan’s talk addresses Lockhart’s meteoric career post-graduation, and, the very significant contribution that he made to the growth and development of Hong Kong, and, later, British Wei Hai Wei (a treaty Port in northeast China). As the talk reveals Lockhart’s career was not all plain sailing. His actions, at times, caused him to fall from favour in the eyes of the British Colonial Office resulting in a dramatic fall from grace that probably prevented him to being elevated to the governorship of Hong Kong, and, resulting in his posting to Wei Hai Wei.
The Speaker
Alan Forbes Macdonald, Director, URBIS Limited BA MA MRTPI FHKIP RPP FHKIUD
Born in Glasgow, Scotland Alan has enjoyed an extremely varied international career in development planning, the master planning of human settlements and urban design. For the last 35 years in Hong Kong he has been a Director of URBIS Limited (a company established in Hong Kong in 1977). He is member and a fellow of several local and international professional institutes.
In Hong Kong Alan has specialised in the design and implementation of new development areas, urban design, master planning, new town design and urban renewal projects. Alan also commands extensive international experience. He has worked on many development and design projects in mainland China, Africa, the Middle East and India. His projects have won over 50 design awards and was privileged to win the RTPI Award for Design Excellence in 2017.
Alan has been a member of the Hong Kong St Andrew’s Society (HKSAS) since 1990 and was chieftain in 2015/16. Alan has an avid interest in the history of Hong Kong and the roll of Scots in its development. He has undertaken extensive research on the past chieftains of the HKSAS. Alan is continuing further research on the HKSAS chieftains (of which Lockhart was one) and their profound impact on the historic development of Hong Kong.
PROGRAMME
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Reception starts at 6:30 pm)
Admission: $175 for members, $220 for guests /non-members (Light refreshments are included in the admission fee)
Registration: Please email membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk and provide your membership number, if applicable, at the time of registration. Please kindly complete your registration by advance payment via Stripe’s payment links below (using your Credit Card):
Members ($175):
https://buy.stripe.com/aFa6oI5ticwEd9h2xH5EY2B
Non-member / Guest ($220):
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Details about the other payment option will be sent on registration. Upon receipt of payment, your registration will be confirmed by email. Registration will be closed at 12 noon on 11 November 2025.