Wing Commander
Alistair Asprey
CBE AE
Secretary for Security
In office
26 February 1990 – 4 February 1995
GovernorDavid Wilson
Chris Patten
Preceded byGeoffrey Barnes
Succeeded byPeter Lai
Deputy Secretary for Security
In office
February 1989 – February 1990
GovernorDavid Wilson
Preceded byRobert Upton
Succeeded byIan Strachan
Personal details
Born
Alistair Peter Asprey

(1944-06-11) June 11, 1944 (age 79)
Jamaica
CitizenshipBritish
Children1 son and 1 daughter
EducationDownside School
Alma materLincoln College, Oxford
OccupationCivil servant
Military service
AllegianceBritish Hong Kong
Branch/serviceRoyal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
Years of service1967–1993
RankWing Commander
CommandsRoyal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (1983–87)
AwardsAir Efficiency Award

Wing Commander Alistair Peter Asprey CBE AE (Chinese: 區士培, born 11 June 1944) is a former Hong Kong government official who served as Secretary for Security from 1990 to 1995.

Early life

Asprey was born and grew up in Jamaica where his father, Scottish professor of botany Geoffrey Asprey, worked at the University of the West Indies. He attended Downside School in Somerset, England, and subsequently read economics and politics at Lincoln College, Oxford.[1][2]

Government career

In 1965, Asprey was recruited to the Hong Kong Government as an administrative officer attached to the then-Colonial Secretariat.[3] Asprey was the Clerk of Councils and Assistant Colonial Secretary until January 1970.[4] He served as Administrative Assistant, New Territories Administration until June 1972, when he became the District Officer for Yuen Long.[5] He subsequently served as Senior Administration Officer of the Urban Services Department, the executive arm of the Urban Council. In the early 1980s, he was Deputy Director of Housing (Operations) for the Hong Kong Housing Authority, overseeing resettlement work under the sweeping housing policy of governor Murray MacLehose.[6] He then served as private secretary to governor Edward Youde.[7] In 1986, Asprey joined the Lands and Works Branch as Deputy Secretary for Lands and Works.[8]

In 1988, Asprey was sent to the Royal College of Defence Studies to complete a year-long course on defence studies.[3][9][2] In February 1989, he succeeded Robert Upton as Deputy Secretary for Security.[10] At that time, the Security Branch was facing a huge influx of Vietnamese boat people to Hong Kong, with over 32,000 arriving in 1989 alone.[11] Secretary for Security Geoffrey Barnes retired in February 1990, and Asprey succeeded him.[9][12] As Secretary for Security, Asprey oversaw the detention of tens of thousands of Vietnamese, as well as their screening and repatriation. He faced unresolved issues in the run-up to the 1997 Handover, such as right of abode arrangements and future treatment of fugitive offenders. He oversaw the 1992 transition of border defence from the British Army to the Hong Kong Police Force. Asprey retired on 4 February 1995 and was succeeded as Secretary for Security by Peter Lai.[13]

Military career

Asprey joined the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) in 1967 as a volunteer cadet pilot, piloting helicopters.[8][14] He was promoted to Wing Commander and Commanding Officer of the force in 1983.[15] He was succeeded by Royston Brooks in 1988.

Asprey was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1988 for his role in the development of the RHKAAF.[15] On 1 January 1994 he was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).[16]

References

  1. ^ "Members Database". The Legislative Council Library.
  2. ^ a b Sinclair, Kevin (23 March 1991). "The high-flyer who reached for the sky". South China Morning Post.
  3. ^ a b Ho, Andy (7 December 1988). "Three key positions for expat civil servants". South China Morning Post. p. 1.
  4. ^ "Temporary Puisne Judge appointed". South China Morning Post. 12 January 1970. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Promotions and changes in Govt departments". South China Morning Post. 12 June 1972. p. 6.
  6. ^ "Official defends housing policy". South China Morning Post. 21 January 1981. p. 17.
  7. ^ "Sir Philip presses other issues". South China Morning Post. 7 October 1983. p. 13.
  8. ^ a b Griffin, Kathy (4 March 1990). "Private man in security spotlight". South China Morning Post. p. 13.
  9. ^ a b "Barnes to be succeeded by his deputy". South China Morning Post. 4 January 1990. p. 5.
  10. ^ MacMahon, Fiona (1 May 1989). "Leading boat people officials stepping down". South China Morning Post. p. 1.
  11. ^ Macklin, Simon; Mossop, John (1 September 1989). "Monthly arrival of Viets doubles". South China Morning Post. p. 2.
  12. ^ MacMahon, Fiona (27 February 1990). "Repatriation centre 'like a holiday camp'". South China Morning Post. p. 3.
  13. ^ "Unfinished business". South China Morning Post. 4 February 1995. p. 12.
  14. ^ "Special covers to mark silver jubilee". South China Morning Post. 25 February 1975. p. 8.
  15. ^ a b "The full Hongkong Birthday Honours list". South China Morning Post. 11 June 1988. p. 4.
  16. ^ "New Year Honours List: 'Ordinary' people ride high but those at the top can bank on heading list". The Guardian. 31 December 1993.
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