Sir John Joseph Swaine, (Traditional Chinese: 施偉賢爵士; 22 April 1932 – 7 August 2012) was a Hong Kong lawyer, scholar and politician who served as the President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1993 to 1995 and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club from 1993 to 1996. A barrister by training, Swaine was an appointed and unofficial member of the council. Before 1993, the President was the Governor of Hong Kong. Swaine was a law professor and an appointed member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, as one of the last unofficial members of the council.
Early life and education He was born on the 22 April 1932 in Shanghai to a mixed family of British and Chinese descent. His family later left Shanghai and moved to Hong Kong in 1937. He attended St. Joseph's Primary School and St. Joseph's College.
He attended the University of Hong Kong in 1948 and later graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1952, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree. He also attended Queen's College, Cambridge University between 1952 and 1954. Swaine obtained a barrister qualification from Lincoln College, Oxford University in 1960.
Career He served as an Administrative Officer in the Hong Kong Government between 1952 and 1957 and was appointed to the Queen's Counsel in 1975 before becoming a appointed member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in 1980.
He was the Deputy President of the Council between 1991 and 1993, when the Governor Chris Patten refrained from presiding over the Council meetings. The post was abolished following the election of the President of the Legislative Council from amongst the councillors (thus replacing the Governor).
After his work at the Council, Swaine returned to the private practice of law.
Family 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.
Honors and awards 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.
Death He died in Malta on 7 August 2012 while on holiday at the age of 80.
References
Burke's Peerage entry CE saddened by death of Sir John J Swaine