Chau Cham-son

Chau Cham-son, OBE, CStJ, JP (Chinese: 周湛燊; Jyutping: Zau¹ Zaam¹-san¹; 23 August 1932 – 9 October 2023) was a Hong Kong town planner and civil servant who was the Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association of Hong Kong from 1985 to 1996. He was the son of Sir Tsun-nin Chau.

Chau Cham-son OBE, CStJ, JP
周湛燊
Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association of Hong Kong
In office 1985–1996

Education

Chau attended Wah Yan College, an eminent Roman Catholic Jesuit secondary school for boys in Hong Kong, and later graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a degree in Architecture. He qualified as a Registered Architect. He also undertook further post-graduate studies at the University of Liverpool and the University of Melbourne and qualified as a registered town planner.

Career

Chau was the first registered town planner in Hong Kong. Chau retired from the Hong Kong Government Civil Service in 1990 as Director (General) of Buildings and Lands after 30 years of public service. He has been described as "instrumental in establishing a fully-fledged town planning office in the 1980s with the modern concept of urban planning". He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1987 and a Commander of Order of Saint John in 2002. Chau was a steward of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, beginning in 1989; from 1998 to 2002 he served as deputy chairman.

Scouting

Chau joined the Scout Movement in 1946 as a Boy Scout. He became a scoutmaster in 1949 for his alma mater, the 15th Hong Kong Group of Wah Yan College, Hong Kong. He was appointed assistant district commissioner in 1957 and succeed Tse Ping Fui as district commissioner in 1962. He had been honorary treasurer and deputy chairman of The Scout Association of Hong Kong. He also was chairman of Campsites and Properties Committee between 1978 and 1984.

Chau became chairman of the Scout Association of Hong Kong in 1983 and also chaired the Headquarters Building Management Committee in the crucial period during the fundraising, planning and construction of the 25 storey Hong Kong Scout Centre. Chamson became chief commissioner of the Scout Association of Hong Kong in 1985, a post he held for the next 11 years.

As chief commissioner, Chau streamlined the organization of the Scout Movement in Hong Kong, and his greatest legacy is the 25-storey Hong Kong Scout Centre, one of the largest, most advanced and well-equipped Scout headquarters in the World.

International

Chamson served in Asia-Pacific Region (APR) Regional Committee from 1986 to 1992. He was awarded the Bronze Wolf in 1990 and was elected a member of the World Scout Committee (1993–1999).

Chau co-founded the APR Scout Foundation in 1992. By making the first contribution he became its first Foundation Member. He was a Baden Powell Fellow of the World Scout Foundation.

Death

Chau Cham-son died on 9 October 2023, at the age of 91.

Awards and honours

Besides the Bronze Wolf, he received Scouting awards from the United Kingdom and Thailand. He was awarded the APR Scout Medallion (1986) and the APR Distinguished Service Award (1995).

Chau was a Vice President of the Scout Association of Hong Kong since his retiring from the post of Chief Commissioner in 1997. He was also a holder of Long Service Medal with four stars signifying he has served faithfully for no less than 55 years as an adult leader of Hong Kong Scouts.