Macau-born Roger Lobo dies at 91

Roger Lobo

Macau-born Rogério ‘Roger’ Lobo, a former Hong Kong lawmaker and one of the most esteemed members of the neighboring city’s Macanese community, died of cancer at the age of 91 on Saturday.
Sir Roger Lobo was born in Macau in 1923 and moved to Hong Kong at the age of 23. Lobo’s contributions to the public service resulted in him being granted a knighthood. He took part in Hong Kong’s Executive Council, first as an acting member and later as a full member from 1967 to 1985. Lobo also served as a lawmaker, and became a senior member of the Legislative Council between 1980 and 1985.
Lobo’s achievements also include a so-called ‘Lobo motion’, which paved the way for a full debate of the Sino-British negotiations before Britain and China reached a final agreement on Hong Kong’s future.
“The acceptability of any proposed settlement lies in whether people believe that its terms will be respected and will endure,” he said at the time, adding that, “faith cannot be created by others. Trust cannot be induced by the exercise of power. And no settlement which fails to engender trust can possibly preserve our stability and prosperity.”
Lawmakers passed the motion unanimously six months prior to the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Former Hong Kong governor David Wilson recalled that Lobo “had a profound love of Hong Kong and a deep commitment to public service, demonstrated by his membership in the Executive Council, his service in the Legislative Council including very important position of senior member, and many other significant roles serving the community of Hong Kong.”
Former senior Legco member Lydia Dunn added, “I am deeply saddened by the news of Sir Roger Lobo’s death. We were colleagues in Legco where I saw first-hand the tireless and selfless way he worked for Hong Kong (…)”
Lobo started working at a young age, trading products from shop to shop and always following up on customer satisfaction, according to a feature story published by Macau Magazine in 1992. He first arrived in the city to study, as his father believed that English would inevitably become a vital international language.
Strengthening ties and establishing long-lasting business connections, Lobo went on to head different companies and later created the Vision 2047 Foundation alongside business leaders and former civil servants, to increase knowledge about Hong Kong in the global context.
The Macanese man, who married Hong Kong Chinese wife Margaret Mary Choa, leaves behind five daughters and five sons. His son-in-law Kenneth Morrison told the South China Morning Post that Lobo was deeply committed to Hong Kong and its people.