Overview
Alexander Palmer MacEwen (1846–1919) was a British businessman in China and member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
Biography
MacEwen was head of the Holiday, Wise & Co., agent and member on the consulting committee of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, Jardine, Matheson & Co. and Union Insurance Society of Canton. He was also Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong as the representative of the chamber in April 1886 during the absence of Thomas Jackson, and from 1887 after Jackson's retirement until 1890 when left for England.
He had advocated for the establishment of a municipal council, letting the local community to manage their own affairs, and also an unofficial majority in the Legislative Council for many years. The suggestions were later taken by the Petitioners, consisting of many local business leaders, to the Colonial Office in 1893 and was eventually rejected by Lord Ripon, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies.
During his stay in Hong Kong, he was also President of the Victoria Recreation Club and member of the Hong Kong Golf Club.
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).