Gordon MacWhinnie
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Sir Gordon Menzies Macwhinnie
Macwhinnie founded the Hong Kong Society of Accountants, serving as its president from 1973 to 1974, which earned him the unofficial title father of modern accountancy in Hong Kong. He was chairman of several companies, a member of government committees and the driving force behind the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Early years
Macwhinnie was born in Tramore, Ireland, his father having relocated from Scotland. His father started work as a stockbroker in London and the family moved again, this time to Chipstead, Surrey. He was educated at the Westminster School.
World War II
During
The Japanese were ready and the commandos' fighting skills and determination were stretched to the maximum in order to hold Hill 170 until the arrival of the leading brigade of the 25th Indian Division. There was bitter hand-to-hand fighting. At the end of the war Macwhinnie was posted to Hong Kong and put in charge of Stanley prison, which had actually housed Japanese officers. [citation needed]
Career
After he was demobbed he undertook articles with
In 1973, he began founding the Hong Kong Society of Accountants (HKSA) to counter the severe shortage of accountants. He introduced the territory's own system of certification so that local people could become chartered accountants. Prior to this only chartered accountants from the United Kingdom and Australia worked in accountancy in Hong Kong. He was the first president of the HKSA, which started with a membership of 566, and is now known as the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, boasting more than 25,000 members.
After his retirement in 1978, Macwhinnie, who had been a member of the
Death
Macwhinnie died in 2007, aged 84, from undisclosed causes. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, whom he married in 1948, their two sons Ian and Antony, his four granddaughters.
Honours
Macwhinnie was appointed