page_title: Geoffry Northcote
section_title: Hong Kong Governorship
hierarchical_section_title: Geoffry Northcote / Hong Kong Governorship
caption_attribution_description: English: Sir Geoffry Northcote (1881 - 1948, seated in centre), British colonial Governor of Hong Kong (1937 - 1941), and Sir Robert Kotewall (second from right).
context_page_description: Sir Geoffry Alexander Stafford Northcote, KCMG was a British colonial administrator.
context_section_description: He became Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hong Kong in 1937. During his tenure, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, and battles broke out throughout Mainland China. In order to safeguard the Colony, Northcote immediately declared Hong Kong a neutral zone. As the war proceeded, Canton (Guangzhou) was occupied by the Japanese, causing a population boom as refugees rushed into Hong Kong. Northcote proposed more provision of housing and social services to serve the needs of the poor. Meanwhile, the Japanese army also started encroaching upon Sham Chun (Shenzhen), leading the Hong Kong government to adopt various measures to cope with the emergency, such as the construction of air-raid shelters and blackout practices. Northcote also withdrew the plan of expanding social services.
  After taking six-months' leave in the UK, Northcote returned to Hong Kong in March 1941. Poor health forced him to retire that year, and he left when his appointment expired in September 1941.
caption: Geoffry Northcote (centre) and his secretaries; businessman Robert Kotewall is 2nd on the right
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