The Body From Pinky And The Body

Henry Litton, 50 years of French language in Hong Kong

lawyer acknowledged, Henry Litton is also an inveterate Francophile. He was president of the French Alliance in Hong Kong for fifteen years. Charming and discreet, it is up modestly over fifty years of passion for French culture and language.

Henry Litton was born into a family of Eurasian Hong Kong. He was educated in the United Kingdom in the 1950s. The first contact with France in 1958. "I was a student Law, and I went to the University of Grenoble for three months, recalls the lawyer. We were more in a beautiful house on the Route Napoleon [nickname of the national 85]. And confess: "It was more a stay to enjoy life in France and discover the country for study! It was winter, and I have excellent memories. "
Back in Hong Kong, Henry Litton built a successful career, first in private practice and serving the state. He does not forget his passion and joined the committee of the French Alliance in 1971. "The director at the time, Hudelot Francis, was a great friend, a sailing enthusiast like me, "said Henry Litton. He arrived in 1967 and organized the first network of the Alliance in Hong Kong. " The lawyer remembers a French Alliance still boiling. "The media students today were more active in the 1970s, there were frequent strikes and young French teachers who came were often radical left: it was stirred!" Is also a period of growth plan and the center is expanding with local Kowloon.
In October 1985, the judge becomes president French Alliance of Hong Kong, a position he held until 2000. Fifteen eventful years for the former British colony. "Since 1984, we knew that the handover would take place ... then came the time of Tiananmen, and so there was great social unrest and people were very worried." Canada offers so many opportunities for immigration. "Speaking French is a definite advantage in the records, and our numbers have grown considerably, therefore, surprised even the former president. We became the greatest French Alliance in the world by number students, with six centers and 12,000 registered each year ... "
Henry Litton then allowed these heavy burdens on others, but retained his passion for French culture:" I subscribe to magazines to follow the news, and I always have a book in French in progress .... " Latest, the historical saga of Fortune France Robert Merle. This passion for France was sent to the family: "My daughter was even married to a French! She now lives near Beziers, it gives me the opportunity to visit more of the country. "
For his work and investment for the radiation of the Francophonie, Henry Litton was made a Knight of the Order of Merit and in 1999, Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. Known jurist in Hong Kong and famous in his profession, Henry Litton is now honorary judge at the Court of Final Appeal and the court in question is located in the old building provides the Paris Foreign Missions, on Battery Path to Central. Francophonie can have the continuity of ideas ...

FD.

Sources: thanks to Mr. Henry Litton for his information and the time we spent; www.encyclopediefrancaise.com; French Alliance of Hong Kong.