Background
He was born on 5 November 1911 the Guy Fawkes" Day in Hong Kong. His mother’s death occurred a few weeks after he was born, his father died when he was nine years old.
He was born on 5 November 1911 the Guy Fawkes" Day in Hong Kong. His mother’s death occurred a few weeks after he was born, his father died when he was nine years old.
He was educated at Street Joseph"s College, and the University of Hong Kong with the Inez Soares scholarship. He captained in the University Cricket Eleven and finished at the top of the League in 1932. He studied paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology in Lisbon and London in the following three years before he began his private practice in Hong Kong in 1937.
He was brought up by an uncle who had seven children of his own. Rodrigues also a Captain of Hockey and played hockey for Hong Kong. He was a popular sportsman in cricket, tennis and badminton circles, represented Hong Kong at hockey both against Malaya and Macao.
In the Urban Council election of 1940, he was elected to the Urban Council as the youngest member without aid from any organisation with a political platform.
He resumed his office after the war until 1950 when he went to North America. In 1950, Doctor Rogrigues went to North America for further post-graduate work.
After he returned to Hong Kong in 1953, he was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1959 and to Executive Council where he became the Senior Unofficial Member until his retirement in 1974. He was later on appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1960 and Commander of the Order the British Empire in 1964.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1971 in recognition of his immense contributions to the community of Hong Kong.
Doctor Rogrigues was appointed Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the University of Hong Kong in 1962. He was rewarded the Doctor of Laws honoris causa in the same year by the University of Hong Kong. Doctor Rodrigues died at Saint Paul’s Hospital on 5 February 2006.
He was buried in the Catholic Cemeteries at the Gardens of Gethsemani in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
He was Senior Unofficial Member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Executive Council of the University of Hong Kong. Doctor Rogrigues was member of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps and was held prisoner of war as lieutenant in Shamshuipo Camp during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. He was promoted to Captain and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) after the war.