The Christopher D'Almada Trophy

Donated by our late President's nephew Ruy Barretto to the HKPS.

Now the Grand Prize for Hongpex Exhibitions.

Christopher D'Almada e Castro, former President of the Hong Kong Philatelic Society was born on 11 January 1910, the son of the famous barrister Leo D'Almada e Castro. After completing his education in England, he returned to Hong kong in 1927 and was articled to his father and later practising as a partner in his father's firm. He was later appointed to the Colonial legal service and on the 1 December 1941, he was appointed Assistant Land Officer and Deputy Registrar of Marriages.

During the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong, he served in the Volunteer Defence Corp and fought valiantly. When Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas day 1941, he became a prisoner of war and endured those dark days in Argyle Street and Sham Shui Po POW camps.

On 7 September 1945, after the war, he was Captain with  the Legal Branch Civil Affairs Unit Military Administration. On 1 April 1949, he returned to the Government as Registrar of the Supreme Court. He retired on 19 March 1965 and became a Magistrate in Western and Kowloon districts.

Mr. D'Almada joined the Hong Kong Philatelic Society before the war and became President from 1950 to 1982. He put together a fantastic collection of Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports which since 1974 had been exhibited internationally in Europe, U.S.A. and the Far East. He won Gold medals at Internaba Basle '74, Arphila Paris 1975, London '80, Bangkok '83, Melbourne '84, Seoul '84, Chicago '86 and lastly London '90.

Chris also served for many years on the Hong Kong Post Office Stamp Advisory Board. He became a member of the Royal Philatelic Society, London since 1966 and was elected a Fellow since December 1973. Better known  as Beppo or Chris by those close to him, he was a very well liked man. Always a gentleman, he was blessed with immense charm and a ready gentle humour. Throughout his years, he remained a contented bachelor with numerous devoted friends. He died peacefully on 27 March 1993 and was survived by his sister, Gloria D'Almada Barretto M.B.E. and his two nephews Leo and Ruy Barretto.

The D'Almada collection of Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports was auctioned by Christie's Robson Lowe on 29 November 1990 in Zurich and the final portion offered by Christie's on 5 November 1996 in Hong Kong. He also left a large part of his extensive philatelic library to the Hong Kong Philatelic Society after his death.