Hugh Alexander Dunn

Hugh Alexander Dunn AO (20 August 1923 – 5 November 2005) was a career Australian diplomat known for his knowledge of China; namely Taiwan (1969–1972) and of the People's Republic of China (1980–1984).[1]

Hugh Dunn AO
Born	Hugh Alexander Dunn 20 August 1923 Rockhampton, Queensland
Died	5 November 2005 (aged 82) Brisbane, Queensland
Alma mater	University of Queensland Oxford University
Occupation	Public servant, diplomat

Biography

Dunn was born in Rockhampton, Queensland on 20 August 1923. After completing school at Brisbane Boys' College, he enlisted in the A.I.F., trained in Signals Intelligence and moved with MacArthur's troops through New Guinea and then to the Philippines where the Japanese surrender took place. Returning to Australia after the War, he studied at the University of Queensland. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University[2] where he studied classical Chinese language, history and philosophy.

In a public service career of over 30 years, Dunn served in Japan, South Korea, the United States, India and South Vietnam, and was Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, Uganda, and Seychelles, and Ambassador too Ethiopia (1978–1980); Ambassador to Taiwan (1969–1972); Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Peru (1973–1976), and Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (1980–1984). In the 1985 Queen's Birthday Honours he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for "services to the public service, particularly in the field of international relations and in the development of Australian relations with China".[3]

After retiring from public service in 1985, Dunn served as Chairman of the Brisbane China Committee, in this capacity actively furthering Australia's relationship with China. He was also a Visiting Professor in the School of Modern Asian Studies at Griffith University and Adjunct Professor in the Department of History at the University of Queensland. He wrote extensively on Sino-Australian relations and the teaching of the Chinese language. Dunn died in Brisbane on 5 November 2005 at the age of 82.

Works

"The Shaping of a Sinologue of Sorts". Australian in Asia Series No. 1. Dr. Nancy Viviani (Ed.).Centre for the Study of Australian-Asian Relations. Griffith University, 1988.

"Conversations on Tibet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan and Chinese Officials". Australian-Asia Papers No. 38. Dr. Nancy Viviani (Ed.) Centre for the Study of Australian-Asian Relations. Griffith University, 1987.

Cao Zhi: The life of a Princely Chinese Poet. Beijing, China. New World Press, 1983

Ts'ao Chih: The life of a Princely Chinese Poet. Taipei, Taiwan. China News, 1970.

Biography: 'Inventory: Items from a Life well travelled' CD (eBook) 2005. 166pp (incomplete.) Published Brisbane, Australia

External links

• McDonald, Tim (7 December 2005). "Scholar spy shined light on China". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015.
• Hugh Dunn interviewed by Michael Wilson for the Australian diplomacy 1950–1990 oral history project, 27 August 1993

References

1. Downer, Alexander (13 November 2005). "Hugh Dunn" (Press release). Alexander Downer. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
2. "Envoy to Kenya appointed". The Canberra Times. ACT. 6 September 1977. p. 9.
3. "Professor Hugh Alexander Dunn". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 21 September 2020.