His language ability and deep friendships forged with many New Territories clans were of great use again in 1967 when he helped rally community support against leftist rioters.

Although he was responsible over almost four decades for many government policies and reforms, he is remembered best for implementing the New Territories small house policy in 1972.

Bray loved the rural areas and believed encouraging villagers to build large modern homes would preserve the culture and integrity of hamlets and their clans.

Unfortunately, the way of life he sought to protect was destroyed largely through this policy as city dwellers, including expatriates, flocked to the rural areas.

Bray was a 'mish' - son of missionaries - and spent his childhood at schools in Foshan in the Pearl Delta and Yantai in Shandong .

Holidays were spent on Cheung Chau and his Cantonese was perfected as he played with other children. It was the language in which he and his brother spoke to each other.

He was educated at Cambridge and later in London, where he gained his master's degree in economics.

He left university in 1950 and returned to Hong Kong as a cadet officer in the colonial civil service. He served at government headquarters and in social welfare and home affairs (then Chinese affairs), before being appointed district officer for Tai Po.

That was the job he most loved. Dealing with the problems of the rural people brought him great satisfaction.

After serving as commissioner for the New Territories and secretary for home affairs, he ended his career as chief secretary after the joint declaration on Hong Kong's future.

Former friend Sir David Akers-Jones, himself a former chief secretary, described Bray as a 'no-nonsense administrator, impatient with unnecessary bureaucracy. His great advantage was his easy way with spoken Cantonese'.

When he retired, he and wife, Marjorie, opted to remain in Hong Kong. Only when his illness became pronounced did he go to Oxford.

Bray is survived by his wife and four daughters.