Edward Osborne (Mayor of Hythe)

Edward Osborne, MLC, JP (21 January 1861 – 21 January 1939) was a British businessman and politician. He was the secretary for the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company (1889–1913), member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (1906–1913), and Mayor of Hythe (1922–24).

Osborne was born on 2 January 1861. He was a son of Charles Osborne and wife Ann Geary and grandson of Sir Henry Osborne, 11th Baronet and second wife Elizabeth Harding. He was educated at St. Anne's and Streatham Hill. He entered a solicitor firm in Durham after graduation. In 1880, he left the firm and entered the Peninsular and Oriental Company and was sent to the Hong Kong offices in on 11 May 1882.

On 20 April 1889, Osborne joined the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company. As secretary he encountered innumerable difficulties arising out of the organised attempts of the Chinese guilds to oppose the progress of the foreigner. Osborne was also director of the Dairy Farm, Steam Laundry and was member of the consulting committee of the A. S. Watson & Co. and the China Borneo Company. He also helped forming the Star Ferry Company and placing double-ended boats on the services between Hong Kong and Kowloon. He was responsible for building the Hong Kong Club. He also recused the Hongkong Hotel Company from imminent bankruptcy at the request of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and the mortgagees, by placing it upon a dividend-paying basis.

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