David Trench
Cater served in Royal Air Force fighter squadrons during the World War II. Cater arrived in Hong Kong to work with the British military jurisdiction after the japanese surrender. Cater began his career of civil service in 1946 as a cadet officer in the Fisheries Department, and was made Director of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1964. In 1966 Cater attended the Imperial Defence College in London. He was appointed by then Governor David Trench to lead the team that restored peace and security following the riots in 1967. He became Defence Secretary and Special Assistant to Governor David Trench during the civil unrest in 1967, and subsequently served as deputy Colonial Secretariat (1967-68), Executive Director of the newly established Trade Development Council (1968-70), Director of Commerce and Industry (1970-72), Secretary for Information (1972-73) and the Secretary for Home Affairs in 1973.