He was a former chairman of the Butterfield & Swire and an unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
[1] Roberts joined Butterfield and Swire in October 1922, responsible for sugar traveling from Shanghai from 1925 to 1926, shore management for China Navigation Company in Hankow from 1926 to 1928, and responsible for Chinese Staff Shanghai from 1932 to 1934.
[3] During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, he was among many other British local figures who were held at the Block 8 of the St. Stephen College and participated in the camp councils.
[4] After the war, Roberts became the first chairman of the Cathay Pacific Airways, the airline which was acquired by Butterfield & Swire and its associated shipping interests in 1948.
After the resignation of R. D. Gillespie, he was elected by the chamber to be the representative on the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on 6 May, until he stepped down in August and was replaced by P. S. Cassidy.