116.88.193.31 at 19:12, 21 June 2025

2025-06-21T19:12:31Z

New page

{{Short description|Singaporean politician (1923–2007)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Howe Yoon Chong
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|post-noms=[[Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang|DUBC]] [[Pingat Jasa Gemilang|PJG]]}}
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|侯永昌}}}}
| image = HoweYoonChong.jpg
| caption =
| office1 = [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]]
| term_start1 = 1 June 1982
| term_end1 = 2 January 1985
| primeminister1 = [[Lee Kuan Yew]]
| predecessor1 = [[Goh Chok Tong]]
| successor1 = [[Richard Hu Tsu Tau]]
| office2 = [[Ministry of Defence (Singapore)|Minister for Defence]]
| term_start2 = 12 February 1979
| term_end2 = 1 June 1982
| primeminister2 = Lee Kuan Yew
| predecessor2 = [[Goh Keng Swee]]
| successor2 = [[Goh Chok Tong]]
| constituency_MP3 = [[Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency|Potong Pasir SMC]]
| parliament3 = Singapore
| term_start3 = 10 February 1979
| term_end3 = 4 December 1984
| predecessor3 = Baptist Ivan Cuthbert ([[People's Action Party|PAP]])
| successor3 = [[Chiam See Tong]] ([[Singapore Democratic Party|SDP]])
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1923|8|12}}
| birth_place = [[Meixian, Meizhou|Meixian County]], [[Guangdong Province]], [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]]<ref>http://10000xing.cn/x230/2010/1105113635sj.html</ref>
| death_cause = [[Stroke]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2007|8|21|1923|8|12}}
| death_place = [[Singapore]]
| nationality = Singaporean
| party = [[People's Action Party]]<br />(1979–1984)
| alma_mater = [[Raffles College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| spouse = Wan Fook Yin
| children = 3
}}
{{Family name hatnote|[[Hou (surname)|Howe]]|lang=Chinese}}
'''Howe Yoon Chong''' {{post-nominals|post-noms=[[Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang|DUBC]] [[Pingat Jasa Gemilang|PJG]]}} ({{lang-zh|s=侯永昌|p=Hóu Yǒngchāng}}; 12 August 1923 – 21 August 2007) was a Singaporean politician and civil servant who served as [[List of Ministers for Defence (Singapore)|Minister for Defence]] between 1979 and 1982, and [[List of Ministers for Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]] between 1982 and 1985. A member of the governing [[People's Action Party]] (PAP), he was the [[Parliament of Singapore|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency|Potong Pasir SMC]] between 1979 and 1984.

Howe was key in developing Singapore's infrastructural and financial framework, including the [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit]] (MRT) system, [[Singapore Changi Airport]] and [[Housing Development Board|public housing]].

As [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]], to address issues raised by a greying population, he made the controversial proposal in 1984, to raise the age for the withdrawal of [[Central Provident Fund]] (CPF) savings from 55 to 60 years so that "Singaporeans will have more money to live on in their old age".

==Early life and education==
Born in China on 12 August 1923 of Chinese origin,<ref>{{cite news|author=Clement Mesenas|title=The man who raised a storm|publisher=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|date=22 August 2007|page=4}}</ref> Howe was the son of a liquor shop owner who migrated to [[Malacca]], [[British Malaya]].<ref name="Jeremy Au Yong">{{cite news | author = Jeremy Au Yong | title = The reluctant politician | newspaper = [[The Straits Times]] | date = 22 August 2007 | page = H8}}</ref> Howe received his early education at St. Francis Institution in Malacca from 1933 to 1940, and was once a schoolmate of [[Lee Kuan Yew]] at [[Raffles Institution]] in Singapore.<ref name="Cai Tiancheng">{{cite news | author = Cai Tiancheng | title = Ex-Minister Howe Yoon Chong dies at 84 | publisher = [[Lianhe Zaobao]] | date = 22 August 2007}}</ref> He graduated from [[National University of Singapore|Raffles College]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] with honours degree in [[economics]] in 1953.

==Civil Service career==
Howe had worked in the [[Singapore Civil Service|Civil Service]] for almost 30 years. He began his career as a teacher, then was a broadcaster for a period before taking the post of an administrative officer in the [[British overseas territories|British Colonial Secretariat]]. Howe was subsequently appointed as a [[Magistrate|police magistrate]] and later secretary to [[Public Service Commission (Singapore)|Public Service Commission]] (PSC).

In 1960, Howe became the inaugural CEO of the [[Housing and Development Board]] (HDB). He was Chairman and [[President (corporate title)|President]] of the [[DBS Bank]] between 1970 and 1979,<ref>{{cite news | title=Notice of condolence from the DBS Group | publisher=[[The Straits Times]] | date=23 August 2007 | page=H15}}</ref> inaugural Chairman of the [[PSA International]], [[Permanent Secretary]] in the [[Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)|Prime Minister's Office]] (PMO), and the head of the [[Singapore Civil Service]].

During his tenure as a senior civil servant, Howe played a leading role in several of Singapore's iconic infrastructural projects like the [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit]] (MRT), [[Singapore Changi Airport]] and [[Public housing in Singapore|public housing]].<ref name="Keith Lin">{{cite news | author = Keith Lin and Lee Hui Chieh| title = Ex-minister Howe Yoon Chong, 84, dies | newspaper = [[The Straits Times]] | date = 22 August 2007 | page=3}}</ref><ref name="Gamar Abdul Aziz">{{cite news|title=Late Mr Howe played key role in developing national icons: SM Goh|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295454/1/.html|publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]|date=22 August 2007|access-date=23 August 2007|archive-date=24 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824054114/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295454/1/.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Li Xueying 2">{{cite news | author = Li Xueying| title = Tribute to Howe Yoon Chong | newspaper = [[The Straits Times]] | date = 23 August 2007 }}</ref>

Known by his colleagues from the civil service as a fierce, tough-talking man, Howe debated vehemently with former [[Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore|Deputy Prime Minister]] [[Goh Keng Swee]] over whether to build the MRT system in Singapore. Howe was strongly in favour of the MRT as the backbone of [[Public transport in Singapore|Singapore's public transport system]], while Goh proposed a more economical all-bus alternative.

Howe fought strongly against the extension plans for a second runway at [[Paya Lebar Airport]], and advocated the building of a new [[international airport]] in Changi.<ref name="Loh Chee Kong 23 August 07">{{cite news | author = Loh Chee Kong| title = A civil servant without compare | publisher = [[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]] | date = 23 August 2007 | page=4}}</ref> This was despite the Cabinet's decision for the go-ahead in 1972, based on a British expert's report that it would cost less to expand Paya Lebar Airport and that there was not enough time to get Changi built up to meet increasing traffic needs. Howe gathered a team to [[Land reclamation|reclaim land]], widened and extended the old [[Royal Air Force]] airstrip to take [[Boeing 747]]s and build the terminal. In August 1981, operations stopped overnight at Paya Lebar Airport and restarted the next morning at Changi Airport. Howe's role in setting up Changi Airport won him credit in Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs.<ref name="Jeremy Au Yong 24 August 07">{{cite news | title=MM Lee's tribute to Howe Yoon Chong: 'Man of action' who made Changi Airport a reality | publisher=[[The Straits Times]] | date=24 August 2007 | author=Jeremy Au Yong | page=H8}}</ref>

Howe also fast-tracked the public housing programme while serving as the CEO of HDB under Chairman [[Lim Kim San]] in the early years, solving the chronic housing shortage in the 1960s.<ref name="Jeremy Au Yong"/> He undertook the politically and technically arduous task of starting up [[Toa Payoh New Town]], and faced organised opposition to the resettlement of Toa Payoh and the removal of [[squatter]]s.<ref name="Julia Ng 22 August 07 2">{{cite news|title=President Nathan calls late Mr Howe an illustrious S'porean|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295408/1/.html|publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]|date=22 August 2007|access-date=23 August 2007|archive-date=24 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824054511/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295408/1/.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As Chairman of PSA, Howe went against the advice of professionals to build Singapore's first [[container terminal]] in the early 1970s.<ref name="Li Xueying">{{cite news | author = Li Xueying| title = Leaders pay tribute to a man with far-sighted vision | newspaper = [[The Straits Times]] | date = 23 August 2007 | page=3}}</ref>

In 1991, Howe helped to set up a managed fund, the Mendaki Growth Fund, for the [[Malays in Singapore|Malay]] self-help group Mendaki, the Council for the Development of Singapore Muslim Community.<ref name="Jeremy Au Yong" />

==Political career==
Howe's first call to enter politics came as early as 1953 from Lee Kuan Yew, then a practising lawyer.<ref name="Jeremy Au Yong"/> However, he declined Lee's invitation as he believed that Singapore needed civil servants in light of the repatriation of [[British Armed Forces|British forces]] during the post-World War II period.<ref name="Cai Tiancheng"/> In 1979, Howe was again persuaded by Prime Minister Lee and Minister for Finance Goh Keng Swee to enter politics, and he eventually agreed.<ref name="Keith Lin"/>

In 1979, upon being named as a [[People's Action Party]] (PAP) candidate in by-elections called in seven [[Constituency|constituencies]], Howe said he hoped to serve no more than five years. After submitting his nomination papers in the by-election, Howe dismissed the opposition candidates, including [[Independent (politician)|independent]] [[Chiam See Tong]], as "court jesters" who had come out "to provide comic relief".<ref name="Jeremy Au Yong"/> Howe eventually beat Chiam with almost 67% of the votes to win the [[Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency|Potong Pasir Constituency]] seat.

On 12 February 1979, Howe was sworn into the Cabinet as [[Ministry of Defence (Singapore)|Minister for Defence]]. Directness being his hallmark, just six months after becoming Defence Minister Howe said that those who dodged [[National Service in Singapore|national service]] ought to be looked upon as "pariah" in the community.<ref name="Jeremy Au Yong"/>

In the [[1980 Singaporean general election]], Howe again defeated Chiam for Potong Pasir,<ref name="CNA 21 August 07">{{cite news|title=Former Cabinet Minister Howe Yoon Chong dies at age 84|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295214/1/.html|publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]|date=21 August 2007|access-date=21 August 2007|archive-date=23 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823052137/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295214/1/.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and duly served as the Member of Parliament for the constituency until 1984. However in an election rally, Howe disparaged Chiam on his professional competence and was subsequently sued by Chiam for defamation.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Election remarks; Chiam accepts Howe's apology|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19810316-1.2.42|access-date=2021-10-20|website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg|language=en-SG|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020032335/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19810316-1.2.42|url-status=live}}</ref> Howe offered compensation which Chiam accepted and dropped the case against him.<ref name=":12" />

Howe relinquished his defence post to become the [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]] from 1982 to 1984. There, Howe became best remembered by Singaporeans for his controversial proposal in 1984 to raise the age for the withdrawal of [[Central Provident Fund]] (CPF) savings from 55 to 60 years. At a news conference on 26 March 1984, Howe reasoned that Singaporeans could not depend only on their children in their old age. That suggestion, part of the 54-page report of the Committee on the Problems of the Aged<ref>{{cite book|author=Committee on the Problems of the Aged|title=Problems of the Aged : Report of the Committee on the Problems of the Aged|location=Singapore|publisher=[[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Ministry of Health]]|year=1984|isbn=9971-88-022-9}}</ref> which he chaired, was eventually dropped. However, the report that took 20 months to finalise remains an important document with its forward-looking strategies to support Singapore's [[Population ageing|greying population]].<ref name="Jeremy Au Yong" /><ref name="Keith Lin" /><ref name="The New Paper 22 August 07">{{cite news | title = Ex-Minister dies at 84 | publisher = [[The New Paper]] | date = 22 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="Julia Ng">{{cite news|title=Howe Yoon Chong was a man ahead of his time: Gerard Ee|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295242/1/.html|publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]|date=21 August 2007|access-date=21 August 2007|archive-date=23 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823052737/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295242/1/.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chua Lee Hoong">{{cite news | author = Chua Lee Hoong| title = Would Howe Yoon Chong have approved? | newspaper = [[The Straits Times]] | date = 24 August 2007| page=28}}</ref> Taking up the suggestions in the report, the [[Singapore Government]] subsequently introduced the Minimum Sum scheme. This allows workers to withdraw some of their CPF funds at age 55, setting aside a certain minimum sum which can only be withdrawn at retirement age, currently at 62 years.<ref name="CNA 21 August 07" /><ref name="Julia Ng 22 August 07">{{cite news|title=Late Howe Yoon Chong cared deeply for country's development: PM Lee|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295462/1/.html|publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]|date=22 August 2007|access-date=23 August 2007|archive-date=24 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824054356/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295462/1/.html|url-status=live}}</ref> To encourage the employment of aged workers, the CPF contribution rates for both employer and the aged employee were cut in July 1988.<ref name="Cai Tiancheng" /> In 1993, the government raised the retirement age to 60.<ref name="Chua Lee Hoong" />

Howe did not contest the general election in 1984. As a result of Howe's controversial report, the PAP lost 12% of the overall votes in that election, and lost the Potong Pasir ward to Chiam.<ref name="Cai Tiancheng"/><ref name="Chua Lee Hoong"/> Howe retired from politics that year.<ref name="CNA 21 August 07"/>

In a letter of appreciation to Howe on his retirement, the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said he was indebted to Howe for the devoted work he had put in for the people. Lee also predicted that when workers in their 20s and 30s reached their 60s, they would see how difficult it was for children to stretch their salaries to support aged parents. They would then be grateful to Howe for the furore he had stirred by the report on the problems of the aged.<ref name="CNA 21 August 07"/>

==Business career==
After leaving politics, Howe returned to DBS as chairman and CEO in 1985 and served until 1990.

From 1992 to 2000, he was the Executive Chairman of [[Great Eastern Life|Great Eastern Life Assurance]],<ref>{{cite news | title=Notice of condolence from Great Eastern Holdings Ltd., Great Eastern Life Assurance Co. Ltd. and Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Bhd. | publisher=[[The Straits Times]] | date=23 August 2007 | page=H16}}</ref> and from 1992 to 2007 the President and CEO for The Straits Holding Company, an investment [[Holding company|holding firm]]. He was also Chairman of the [[Rendezvous Hotel|Rendezvous Hotel Singapore]] and Rendezvous Hotels & Resorts International.<ref>{{cite news | title=Notices of condolence from Rendezvous Hotel Singapore and Rendezvous Hotels & Resorts International | publisher=[[The Straits Times]] | date=23 August 2007 | page=H13}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Howe was married to Wan Fook Yin. They had three children; two sons, Tet Sen and Tze Sen and a daughter, Hwee Siew and two grandchildren at the time of his death.<ref>{{cite news|title=Howe Yoon Chong (obituary)|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=22 August 2007|page=H14}}</ref>

On 21 August 2007, Howe died in Singapore from a stroke after having been hospitalised for three weeks.<ref name="Keith Lin" /> Several of Singapore's leaders, including Prime Ministers [[Lee Kuan Yew]], [[Goh Chok Tong]] and [[Lee Hsien Loong]], attended Howe's wake.<ref name="Li Xueying" /><ref name="Julia Ng 23 August 07">{{cite news |date=23 August 2007 |title=S'pore leaders pay last respects to the late Mr Howe Yoon Chong |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295475/1/.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824054059/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/295475/1/.html |archive-date=24 August 2007 |access-date=23 August 2007 |publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]}}</ref> Howe's funeral was held at Mandai Crematorium on 24 August 2007.<ref name="Jeremy Au Yong 24 August 07" /><ref name="Peh Shing Huei">{{cite news |author=Peh Shing Huei |date=25 August 2007 |title=A final, private farewell for Howe |newspaper=[[The Straits Times]] |page=H8}}</ref>

==Honours==
In 1963, Howe received a Malaysia Medal and a [[Pingat Jasa Gemilang]]. For his contributions to Singapore, Howe was awarded a [[Distinguished Service Order]] in 1968. In 1971, the [[National University of Singapore]] awarded him with the honorary degree of [[Doctor of Letters]] (LL.D.).

Howe was also an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore,<ref>{{cite news |date=23 August 2007 |title=Notice of condolence from the Academy of Medicine, Singapore |publisher=[[The Straits Times]] |page=H13}}</ref> and an Honorary Life Member of the [[Young Men's Christian Association]] of Singapore.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 August 2007 |title=Notice of condolence from the YMCA of Singapore |publisher=[[The Straits Times]] |page=H13}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Notes==
*{{cite book|author=Tommy Koh|title=Singapore: The Encyclopedia|location=Singapore|publisher=Editions Didier Millet in association with the [[National Heritage Board (Singapore)|National Heritage Board]]|year=2006|isbn=981-4155-63-2|title-link=Singapore: The Encyclopedia}}
*{{cite news|title=Howe Yoon Chong 1923–2007|publisher=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|date=22 August 2007|page=1}}
*{{cite news|author=Li Xueying|title=He left his mark on today's top leaders|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=23 August 2007|page=H7}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Goh Keng Swee]] }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister for Defence (Singapore)|Minister for Defence]]
| years = 1979–1982 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Goh Chok Tong]] }}
{{s-bef | before = [[Toh Chin Chye]] }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]]
| years = 1982–1984 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Richard Hu Tsu Tau]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howe, Yoon Chong}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Singaporean people of Hakka descent]]
[[Category:People from Meixian District]]
[[Category:Singaporean Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of Singapore]]
[[Category:Singaporean politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:People's Action Party politicians]]
[[Category:Singaporean civil servants]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Singapore]]
[[Category:Ministers for defence of Singapore]]
[[Category:Ministers for health of Singapore]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pingat Jasa Gemilang]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang]]

Howe Yoon Chong - Revision history

116.88.193.31 at 19:12, 21 June 2025