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Lee Khoon Choy DUBC (Chinese: 李炯才; pinyin: Lǐ Jǐongcái 24 January 1924 – 27 February 2016) was a Singaporean politician.[2] A member of the governing People's Action Party, he was the Member of Parliament for Braddell Heights SMC between 1977 and 1984, and Hong Lim SMC between 1965 and 1976.
Lee Khoon Choy | |
|---|---|
李炯才 | |
| Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office | |
| In office 12 February 1979 – 1 January 1985 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 16 September 1972 – 11 February 1979 | |
| Minister | S. Dhanabalan |
| Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office | |
| In office 16 April 1968 – 15 September 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Minister of State for Culture | |
| In office 18 September 1965 – 3 May 1968 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for Culture | |
| In office 12 July 1965 – 17 September 1965 | |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Braddell Heights SMC | |
| In office 7 February 1977 – 4 December 1984 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Goh Choon Kang |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Hong Lim SMC | |
| In office 8 December 1965 – 6 December 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Ong Eng Guan |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Bukit Panjang SMC | |
| In office 1 July 1959 – 3 September 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Goh Tong Liang[1] |
| Succeeded by | Ong Lian Teng |
| Party Whip of the People's Action Party | |
| In office 23 June 1959 – 16 October 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Chan Chee Seng |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 January 1924 Butterworth, Penang, British Malaya (now Malaysia) |
| Died | 27 February 2016 (aged 92) Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse(s) | Florence Khor Swee Hoon Eng Ah Siam |
| Children | 7 |
| Alma mater | Regent Street Polytechnic |
Lee was born in 1924 in Butterworth, Penang, and was educated at Yeok Keow Chinese School and Chung Ling High School in George Town, Penang.[3][4]
During the Japanese occupation of Penang, he took refuge in his uncle's farm located in a jungle.[4]
He left Singapore for London in 1949 to study journalism at Regent Street Polytechnic on a year long scholarship.[5]
In 1946 Lee commenced a career in journalism in Penang with Sin Pin Jit Poh, then left for Singapore to work for a number of Chinese (Sin Chew Jit Poh, Nanyang Siang Pau) and English (Singapore Tiger Standard) newspapers before culminating in his working for The Straits Times in 1957.[4]
Politics
Member of Parliament
Resigning in 1959, Lee commenced his political career and was elected to the legislative assembly. He served as Minister of State for Culture, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Senior Minister of State in PMO. He stepped down from his parliamentary positions in 1984.[4]
Diplomat
In 1968 he commenced his diplomatic career, serving as Singapore's Ambassador to Egypt, Ethiopia, Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Indonesia, and High Commissioner in Pakistan. On stepping down from Parliament, he served as Singapore's Ambassador to Japan and South Korea.[4]
Post politics
He retired from public service in 1988, founding his own firm, Eng Lee Investment Consultants, in 1990.[4]
He has been and is a director of a number of companies. He is currently Chairman of Eng Lee Investment Consultants, and an Independent non-executive director of Koh Brothers Group Ltd.[6] Previous positions held include:[4]
- Chairman, Sino-American (UIC) Tours Corporation
- Independent director, Metro Holdings
- Non-Executive chairman, SSH Corporation (formerly known as Sin Soon Huat)
- Independent director, L & M Group Investments
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Lee has published ten books, including:
- Lee, Khoon Choy (2013) Lee, Khoon Choy (2013). Golden Dragon and Purple Phoenix: The Chinese and Their Multi-Ethnic Descendants in Southeast Asia. Hackensack, New Jersey: World Scientific. p. 604. doi:10.1142/8357. ISBN 978-981-4383-43-1.
- Lee, Khoon Choy (2005) Choy, Lee Khoon (2005). Pioneers of Modern China: Understanding the Inscrutable Chinese. Hackensack, New Jersey: World Scientific. p. 576. doi:10.1142/5921. ISBN 978-981-256-618-8.
- Lee, Khoon Choy (1999) A fragile nation: the Indonesian crisis. World Scientific Publishing.
- Lee, Khoon Choy (1995) Japan: Between Myth and Reality. World Scientific Publishing. ISBN 9810218656, 9789810218652.
- Lee, Khoon Choy (1993) Diplomacy of a Tiny State. World Scientific Publishing. ISBN 9810212194.
- Lee, Khoon Choy (1976) Indonesia: Between Myth and Reality.
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Lee married Florence Khor Swee Hoon, and they had two sons. Khor died of cancer at age 30 in 1959. In 1962 he married Eng Ah Siam, with whom he has had five daughters.
Lee died in his sleep at home aged 92, at 3am on 27 February 2016.[7] He is survived by his second wife, seven children and 11 grandchildren.[8]
- 1974: (Indonesian) Bintang Bakti Utama (Meritorious Service Star) for his work in enhancing relations between Indonesia and Singapore.
- 1986: The Scholarly Achievement Award by the Japan Institute of Oriental Philosophy for his achievements in the research and development of eastern philosophy, thought and culture.
- 1988: (South Korean) Order of Diplomatic Service Merit for his service in promoting relations between South Korea and Singapore.
- 1990: (Singaporean) Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Distinguished Service Order) in recognition of his contributions.
- 1997: Made an honorary member of the Chinese National Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing for his contributions in the field of humanities and social sciences.
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