Lee Khoon Choy
# Lee Khoon Choy

Lee Khoon Choy DUBC (Chinese: 李炯才; pinyin: Lǐ Jǐongcái 24 January 1924 – 27 February 2016) was a Singaporean politician. 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.

## Early life and education

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.

During the Japanese occupation of Penang, he took refuge in his uncle's farm located in a jungle.

He left Singapore for London in 1949 to study journalism at Regent Street Polytechnic on a year long scholarship.

## Career

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.

### 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.

**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.

### Post politics

He retired from public service in 1988, founding his own firm, Eng Lee Investment Consultants, in 1990.

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. Previous positions held include:

* 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
