Speech by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Farewell Dinner for Former Chief Justice Dr Chan Sek Keong

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon
and Mrs Menon

Former Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong
and Mrs Chan

Mr K Shanmugam
Minister for Law

Ms Indranee Rajah
Senior Minister of State
for Law & Education

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

        We are gathered here this evening on a special occasion to commemorate the retirement of the former Chief Justice, Dr Chan Sek Keong and to express the appreciation of our nation for his outstanding contributions.

        While many will remember Chief Justice Chan for his stellar career in the law, many may not realise that Chief Justice Chan built his legacy from humble beginnings. As noted in 2006 by then-Attorney General Chao Hick Tin, Chief Justice Chan’s career progression can be said to be a “manifestation of this country’s meritocratic ideals, where everyone, regardless of his or her background, has an equal opportunity to rise to the highest public office of the land”. Chief Justice Chan’s achievements and accolades are therefore both impressive and inspiring.

        Chief Justice Chan rose from humble beginnings as a schoolboy in Ipoh from a family of modest means, to become a “man of many firsts”. He was amongst the first batch of 22 law graduates from the University of Malaya in 1961, the first Singapore law graduate to be admitted to the Federal Bar of Malaya in 1962, the first person to be appointed Judicial Commissioner in 1986, amongst the first to be appointed Senior Counsel in 1997, and the first person to have held consecutive appointments as Judicial Commissioner, Judge, Attorney-General and Chief Justice. But there would be more to come. In 2008, Chief Justice Chan became the first Singaporean and local law graduate to become an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, England. In 2009, Chief Justice Chan became the first Asian to be conferred the International Jurists Award by the International Council of Jurists for outstanding contributions to the administration of justice and enhancing the dignity of the judiciary in Asia.

        It can indeed be said that Chief Justice Chan’s life in the law has been marked by the milestones of his experience which tell the story of a remarkable journey of an exceptional talent. Chief Justice Chan started his career as a legal assistant in Bannon & Bailey (Kuala Lumpur) in 1961. Later, he joined Braddell Brothers (Singapore) as a legal assistant in January 1963 and was made partner in April 1966. In May 1969, he joined Shook Lin & Bok (Singapore) where he spent 17 years as a partner. With his reputation for integrity, indefatigable industry and encyclopaedic knowledge of the law, Chief Justice Chan was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench as Judicial Commissioner on 1 July 1986. He was subsequently appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court on 1 July 1988, and served on the bench until he was appointed as the Attorney-General on 1 May 1992.

        As Attorney-General, Chief Justice Chan discharged his responsibilities firmly and fairly, without fear or favour, and with great distinction and humility. He earned the respect of the Bar by remembering the importance of an independent Bar when advising the Government on various matters of legal policy and regulation. He also laid the foundation for the technological infrastructure for legal research for the profession and defined the country’s strategic legal needs.

        On 11 April 2006, Chief Justice Chan was appointed to the highest judicial office of the land, marking yet another milestone in his illustrious career. At Chief Justice Chan’s Welcome Reference at the Supreme Court held on 22 April 2006, he set out his vision for the judiciary and the legal community. He also expressed his determination to uphold the rule of law and respect for the integrity of law and a fair judicial process.

        During his tenure as Chief Justice, Chief Justice Chan has fulfilled all that he promised, and more. True to his word, he paid particular attention to the administration of the courts, the administration of justice, the rule of law, and the need for a stable legal framework to advance Singapore’s economic well-being. Firmly believing that a closer, more cordial and harmonious relationship with the Bar was a necessary prerequisite to enabling the Bar to more actively assist the Judges in dispensing justice, Chief Justice Chan maintained a consultative open-door policy in his dealings with the Bar.

        On a related front, Chief Justice Chan also tirelessly sought to promote cooperation amongst the Judiciary, the Bar, the Legal Service, as well as the law academics. He has, in so doing, succeeded in building a world class judicial system that is consonant with the times and which is equal to the best in the world.

        I thank Chief Justice Chan for his immense and invaluable contributions to Singapore. Chief Justice Chan can look forward to a well-deserved retirement knowing that the Judiciary is stronger now than it has ever been.

        Mr Chief Justice, Ministers, Members of the Judiciary, Distinguished Members of the Bar, Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise and join me in a toast to Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong and Mrs Chan for many more years of good health and joy in the pursuit of interests which they previously had little time to embark on.