Valedictory Letter from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong

2 November 2012

The Honourable the Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong
Supreme Court
Singapore

Dear Chief Justice Chan

As you complete your tenure as the third Chief Justice of Singapore, I write to thank you for your outstanding service to Singapore over the last 26 years.

In 1986, the Government persuaded you, after several attempts, to leave a highly successful commercial practice and enter public service as Singapore’s first Judicial Commissioner. Two years later, you became a Judge of the Supreme Court and, in 1992, Attorney-General, a position you held for 14 years. 

You served as Public Prosecutor with distinction, always acting in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. This was especially critical in the cases of Flor Contemplacion and Michael Fay, which put Singapore under the international spotlight and significant pressure. The manner in which your office prosecuted these cases unequivocally demonstrated the objectivity, fairness and integrity of our legal system.

As Attorney-General, you also provided wise counsel on many complex legal issues. On your advice, the Government passed legislation in 1993 to discontinue the automatic reception of English law, thus finally cutting our legal system’s colonial links to England. You headed three major policy reviews to ensure that we trained sufficient lawyers while avoiding an excess supply. You chaired the Legal Services Review Committee, which in 1999 recommended creating the Joint Law Venture and the Formal Law Alliance vehicles to attract offshore law practices to Singapore. These measures have significantly contributed to Singapore’s economy, especially our international services hub.

You strengthened the Attorney-General’s Chambers by establishing the International Affairs Division and the Law Reform and Law Revision Division, and personally led efforts to build up a corps of professional and dedicated lawyers, imbued with the right values, in the Chambers.

Your appointment as Chief Justice in 2006 was received with widespread approbation, reflecting the high regard of the legal fraternity for your abilities and leadership.

As Chief Justice, you presided over the administration of justice with rectitude and dignity. You set up the Sentencing and Bail Review Panel to develop internal judicial guidelines on sentencing and bail. These guidelines ensured that our courts handed down sentences that were consistent and proportionate, and met society’s expectations of what constituted just punishment.

You maintained the high standards of court efficiency attained by your predecessor, simplifying interlocutory procedures and installing the Integrated Electronic Litigation System. Yet you never allowed efficient court administration to compromise a fair and just decision in each case. Lawyers consider you a supremely knowledgeable judge who never denied anyone a fair hearing.

You constantly encouraged the legal profession to do more for the less fortunate. Under your guidance, the Subordinate Courts set up the HELP Centre, which guides litigants through the court process and improves their access to justice, for which the Courts won the United Nations Public Service Award. 

Your decisions have enriched the corpus of Singapore jurisprudence. Your public law judgments constantly reaffirm the courts’ constitutional function to ensure that the legislature and executive act within the law. Your writings and speeches reflect your steadfast commitment to upholding the law without fear or favour.
 
As the ex-officio Chairman of the Legal Service Commission, you oversaw an expansion of the Legal Service from 290 officers in 2006 to almost 500 today. The Legal Service’s human resources framework was reviewed and revitalised to build a more vibrant and robust Service.

Your tenure as Chief Justice has raised the standing of our legal system at home and abroad, and attracted many foreign delegations to study our courts. Your contributions have been widely recognised, including by the National University of Singapore which conferred upon you an honorary Doctor of Laws, and Lincoln’s Inn which elected you an honorary bencher.

Under your able leadership, the International Court of Justice affirmed our sovereign rights to Pedra Branca. For this signal service to Singapore, you were conferred the Order of Temasek (Second Class). 

You also served on the Presidential Council of Minority Rights for 20 years, six of them as Chairman. At Council meetings, you conscientiously studied the provisions and context of each piece of legislation which came up for scrutiny, to satisfy yourself that they did not discriminate against any racial or religious group. In so doing, you operated an important constitutional safeguard that assured our minority communities of their place and rights in Singapore.

Singapore is grateful for your outstanding contributions. You have strengthened the foundations of our legal system, and will continue to inspire many in the future. I thank you for your many years of dedicated service to Singapore.

LEE HSIEN LOONG