Ministerial offices

Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
In office 28 November 1990 – 12 August 2004 Serving with Ong Teng Cheong (1985–1993) Tony Tan (1995–2004)
Prime Minister	Goh Chok Tong
Preceded by	Goh Chok Tong
Succeeded by	S. Jayakumar
Minister for Finance
In office 10 November 2001 – 1 December 2007
Prime Minister	Goh Chok Tong Himself
Second Minister	Lim Hng Kiang Raymond Lim Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Preceded by	Richard Hu
Succeeded by	Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Minister for Trade and Industry
In office 1 January 1987 – 6 December 1992 Acting: 18 February 1986 – 31 December 1986
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew Goh Chok Tong
Preceded by	Tony Tan
Succeeded by	S. Dhanabalan
Second Minister for Defence (Services)
In office 1 January 1987 – 27 November 1990 Serving with Yeo Ning Hong (Policy)
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Minister	Goh Chok Tong

Parliamentary offices

Member of the Singapore Parliament for Teck Ghee SMC
In office 22 December 1984 – 14 August 1991
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished

Personal details

Born

Lee Hsien Loong

10 February 1952 (age 73)
Singapore

Political party

People's Action Party

Spouses

Wong Ming Yang

(m. 1978; died 1982)

Ho Ching

(m. 1985)

Children

4; including Li Hongyi

Parents

Lee Kuan Yew (father)
Kwa Geok Choo (mother)

Relatives

Lee Hsien Yang (brother)
Lee Wei Ling (sister)

Alma mater

Trinity College, Cambridge (BA, Dipl.)
Harvard University (MPA)

Occupation

Politician

Profession

Military general

Signature

Military service

Branch/service

Singapore Army

Years of service

1971–1984

Rank

Brigadier-General

Commands

Director of the Joint Operations and Planning Directorate
Chief of Staff – General Staff
Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Operations)
Commanding Officer, 23rd Battalion Singapore Artillery

Lee Hsien Loong

Lee's name in Simplified (top) and Traditional (bottom) Chinese characters

Traditional Chinese

李顯龍

Simplified Chinese

李显龙

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Lǐ Xiǎnlóng
Bopomofo	ㄌㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄢˇ ㄌㄨㄥˊ
Wade–Giles	Li³ Hsien³-lung²
IPA	[lì ɕi̯ɛ̀n.lʊ̌ŋ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Léih Hín-lùhng
IPA	[le̬i hǐːn lȍŋ]
Jyutping	Lei5 Hin2-lung4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ	Lí Hián-liông

Lee Hsien Loong (born 10 February 1952) is a Singaporean politician and former brigadier-general. He served as the third Prime Minister of Singapore from 2004 to 2024. Since May 2024, he has been a Senior Minister of Singapore.

Lee was also the secretary-general of the People's Action Party (PAP) from 2004 to 2024. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Teck Ghee division of Ang Mo Kio GRC since 1991. Before that, he represented Teck Ghee SMC from 1984 to 1991.

Born in Singapore during British rule, Lee is the oldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister. He studied mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1974. He also earned a diploma in computer science. Later, he completed a Master's degree in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School in 1980.

Lee served in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) from 1971 to 1984, reaching the rank of Brigadier-General. He left the SAF in 1984 to start his political career. He became an MP for Teck Ghee SMC. After its changes in 1991, he continued to represent the Teck Ghee area within Ang Mo Kio GRC.

Before becoming prime minister, Lee held important roles like Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, and Minister for Trade and Industry. He worked under Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong. As prime minister, he introduced a five-day work week and extended maternity leave. He also supported building two large integrated resorts to boost tourism. After the Great Recession in 2008, he helped Singapore's economy recover quickly.

From 2020 to 2021, Lee led Singapore's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, he also guided the government's actions regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Singapore was the only country in Southeast Asia to place sanctions on Russia. In April 2024, Lee announced he would step down as prime minister. He resigned in May and was succeeded by Lawrence Wong, who then appointed Lee as a Senior Minister.

Early Life and Education

Lee Hsien Loong was born in Singapore on 10 February 1952. His parents were Lee Kuan Yew and Kwa Geok Choo. His family has roots in China.

School and University Years

Lee attended Nanyang Primary School and Catholic High School. He played the clarinet in the school band. He then went to National Junior College. In 1971, he received two scholarships to study mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge, in the United Kingdom.

He graduated in 1974 with top honors in mathematics. He also earned a diploma in computer science. His college tutor described him as a very bright mathematician. Later, in 1980, he earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University in the United States.

Military Service

Lee joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1971. He served as an officer from 1974 to 1984. He held several important positions, including Director of Joint Operations.

He also attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1978. Lee quickly rose through the ranks in the Singapore Army. He became the youngest brigadier-general in Singapore's history in July 1983. He led rescue efforts during the Sentosa cable car disaster. He left the SAF in 1984 to enter politics.

Starting a Political Career

In the 1980s, Lee was seen as a key leader for the future of the People's Action Party (PAP). He was first elected as a Member of Parliament for Teck Ghee SMC in 1984, at age 32. He was then appointed as a Minister of State for Trade and Industry and for Defence.

In 1985, Lee led a government committee on the economy. This committee suggested changes to help Singapore's economy grow. Their ideas included lowering taxes. In 1986, he became the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry. In 1987, he became a full Cabinet Minister for Trade and Industry and Second Minister for Defence.

He also became the first chairman of the PAP Youth Committee. This group was created to encourage younger Singaporeans to join the party and share their ideas.

Deputy Prime Minister Role

On 28 November 1990, Goh Chok Tong became prime minister. Lee Hsien Loong was appointed one of two Deputy Prime Ministers. He continued as Minister for Trade and Industry until 1992. He was diagnosed with lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy. He recovered successfully and remained Deputy Prime Minister.

In January 1998, Lee became chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). In 2001, he was made Finance Minister. To help the government's budget, he suggested raising the GST from three to five percent in 2003. This change happened in January 2004.

Lee also made it easier for foreign-born children of Singaporean women to become Singapore citizens.

Visit to Taiwan

In July 2004, Lee visited Taiwan. This island is claimed by China. Singapore tries to stay neutral in the relationship between China and Taiwan. Lee felt it was important to understand the situation in Taiwan before becoming Prime Minister.

The visit was planned as a private trip, not an official one. China asked Singapore to cancel the trip. However, Singapore went ahead, explaining that the visit was low-key. This caused some tension with China for a short time. Lee later explained Singapore's reasons for the visit. Relations improved after he met with China's leader, Hu Jintao.

Prime Minister (2004-2024)

First Term: 2004–2006

On 12 August 2004, Lee became prime minister. He was sworn in at the Istana. As prime minister, he also became chairman of the People's Association.

In his first major speech in August 2004, Lee announced new plans. These included a "five-day work week," which started in January 2005. Maternity leave was also extended. The "Baby Bonus" scheme was expanded to encourage more births.

In November 2004, Lee suggested building two Integrated Resorts (IRs), which include hotels and casinos. This was to attract more tourists and revenue. Despite some public concerns about gambling, the government approved the idea in April 2005. The IRs were built in Marina Bay and Sentosa. To prevent gambling problems, Singaporeans had to pay an entrance fee to the casinos.

In February 2006, Lee announced a S$2.6 billion "Progress Package." This plan gave cash, housing rebates, and education funds to citizens.

Second Term: 2006–2011

In the 2006 election, Lee's party, the PAP, won most of the seats. Lee and his team won their constituency, Ang Mo Kio GRC. In November 2007, Lee handed over his finance minister role to Tharman Shanmugaratnam. This allowed a full-time minister to focus on Singapore's financial growth.

Economic Challenges and Recovery

Singapore's economy grew for the first two years of Lee's time as prime minister. However, it faced a big challenge during the Great Recession of 2008. Singapore was the first Asian country to enter a recession. The government quickly announced financial support plans to help businesses and keep unemployment low.

By August 2009, Lee announced that the worst was over. Singapore's economy recovered strongly, showing record growth in 2010.

Changes to Parliament

In 2009, Lee supported the role of non-elected Members of Parliament (NMPs). He suggested making this scheme permanent to improve debates in Parliament. In May 2010, Lee also made changes to the election system. These changes aimed to allow more opposition voices in Parliament. A "cooling-off day" was also introduced before elections, where campaigning is not allowed.

Third Term: 2011–2015

In the 2011 Singapore general election, the PAP won fewer votes than before, but still secured most seats. This was seen as a sign that people wanted more changes. The PAP lost one important group constituency, Aljunied GRC, to the Workers' Party. After the election, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong stepped down from the cabinet. This was part of a plan to bring in new leaders. Lee began his third term on 21 May 2011.

Lee Hsien Loong in 2018

On 1 June 2011, Lee became chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation. This organization manages Singapore's large financial assets. He took over from his father, Lee Kuan Yew. In 2012, Lee mentioned that he hoped to step down as prime minister by age 70.

Fourth Term: 2015–2020

In the 2015 Singapore general election, Lee was re-elected in Ang Mo Kio GRC. The PAP won most seats and votes nationally. Lee's fourth term faced challenges like the China–United States trade war, which affected Singapore's economy. There were also more cyberattacks, leading to new cybersecurity laws.

Singapore hosted important international meetings during this time. These included a meeting between leaders from China and Taiwan in 2015. Singapore also hosted the summit between North Korea and the United States in 2018. These events showed Singapore's role as a neutral meeting place.

In July 2018, Lee's health data was hacked. This attack specifically targeted his information. In April 2019, Lee changed his cabinet. He promoted Heng Swee Keat to Deputy Prime Minister. This was seen as a step towards Heng becoming the next prime minister.

Planned Tax Increase

In 2017, Lee said that raising taxes would be necessary. This was to pay for investments in social services, healthcare, and infrastructure. The GST is expected to increase from 7% to 9% by 2025. This increase is planned to cover rising costs, especially for healthcare as Singapore's population ages.

Online Falsehoods Law

Lee's government introduced the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) in 2018. This law is meant to prevent the spread of false information online. Some people were concerned that it might limit free speech. However, the government stated that the law is important to protect society from harmful fake news. Lee explained that free speech has limits in all societies, and the law helps ensure accurate information.

Fifth Term: 2020–2024

After the 2020 Singapore general election, Lee was re-elected. He began his fifth term as prime minister. The election results showed that people wanted more diverse views in Parliament. Lee appointed Pritam Singh as the first official Leader of the Opposition. This was to encourage more debate and different ideas in Parliament.

Lee also announced a delay in his retirement plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, his government strongly opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Singapore was the only Southeast Asian country to openly condemn Russia and impose sanctions. In 2023, Lee indicated that Lawrence Wong would likely be his successor as prime minister. On 15 May 2024, Lee officially handed over the role of prime minister to Lawrence Wong.

Senior Minister (2024–present)

Lee resigned as prime minister on 13 May 2024. He was then appointed as a Senior Minister by the new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. He continues to be the chairman of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council.

Foreign Policy and International Relations

Working with China

The Tianjin Eco-City is a joint project by the two governments to develop an environmentally friendly and resource-conserving city in China

Singapore and China have worked closely on many projects. These include the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City. The China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, which helps with trade, was updated in 2018. Singapore has also been a big investor in China's "Belt and Road" plan. China has been Singapore's largest trading partner since 2013.

Lee's government follows the "One-China policy," which means it recognizes only one China. Singapore also continues to send troops to train in Taiwan. Relations between the two countries faced a challenge in 2016. Singapore supported a ruling about the South China Sea, which China disagreed with. In 2016, Hong Kong seized some Singapore military vehicles. This was seen as a warning to Singapore. The vehicles were later returned. Singapore has since worked to improve relations with China, including signing a defence agreement in 2019.

Partnership with the United States

Lee with U.S. President George W. Bush in November 2006

Lee with U.S. President Barack Obama in August 2016

Lee with U.S. President Donald Trump in October 2017

Lee with U.S. President Joe Biden in March 2022

Singapore has a strong relationship with the United States. The US is an important supplier of military equipment to Singapore. Singapore sees the US as key to stability in Asia. Lee's government has continued this policy.

The two countries have a defence agreement from 1990. This allows the US to use Singapore's air and naval bases. In 2005, Lee and President George W. Bush signed an agreement to work together on security. This included fighting terrorism. In 2015, this agreement was expanded to include cyber defence. Singapore also supports US military actions against groups like ISIS. In 2019, the defence agreement was renewed for another 15 years.

The United States is Singapore's largest foreign investor. Trade between the two countries is also very high. Lee was a strong supporter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement. He believed it would help lower trade barriers. However, the US later pulled out of this agreement.

Relations with Malaysia

Malaysia has had several prime ministers since Lee became prime minister in 2004. Lee has worked to improve relations with Malaysia. He focused on economic links and shared infrastructure. Since 2010, leaders from both countries meet yearly to discuss issues. However, there are still occasional disagreements over things like water supply and land claims.

In 2007, Lee agreed to invest in the Iskandar Malaysia project. This project aimed to develop a tourism and industrial zone in Malaysia. In 2010, Lee and Prime Minister Najib Razak resolved a long-standing dispute about railway land. Singapore also handed over water treatment plants to Malaysia in 2011.

To ease traffic, Lee revived a plan to link Singapore's MRT network to Johor Bahru in 2011. Plans for a Kuala Lumpur–Singapore high-speed rail (KL-SG HSR) and Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (JB-SG RTS) were also agreed upon. After the 2018 Malaysian election, the new government delayed these rail projects. Lee reminded them of the agreements. In 2019, both countries resolved disputes over port limits and airspace. In 2020, Lee and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin formally agreed to restart the JB-SG RTS project.

In May 2022, Lee visited the Malaysian state of Johor. He received a high honor from the Sultan of Johor. He made another visit in January 2024 to attend a ceremony for the RTS Link project. He also witnessed the signing of an agreement for a special economic zone.

Personal Life

Lee married his first wife, Wong Ming Yang, in 1978. They had a daughter and a son. Sadly, Wong Ming Yang passed away in 1982.

Lee remarried in 1985 to Ho Ching. She later became the CEO of Temasek Holdings, a major investment company. They have two sons, Li Hongyi and Li Haoyi. Li Hongyi works for the Government Technology Agency. Li Haoyi is a software engineer.

Lee was diagnosed with lymphoma in the early 1990s and underwent successful treatment. In 2015, he had surgery for prostate cancer and recovered well. In his free time, Lee enjoys computer programming. He even wrote a Sudoku solver program.

Honours and Awards

Awards

International Olympic Committee
- Olympic Order (Gold), given on 13 August 2010.

National Honours and Medals (Singapore)

Public Administration Medal, Gold (Military)
Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Good Conduct (10 Years) Medal
Singapore Armed Forces Good Service Medal

Foreign Honours and Medals

Peru
- Order of the Sun of Peru, Grand Cross with Diamonds, given on 22 November 2008.
Brunei
- Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal, awarded on 6 October 2017.
- The Most Esteemed Family Order of Laila Utama (D.K), given on 16 July 2022.
Malaysia
- Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (First Class) – Dato' Sri Paduka Mahkota Johor (SPMJ), given on 6 May 2022.

Lee Hsien Loong facts for kids

Contents