List of Hwa Chong Institution people

The following is a list of notable staff and alumni from Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) and its predecessor schools, The Chinese High School (TCHS) and Hwa Chong Junior College (HCJC).

The Clock Tower Building of Hwa Chong Institution, a national monument, which formerly served as an observation point during the Battle of Singapore

Notable staff

• Ang Wee Hiong (洪伟雄), principal of HCJC from 1999 to 2004 and of HCI from 2005 to 2009; he was HCI's longest serving principal and the one who oversaw the merger of HCJC and TCHS in 2005[1][2]
• Chen Wen Hsi (陈文希), Singaporean pioneer artist; taught art at TCHS.[3]
• Cheng An Lun (郑安仑), principal of TCHS from December 1948 to May 1968; graduated from Tsinghua, Yenching and Bristol universities[4]
• Hon Chiew Weng (潘兆荣), principal of TCHS from 2003 to 2004, of HCI (High School Section) from 2005 to 2009, and of HCI from 2010 to 2017; he first joined TCHS as a physics teacher in 1982 and retired in 2017 after spending 35 years there[5]
• Lao She (老舍), writer; taught at TCHS in 1929[6]
• Lee Kong Chian (李光前), businessman and philanthropist; served as chairman of TCHS's board of directors from 1934 to 1956[7]
• Leong Fan Chin (梁环清), principal of HCJC from 1993 to 1998[8]
• Li Chunming (李春鸣), taught Chinese at TCHS from 1919 to 1923 and served as discipline master from 1927 to 1929; graduated from the Nanking Higher Normal School (now Nanjing University)[9]
• Lim Hak Tai (林学大), founder and first principal of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts; taught art at TCHS
• Liu Kang (刘抗), oil painter; taught art at TCHS[10]
• Pang Choon How (彭俊豪), the current principal of HCI who is also an alumnus of HCJC; former director of mother tongue languages at the Ministry of Education's curriculum planning and development division 1[11]
• Sy Eng Su (薛永黍), principal of TCHS until December 1948; arrested on 25 June 1951 during Operation Coldstore[12]
• Tan Kah Kee (陈嘉庚), businessman and philanthropist; founded TCHS in 1918[13]
• Tan Keong Choon (陈共存), businessman and philanthropist; Tan Kah Kee's nephew; founded HCJC and served as the first chairperson of its management committee from 1974 to 1996[14][15]
• Tooh Fee San (杜辉生), principal of TCHS from 1978 to 1999[8]
• Wang Fo Wen (王宓文), graduated from Nanjing Normal University and National Central University; taught English at TCHS;[16] father of notable historian Wang Gungwu[17]
• Zhang Guoji (张国基), taught literature, history and geography at TCHS from 1920 to 1921; graduated from Hunan First Normal University; member of the Chinese Communist Party[18]

Notable alumni

Heads of State

• Ong Teng Cheong (王鼎昌), fifth President of Singapore; graduated from TCHS in 1955[19][20]

Active Singaporean Politicians

• Baey Yam Keng (马炎庆), Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Transport; graduated from HCJC in 1988[21]
• Chee Hong Tat (徐芳达), Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Transport, graduated from TCHS[22]
• Grace Fu Hai Yien (傅海燕), Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Leader of the House; graduated from HCJC in 1981[19][23]
• Koh Poh Koon (许宝琨), Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Health; graduated from HCJC in 1990[24]
• Lim Wee Kiak (林伟杰), MP for Sembawang GRC; graduated from TCHS in 1984 and from HCJC in 1986[25]
• Leon Perera, MP for Aljunied GRC, graduated from HCJC[26]
• K Muralidharan Pillai, MP for Bukit Batok SMC; graduated from HCJC in 1985[27]
• Sim Ann (沈颖), Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Communications and Information; graduated from HCJC in 1993[28]
• Tin Pei Ling (陈佩玲), MP for MacPherson SMC; graduated from HCJC in 2001[29]
• Tan Kiat How (陈杰豪), Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of National Development
• Hazel Poa, Non-constituency Member of Parliament[30]
• Denise Phua, MP for Jalan Besar GRC & Mayor of Central Singapore District
• Tan Wu Meng, MP for Jurong GRC, Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Industry
• Henry Kwek, MP for Kebun Baru SMC, graduated from TCHS[31]
• Louis Chua, MP for Sengkang GRC[32]
• Melvin Yong, MP for Radin Mas SMC & Assistant Secretary-General of NTUC, graduated from TCHS in 1988
• Sitoh Yih Pin, MP for Potong Pasir SMC
• Ang Wei Nang, MP for Jurong GRC

Retired Singaporean Politicians

• Jek Yeun Thong (易润堂), former Minister for Labour, Minister for Culture,[33] Minister for Science and Technology,[34] and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and to Denmark; studied at TCHS but was expelled from school by the British colonial government in 1950[35]
• Ker Sin Tze (柯新治), former Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information and the Arts[36]
• Yeo Guat Kwang (杨木光), Assistant Director-General of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and former MP; graduated from TCHS in 1977[37][38]
• Ng Chee Meng (黄志明), former Minister in the Prime Minister's Office; eighth Chief of Defence Force;[39] graduated from HCJC[40]
• Lee Yi Shyan (李奕贤), former MP for East Coast GRC; graduated from HCJC in 1980[41]
• Sam Tan Chin Siong (陈振泉), former Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development; graduated from HCJC in 1976[42]

Singapore Armed Forces personnel

• Goh Si Hou (吴仕豪), current Chief of the Singapore Army;[43] graduated from HCJC in 1996.
• Hoo Cher Mou (符策谋), former Chief of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF); graduated from HCJC in 1984[44]
• Ng Chee Khern (黄志勤), former Chief of the RSAF; graduated from HCJC in 1983[45]
• Ng Chee Peng (黄志平), former Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy
• Ng Yat Chung (伍逸松), Chief Executive Officer of Neptune Orient Lines; fifth Chief of Defence Force; graduated from HCJC in 1979[46]

Others

• Fong Swee Suan (方水双), trade union leader; leftist politician of the PAP and Barisan Sosialis; studied at TCHS but was expelled from school by the British colonial government in 1951[47]
• Lim Chin Siong (林清祥), trade union leader; leftist politician of the PAP and Barisan Sosialis; studied at TCHS but was expelled from school by the British colonial government in 1952[48]
• Yam Ah Mee (杨雅镁), former Chief Executive Director of the People's Association; former Chief of the Land Transport Authority; Returning Officer in the 2011 General Election[49]
• Goh Meng Seng, leader of People's Power Party
• Lim Tean, Secretary General of Peoples Voice

Business and entrepreneurs

• Calvin Cheng Ern Lee (郑恩里), former Nominated Member of Parliament and Chairman of Retech Group; graduated from TCHS and HCJC[50]
• Milton Cheng, Global Chair of Baker & McKenzie[51]
• Min-Liang Tan, founder of tech company Razer.[52]
• Leong Heng Keng (梁庆经), former owner of Axe Brand Universal Oil; graduated from TCHS in 1950[53]
• Laurence Lien (连宗诚), Chairman of the Lien Foundation[54] and co-founder of the Asia Philanthropy Circle;[55] Nominated Member of Parliament from 2012–2014; graduated from HCJC[40]
• Olivia Lum Ooi Lin (林爱莲), founder of Hyflux; graduated from HCJC in the 1980s,[56] former Nominated Member of Parliament
• Tan Chin Hwee (陈竞辉), CEO (Asia-Pacific) of Trafigura; graduated from HCJC[57]
• George Tan, writer and founder of Book Soul International; graduated from HCJC in 1976[58]
• Toh Soon Huat (卓顺发), founder of Novena Holdings; dropped out of TCHS in secondary three due to his family's financial difficulties[59]
• Brandon Wade, founder of online dating websites; he studied at HCJC[60]
• Wee Cho Yaw (黄祖耀), Chairman of United Overseas Bank; studied at TCHS but his studies were disrupted by the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore in 1941–1942[61]
• Kenny Yap Kim Lee (叶金利), founder of Qian Hu Corporation
• Benjamin Pwee, Chief Business Development Officer, CNPLaw LLP
• Tan Chin Wee, businessman and business academic, member of Emerging Stronger Taskforce (EST) set up under the Future Economy Council (FEC)

Academics, scientists and writers

• Chen Xujing (陈序经), historian, sociologist and university administrator[62]
• Warren Fernandez, The Straits Times editor; graduated from HCJC in the 1980s[63]
• Cherian George, academic and professor of media studies at Hong Kong Baptist University; graduated from HCJC[64]
• Koh Buck Song (许木松), poet, writer and journalist; graduated from HCJC[65]
• Lin Cong (林丛), Harvard University graduate and winner of the Jack T. Sanderson Memorial Award 2009; graduated from HCJC[66]
• Zhong Shengbiao (钟盛标), former Dean of the Faculty of Science, Nanyang University (now merged into the National University of Singapore); graduated from TCHS[67]
• Sim Yee Chiang, short story writer, playwright, and librettist
• Madeleine Lee, poet
• Colin Cheong, award winning writer
• Thio Li-ann, former Nominated Member of Parliament[68]

Sportspeople

• Benedict Tan, gold medal winner for sailing at the 1994 Asian Games and four-time SEA Games gold medalist; former Nominated Member of Parliament; medical director at the Singapore Sports Medicine Centre; graduated from HCJC[40]

Arts, entertainment and media personalities

• Film, television and theatre:
  • Anthony Chen, film director; graduated from TCHS
  • Sharon Au (欧菁仙), former MediaCorp actress; graduated from HCJC[40]
  • Adam Chen (詹金泉), MediaCorp actor; graduated from TCHS and HCJC
  • Chua Lam (蔡澜), food critic, columnist and television personality
  • Kuo Pao Kun (郭宝崑), playwright, theatre director and arts activist; attended TCHS in the 1950s[69]
  • Ng Hui (黄慧), MediaCorp actress; graduated from HCJC
  • Alan Tern (唐育书), MediaCorp actor; graduated from TCHS and HCJC
  • Nelson Chia (谢燊杰), co-founder of Nine Years Theatre
  • Woon Tai Ho, veteran media practitioner, TV producer, art collector and writer, founder of Channel NewsAsia[70]
• Music
  • Bevlyn Khoo (邱意淋), jazz pop singer songwriter
  • Choo Huey (朱晖), music conductor; graduated from TCHS in the late 1940s[71]
  • Eric Moo Chii Yuan (巫启贤), singer-songwriter; studied at TCHS[72]
  • Joel Tan (陈卓义), stage name Gentle Bones, singer-songwriter; graduated from HCI in 2012[73]
  • Liang Wern Fook (梁文福), music composer; graduated from HCJC[19]
  • Lorraine Tan (陈莉芯), singer-songwriter and founder of My Singapore Music Charity Education Project; graduated from HCJC[74]
  • Lydia Tan Di Ya (陈迪雅), female champion of singing contest Project SuperStar Season 2; graduated from HCJC[75]
  • Ng Chee Yang (黄智阳), champion of singing contest Campus SuperStar Season 1; graduated from HCI in 2007[76]
  • Tan Wee-Hsin (陈伟信), music conductor and violist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra; graduated from TCHS and HCJC
  • Yang Hongseok, vocalist of the group boy group Pentagon
• Arts
  • Grace Quek (郭盈恩), better known as Annabel Chong, web designer, artist and former pornographic actress; graduated from HCJC[77]
  • Ho Ho Ying (何和应), expressionist painter and art critic; attended TCHS in the 1950s[78]
  • Tan Swie Hian (陈瑞献), artist; graduated from TCHS in 1964[79]
• Radio:
  • Christina Lin Pei Fen (林佩芬), Y.E.S. 93.3FM radio DJ; graduated from HCJC[80]

Others

• Jane Lee, first woman from Southeast Asia to scale the Seven Summits; associate with McKinsey & Company; graduated from HCJC[40]
• Kim Lim, Singaporean socialite and daughter of Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim
• Lee Kin Mun (李健敏), better known as mrbrown, blogger and political critic; graduated from HCJC[40]
• Wei Liqing (魏利庆), Honorary Director of Nanyang Khek Community Guild; obtained a PhD in business management from the University of the Pacific at the age of 73; graduated from TCHS[81]

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