P R E S S   R E L E A S E

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Mr Lee Kuan Yew is a prominent international senior statesman, national leader and known as the founding father of modern Singapore.  Under his leadership, Singapore became a financial and industrial powerhouse. 

Mr Lee attended the prestigious Raffles College in Singapore and proceeded to Cambridge University in the United Kingdom to read law.  After graduating in 1949 with a double First Class honours degree and a star for "special distinction", he was admitted as Barrister-at-Law at the Middle Temple in London in 1950.   

Mr Lee returned to Singapore where he served as a lawyer and honorary legal adviser to many trade unions.  In 1954, he founded the People’s Action Party and served as its Secretary-General until 1992.  He was elected to the Legislative Assembly, representing the Tanjong Pagar constituency in 1955.  He became Singapore’s first Prime Minister in 1959.  Under his capable leadership, Singapore gained independence in 1965.  He has served as Prime Minister for 31 years until his retirement in 1990.  He is now Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

An eminent statesman as well as a brilliant lawyer, Mr Lee Kuan Yew has received numerous awards and international acclaim.  He was awarded Honorary Bencher by the Middle Temple in London in 1969 and made Honorary Fellow by Fitzwilliam College of Cambridge University in the same year.  He was also made Fellow of the Institute of Politics of Harvard University in 1968 and Hoyt Fellow of Berkeley College of Yale University in the U.S.A. in 1970.  The City of London in the United Kingdom awarded him the title of Honorary Freeman in 1982.  Mr Lee has also received many honorary doctorates from prestigious universities around the world.  His remarkable contribution goes beyond the creation of an independent and powerful Singapore to the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity of the region.