Letter of Credence, 25 April 2023

The Government has appointed Mr Peter Tan Hai Chuan as the next Singapore Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, and Mr Ong Yew Huat as Singapore’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. 

Mr Tan was Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan from 2019 to 2023. Prior to this, he was Deputy Secretary for Southeast Asia & ASEAN from 2015 to 2019. He was also Singapore’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, with concurrent accreditation to Mongolia, from 2011 to 2015.

Mr Tan joined the Singapore Foreign Service in 1992. He has served in various capacities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on issues covering Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Mr Tan served three tours in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo, as First Secretary from 1995 to 1998 and then as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2002 to 2005, before serving as Ambassador in 2019. He also served as Counsellor (Political) at the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur from 2001 to 2002.

Mr Tan graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1992. He was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship and obtained a Master of Arts in East Asian Studies from Columbia University, United States of America, in 2000.

Mr Tan was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008, and the Long Service Medal in 2015. He is married to Madam Sim Siew Eng. 

Mr Ong is currently a Non-Executive Independent Director of Singapore Power Ltd (SP) and Capitaland Group Pte Ltd (CLG). He is also on the Board of Directors for the Singapore Mediation Centre. Prior to this, Mr Ong held senior appointments in various organisations such as Chairman of the National Heritage Board and Board Member of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

Mr Ong graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Kent at Canterbury, United Kingdom.

Mr Ong was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2011 and the Public Service Star in 2017. He is married to Madam Ng Yau Huang and they have three children.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

25 APRIL 2023

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Mr Peter Tan Hai Chuan will be appointed as Singapore’s next Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China in April 2023.

Mr Peter Tan Hai Chuan was Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan from October 2019 to April 2023. Prior to this, Mr Tan was Deputy Secretary/Southeast Asia and ASEAN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs from January 2015 to September 2019. Mr Tan was also Singapore’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea(concurrently accredited to Mongolia) from February 2011 to January 2015.

Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992, Mr Tan has served in various capacities on issues related to Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Mr Tan served in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo as First Secretary from 1995 to 1998 and in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur as Counsellor from 2001 to 2002. He also served in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo from 2002 to 2005 as Counsellor, and subsequently as Acting Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission. Mr Tan was appointed as Second Director of the Southeast Asia Directorate in December 2005, and then as Director from October 2006 to August 2010.

Mr Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Hons II Upper from the National University of Singapore in 1992. He was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship and obtained his Master of Arts (East Asian Studies) from Columbia University, USA, in 2000.

  Mr Tan was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008, and the Long Service Medal in 2015. Mr Tan is married to Mdm Sim Siew Eng.

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Mr Ong Yew Huat is a Non-Executive Independent Director of Singapore Power Ltd (SP) and Capitaland Group Pte Ltd (CLG).

Mr Ong is Chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Nominating Committee of both SP and CLG. He is also a Director of the Singapore Mediation Centre.

Mr Ong was previously a Director of United Overseas Bank Ltd and Chairman of United Overseas Bank Malaysia Bhd. He also served as Chairman of the National Heritage Board and Singapore Tyler Print Institute and was a Board Member of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

Mr Ong graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Kent at Canterbury, United Kingdom.

Mr Ong was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2011 and the Public Service Star in 2017. He is married to Madam Ng Yau Huang and they have three children.

All photos are credited to the Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore

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