MFA Press Statement: Appointments of Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan and Singapore’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation

The Government has appointed Mr Chin Siat Yoon as Singapore’s next Ambassador to Japan and Ms Lim Kheng Hua as Singapore’s next Ambassador to the Russian Federation. Mr Chin and Ms Lim will assume post on 16 April and 23 April 2012 respectively.

A Colombo Plan Scholar, Mr Chin began his career in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as an army officer in 1972. In his service with the SAF, he held numerous key appointments including that of the Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Logistics) and Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Intelligence). In 1984, with the inception of the Joint Staff, Mr Chin became the first Director of the Joint Intelligence Directorate - an appointment he held until his departure for further studies at the Johns Hopkins University in the United States in August 1989. He held the rank of Brigadier General.

Mr Chin was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 1990 and retired from the SAF in December 1995. While in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chin served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand from September 1990 to December 1994, with concurrent accreditation to Myanmar and Cambodia. From January 1995 to July 1996, he served as Singapore’s Trade Representative in Taipei, and as Ambassador to Germany from August 1996 to December 1997. Mr Chin’s most recent appointment was as Singapore’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, from February 1998 to March 2012.

Mr Chin was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) (Military) in 1981, the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2000 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 2006. In recognition of his role in promoting bilateral military relations between Singapore and Indonesia, Mr Chin was awarded the Bintang Yudha Dharma Pratama (“Star of Honour” – Second Class) by the Republic of Indonesia in 1989.

Mr Chin is married with three children.

Ms Lim joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 1981. She served in the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 1984 to 1988 and in the Singapore Embassy in Brussels from 1992 to 1995. She held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs including Director (Human Resource), Director (International Economics) and Director (International Organisations) before serving as Singapore’s Ambassador to the Republic of Philippines from March 2003 to July 2008. Ms Lim’s most recent appointment was as Director (International Organisations) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from August 2008 to January 2012.

Ms Lim graduated with a Bachelor of Law Honours degree from the National University of Singapore in 1981.

Ms Lim was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2002 and the Long Service Medal in 2006.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
28 MARCH 2012

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY
Mr Chin Siat Yoon

Mr Chin Siat-Yoon, aged 62, was Singapore’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China from February 1998 to March 2012.  Before this, he served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand from September 1990 to December 1994, with concurrent accreditation to Myanmar and Cambodia. From January 1995 to July 1996, he was Singapore’s Trade Representative to Taiwan.  He served as Ambassador to Germany from August 1996 to December 1997.

A Colombo Plan Scholar, Mr Chin began his career in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as an army officer in 1972.  In his service with the SAF, he held numerous key appointments including that of the Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Logistics) and Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Intelligence).  In 1984, with the inception of the Joint Staff, Mr Chin became the first Director of the Joint Intelligence Directorate - an appointment he held until his departure for further studies at the Johns Hopkins University in the United States in August 1989.  He held the rank of Brigadier General.  Mr Chin was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 1990 and retired from the SAF in December 1995.  

Mr Chin has served on the Boards of Directors of various Statutory Boards and companies.

Mr Chin was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) (Military) in 1981, the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2000 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 2006.  In recognition of his role in promoting bilateral military relations between Singapore and Indonesia, Mr Chin was awarded the Bintang Yudha Dharma Pratama (“Star of Honour” – Second Class) by the Republic of Indonesia in 1989.

Mr Chin is married with three children.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY
Ms Lim Kheng Hua

Ms Lim graduated with a Bachelor of Law Honours degree from the National University of Singapore in 1981.

Ms Lim joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in July 1981. She served in the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 1984 to 1988 and in the Singapore Embassy in Brussels from 1992 to 1995. She held various positions in MFA HQ including Director (Human Resource), Director (International Economics) and Director (International Organisations) before her posting to Manila as Singapore Ambassador from March 2003 to July 2008. Ms Lim last served as Director (International Organisations) in MFA from August 2008 to January 2012.

Ms Lim was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2002 and the Long Service Medal in 2006.

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