Former CJ Chan honoured by S'pore Academy of Law

SINGAPORE - Former chief justice Chan Sek Keong joined an elite group yesterday when he was honoured by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL).

The 75-year-old, who retired last November after a legal career lasting more than 50 years, was made an "Honorary Member for Life and Fellow for Life".

He is only the sixth person to receive the title, which is bestowed on distinguished SAL members for outstanding contributions to the legal and judicial system and to the stature of the legal profession here.

The other five to receive it were former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1990, former chief justice Wee Chong Jin and Singapore's first chief minister David Marshall in 1991, former chief justice Yong Pung How in 2007 and former law minister S. Jayakumar in 2008.

The latter two were among more than 250 guests at a ceremony at the St Regis hotel on Friday night.

Mr Chan was lauded for achievements including those made during 25 years of private practice and as attorney-general between 1992 and 2006.

But it was his six years as chief justice that probably had the "greatest impact" on the legal system here, said current Attorney-General Steven Chong.

"The Supreme Court flourished under Chief Justice Chan's leadership and its jurisprudence has taken on a distinctly Singaporean character."

He noted the former chief justice's "exemplary judicial temperament" and authorship of more than 380 judgments in just over 12 years - many of them seminal.

Mr Chan said he was "fortunate and privileged" to have held his various offices of state. He then presented the academy with a rare copy of a book it published in 1991 - a collection of conference papers delivered in 1990.

As chief justice, Mr Chan also led Singapore to victory at the International Court of Justice in the Pedra Branca dispute, where The Hague court ruled in 2008 that the territory belonged to Singapore.

He was among the National University of Singapore's pioneer batch of law graduates in 1961 when it was the University of Malaya. He went on to practise as a litigation lawyer, conveyancer, solicitor and corporate lawyer before being appointed Singapore's first judicial commissioner in 1986 and becoming a Supreme Court judge two years later.

He was also credited with transforming the modest and relatively small Attorney-General's Chambers into a large and modern organisation equipped to handle a range of complex legal issues during his 14-year stint as attorney-general.

Nine members of the legal fraternity were also presented with awards at yesterday's event, which marked the academy's 25th anniversary.

pohian@sph.com.sg

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