Electronic Precinct - August 1998

Honorary degree for President of Singapore

In 1967, Ong Teng Cheong graduated from the University of Liverpool with the degree of Master of Civic Design. In July, he returned as President of Singapore to receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.

At Mr Ong's request, he and Mrs Ong visited his old department. There he was welcomed by Dr Peter Brown, Dr Richard Kirby and Emeritus Professor Alan Proudlove, who had supervised his dissertation on bus transportation and residential density. Mr Ong signed the copy of the dissertation, which is held in the Civic Design library.

The Public Orator, Professor John Tarn, told the degree congregation the story of a child who grew up in a country occupied by the Japanese and whose family saved enough to send him to Australia to train as an architect. The architect went on to become a planner who, in 1972, entered Parliament an d began a political career which led, in 1993, to his election as President,.

'Today, we welcome back to Liverpool, with great pride, one of our own graduates, and we honour a man who has risen from the professional ranks to the highest office of state,' said Professor Tarn.