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of dress: Jil Sa nder a pore; Wool egis S ing t R egis a S uite, tion: Astori oc a HerChan Heng Chee, recipientOwn of this year’s Tatler Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement, tells Hong Xinyi how her worldviews have evolved after 16 years in the us teve T hio; Ha ir & m a ke-up: K enneth L ee;

Photography: Lionel Lai/Acepix & styling: S direction Art and not establishment views, so I was surprised by the ambassadorship offer. But let’s be clear: I “When we think of the term ‘ bridge’ have never been a rabid anti-government person in Asia, for me, the model of this iplomat, academic, humanitarian, – there is a difference. And I’m a political scientist; one of my colleagues said to me then, “You need to bridge is ambassador Chan. More role model. Chan Heng Chee has have to have your head examined if you turn this down.” It was a chance to see theory in action, a than anyone I’ve worked with over worn many hats and is no stranger very exciting opportunity. to accolades and high-profile awards. ST: Have your political views changed over the years? the course of the past 20 years, she’s chc: Over time, I have become more centrist. But this glittering career was not When you start writing in your 20s, you’ve only been the person I’ve turned to for read so much and seen the world so much. Then advice on how to be more effective in our diplomacy, something she envisioned as a girl; she history unfolds – there are global developments, once dreamed of being an air stewardess, new theories, and you observe. There’s nothing how to be softer in some of our engagement with wrong with that. John Maynard Keynes once said: a social worker, and even a librarian. “If the facts change, I change my conclusions.” I Asian friends and how to build those ties that are know so much now that I didn’t before, and I am more humbled by that. so essential.” ST: Did being in the US during 9/11 inform your views Kurt Campbell, US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, Before embarking on a career in foreign about the balance between civil liberties and security? who presented Chan with the Asia Society’s inaugural Diplomatic Achievement relations – with a stint from 1989 to 1991 CHC: I didn’t need 9/11; I come from a world that Award in June 2012 as Singapore’s representative to the United is very different. I saw Southeast Asia go through Nations (un), while concurrently serving as many changes, like the Vietnam War and the high commissioner to Canada and ambassador post-Sukarno era. These things inform your own to Mexico – Chan headed the Department of theories about social change. Governments must Political Science at the National University of be accountable, transparent, non-corrupt, and Singapore, and was the founding director of the work for the welfare of the people. They must be Institute of Policy Studies in the 1980s. From 1991 democratic in spirit. As for the particular forms, to 1996, she served as executive director of the I am open. Singapore International Foundation and director ST: Is it difficult to put these views across in a are in conflict. No country wants to choose of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. culture where civil liberties can be viewed as between them, and I believe the US has gotten The first female ambassador to the US from very important? that message. an East Asian country, Chan’s 16-year tenure also chc: When speaking with the Americans about made her Singapore’s longest-serving ambassador Ca mp b ell: US E m ba ssy N e w D elhi urt these issues, they cannot deny that Singapore Signature Style to a single country. In her years in Washington has been a success – the population is educated, ST: In DC, you were known for hosting lively dinner dc, she played a key role in landmark bilateral housed and has good healthcare. The people here parties. What are the signatures of a Chan Heng

initiatives such as the 2003 Free Trade Agreement of K ; P hoto have jobs and a future. Whether you see processes Chee dinner party? and the 2005 Strategic Framework Agreement. as important just in themselves or not, outcomes chc: I pull together an interesting group, about Her departure from her post in July this year was are important. 18 to 20 people, and we will have an interesting marked by two months of farewell parties and ST: How do you see bilateral ties between the US and conversation about current issues. I was used numerous awards, including the inaugural Foreign DC a shington Singapore evolving as China becomes increasingly to running seminars as a professor, so this came Policy Outstanding Diplomatic Achievement dominant in Asia? naturally to me. Some ambassadors have tried

Award and the United States Navy Distinguished a pore, W chc: All the countries in this region are trying the same thing, and they don’t quite manage it Public Service Award. of us Singaporeans studying abroad at the time felt diplomatic to manage this pull. Singapore wants good because they don’t have the same background. I Now back in Singapore as ambassador-at-large that we had to go home – we had to help to build pioneer relationships with both, and I believe our manage the conversation, get everybody talking with the Foreign Ministry, among other new roles, this nation. Even before that, I knew I wanted to Then incoming diplomacy is good enough to achieve that. It and, mind you, I’m watching the waiters at the the 70-year-old says she has no plans on retiring do something in the public sector. It was the way ambassador doesn’t benefit anyone if the two great powers same time, making sure everything goes smoothly. Chan presenting just yet. “I’m fit. I don’t feel my age. Haven’t I was brought up. As a student in Katong Convent her credentials to Getting the right mix of people is the secret, and you heard that the 60s of today are the 40s of and Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, the financial then-president that’s an art. You have to have a taste for people. But yesterday, and the 50s are the 30s?” sector was not what we talked about. Clinton in 1996 all my guests wouldn’t be at the table if they didn’t Singapore Tatler poses 16 questions to the ST: You’ve described yourself as “anti-establishment” “She was a giant in the diplomatic know their stuff. And it relates back to my work in indefatigable Chan, on where the past 16 years and said that the ambassadorship offer “came as more ways than you know. It’s very important, but have taken her and what lies ahead. something of a shock”. Why did you accept it? community who spent her long service I’m not going to give away trade secrets. chc: Cornell was a liberal college, and I was there st: You were the first woman fromE ast Asia to be Singapore Tatler: “I belong to the lucky generation; during the Vietnam War era, when there was to Singapore building bridges between permanent representative at the UN and ambassador we had purpose and mission thrust upon us.” How a lot of questioning of authority. The thinking Singapore and the US and the rest to the US. How do you feel about being a pioneer? would you describe this mission? was often quite radical and progressive. I wasn’t chc: Once you have been first in something, it chan heng chee: I left Singapore to pursue graduate comfortable with some of it, and I remember of the world. She will be a model for tends to keep happening because you are ahead studies at on August 10, 1965, arguing with friends and professors that they of the game. I was also one of the first women in just one day after Singapore separated from were maybe a bit unfair and getting too carried ambassadors from all across the globe the political science honours class at the then- Malaysia. Throughout the course of my studies, I away. I tend to be quite centred, but I did come University of Singapore. stayed in touch with what was going on back home; back from my studies more left of centre. As an and will be missed in Washington.” Every woman ambassador has been asked I wrote my thesis on the politics of survival. Most academic, I had written pieces that were critical American “superlobbyist” Tony Podesta about this. I look forward to the day when it is no linton a nd C h n H eng hee: E m ba ssy of the R epu b lic S ing of Bill C linton P hoto

hong kong tatler 4 june 2007 hong kong tatler 5 june 2007 brought this out more. There was a recent Wall Street Journal article about how people lose restraint when they enter into anonymity. There are also such strong sentiments against foreigners working in Singapore now, and that sharpens “Ambassador Chan regaled us with ethnic differences. This is not good for Singapore. stories of her time in Katong Convent We are a city-state without a hinterland. To survive and prosper, we must be linked to the more than 50 years ago, where she world. We cannot afford to be anti-foreign. learned to speak with proper diction The Hats We Wear “But each of us has and longed for heavy rain so classes st: How do you feel about your new role as executive chairman of the Centre for Innovative to have a purpose would be cancelled. She told us she Cities at Singapore University of Technology and Design? larger than ourselves, loved Gangnam Style and had missed Singapore chc: I’m very excited. Cities have become the buzzword for analysis. In 2050, more than 70 per so that life is fuller” – her home and her friends. She was just like one cent of the world will be urbanised, and much of this is happening in Asia. Technology and design of us after all and I think the young girls aged from are new fields for me, and I am learning a new eight to 16 in the audience could feel and see it, too.” language. That’s wonderful, to be delving into something new at my age. Trina Liang-Lin, president of UN Women National Committee Singapore and a st: Female politicians are making strides in Asia. co‑speaker at the CHIJ 350th anniversary forum in September. Chan is an advisor How do you think the presence of more women will on the UN Women’s Board of Trustees affect the way diplomacy is conducted? chc: It is said that women compromise better than men. But in the end, when you are negotiating, it is national interests that shape diplomacy. Women can have better skills in terms of working with people, but some men are very good, too; they can be gifted diplomats. longer remarkable, and the question will no longer st: Is it important for you to mentor younger women? be asked. And that day is coming, soon. Just as it is chc: As a professor, I mentored students a lot. As said that one day young boys will ask their parents: for my colleagues in the Foreign Ministry, I don’t can a man can be a Secretary of State? Because know if you would call it mentoring, because I we’ve now seen Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza don’t want to impose. But I do stay in touch with Rice and Hillary Clinton in this post. many of them, which is good for me. It’s nice to I do think my career has helped to pave the way have young friends. for women in the diplomatic service. I showed that st: What advice do you give your female colleagues it is possible. So it is important to do a good job if who are struggling with work-life balance? you are the first in something, because it affects chc: Men, too, now have that feeling. But women the people who come after you. can come under more stress when it comes to this. st: Do you think your appointment helped the US to It is hard. When you are trying to balance family see Singapore as a more progressive country? with career, often something’s got to give. I think chc: It probably did, but Singapore has a good it is far harder to find happiness in a relationship reputation anyway. Singaporeans don’t understand or marriage than a good spot for your career. For the high regard Singapore is held in in the US, the careers, opportunities abound. But it is not as easy un and Europe. People here are in a mood now to find someone to share your life with. of pulling everything down and criticising. That ST: What are some of the changes you’ve noticed here? is sad. Americans have said to me: Singapore is chc: I’ve noticed how articulate people have the country that always has the right solution; become. They speak up, and they are quite smart. it is a nation of competent people. Many of us There is a sense of self-confidence. Just yesterday, take that for granted, because there is no basis of I saw a young girl standing in Holland Village comparison. Those who have worked and lived holding a sign that said: “It’s my birthday, hug me.” overseas will return knowing that things here are ST: What do you think younger Singaporeans now n N oten a nts: D ries Va actually better than you think. believe their mission to be? st: As a member of the Presidential Council for chc: We live in an age of self-actualisation, and Minority Rights, what are your thoughts on recent young people want to develop their full potential.

cases of ethnic tensions here? They may not yet be aware that they have a big Ma rni; p cket: chc: The council has a very specific function – role to play in building the nation. But each of us to look at legislation from the point of view of has to have a purpose larger than ourselves, so whether it discriminates against any minority. that life is fuller. That realisation always happens ool fitted ja

As for ethnic tensions, I think social media has sooner or later. w

hong kong tatler 6 june 2007 hong kong tatler 7 june 2007