Benedict Hon Sui Sen (16 April 1916 – 14 October 1983) was a Singaporean politician who served as Minister for Finance between 1970 and 1983. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Havelock Constituency between 1970 and 1983.
Early life
Hon Sui Sen was born into a Hakka Chinese family on 16 April 1916 in Penang in the British Straits Settlements. Educated at Saint Xavier's Institution, he earned the top place in the 1932 Senior Cambridge Certificate Examination. In 1935, he commenced studies at Raffles College in Singapore and graduated in 1938 with a Class I Diploma in Science. During his time with DBS, Hon was a supporter of the establishment of the Asian dollar market and thus played a key role in the development of Singapore's financial services industry.
Political career
In 1970, Hon succeeded Goh Keng Swee as Minister of Finance and served in that capacity for 13 years until 1983. In a letter by his daughter Joan many years after Hon's passing, Joan wrote that Hon was drawing a salary of $10,000 per month at DBS before he became a Minister, a job that paid him $3,000 instead; by 1983 when he died, Hon received $14,000 in total per month.
In 1982, Hon was named the Economic Minister of the Year by Euromoney.
As Singapore's Finance Minister, Hon established the Bases Economic Conversion Department to oversee the conversion and commercialisation of lands and facilities that had been left behind by the British military following their withdrawal in 1968. Hon also played a major role in the development of Singapore's tourism industry, beginning with the transformation of Pulau Blakang Mati, a previously fortified island off the southern coast of Singapore, into a resort destination under the new appellation of Sentosa Island.
Awards
Hon was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1967, and the Order of Temasek in 1984.
Legacy
The National University of Singapore's Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library and Hon Sui Sen Drive in the campus are named after him. His office is also preserved within the library, while some of his legacy artefacts have been donated by family and put on showcase at the National Museum of Singapore as of December 2015.
Bilbography
Personal life
Hon was married to Annie and had four daughters, among whom include writer Joan Hon.
Hon died of a heart attack on 14 October 1983 while still in office as Finance Minister.