Sir Julius Chan (, 29 August 1939 – 30 January 2025) was a Papua New Guinean politician who served as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997. He was Member of Parliament for New Ireland Province, having won the seat in the 2007 national election. He was also the Governor of New Ireland Province from 2007 until his death in 2025. On 26 May 2019, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill announced he would soon resign and that he wished for Sir Julius to succeed him. An outgoing Prime Minister does not, however, have the power to appoint his successor, and the following day O'Neill delayed his own formal resignation. He was also a leading figure in his country during the years-long Bougainville conflict.
Early life
Chan was born as the fifth child out of seven children on the Tanga Islands in the Territory of New Guinea, in what is now New Ireland Province, the son of Chan Pak (陳柏), a trader from Taishan, China, and Miriam Tinkoris, a native New Irelander. In addition to English, he spoke Cantonese, Tok Pisin, and Sursurunga.
Early political career
Chan first became actively involved in politics in the 1960s. He was elected to represent the Namatanai district of New Ireland province in the pre-independence House of Assembly in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987 and 1992. He was Deputy Prime Minister four times (1976, 1985, 1986, 1992–1994), and Minister of Finance three times (1972–1977, 1985–1986 and 1992–1994). He also held the portfolios of Primary Industry (1977–78) and External Affairs and Trade (1994). Chan became leader of the People's Progress Party in 1970. He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1981, and appointed a Privy Counsellor the next year.
Prime minister
Chan first became prime minister on 11 March 1980, succeeding the country's first prime minister, Michael Somare, after he launched a no-confidence motion against him over a disagreement on whether to increase the salaries of MPs and require them to divest from their business interests.
He succeeded Prime Minister Paias Wingti in August 1994 and took office on the dual platform of national security and appropriate economic management. In 1997, the Chan government's multimillion-dollar contract with Sandline International, a mercenary organization, to counter separatist guerrilla warfare on Bougainville caused the Sandline affair, He was also criticised for his decision to float the kina in 1994, citing a balance of payments crisis. During the "horse trading" phase of negotiations following the 2007 general election, Chan was nominated for the position of prime minister, with the backing of Mekere Morauta and Bart Philemon, as an alternative to the large National Alliance grouping which appeared likely to again be led by Somare. Parliamentary Speaker Jeffrey Nape rejected Chan's nomination as a candidate and Somare won the vote to become Prime Minister without opposition on 13 August, while 21 members of Parliament joined Chan's opposition group. Chan was briefly Leader of the Opposition, but gave up the position to Mekere Morauta in August 2007. That same month, he became governor of New Ireland Province, during which he established a pension system and promoted the usage of the MaiMai, New Ireland's Chieftain System as a recognised decision-making body in provincial politics. and had four children: Vanessa Andrea, Byron James, Mark Gavin, and Toea Julius. His son Byron Chan was Member of Parliament for Namatanai Open electorate, covering the south of New Ireland from 2002 until 2017. Among his nephews was MP Walter Schnaubelt.
Chan died in Huris, New Ireland Province on 30 January 2025, at the age of 85. The Papua New Guinean government declared a one-week period of national mourning over his death and granted Chan, whose remains were transported to Port Moresby, a state funeral on 2 February. His remains were then returned to New Ireland, where he was buried on 6 February.
Honours
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- Highest denominator K100 Banknote featured Late Sir Julius Chan's Portrait launched on 27 January 2026.
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- 60px Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL)
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- 60px Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
- 60px Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)