HOCHSTADT, Herman Ronald
The Public Service,
Accession Number 001396
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 6
Total Reels
- Daniel Chew (Dr)
Interviewer
- 02:55:02
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 6
Metadata
- 7 Jan 1993
Recording Date
- 00:31:05
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:02:06) He studied at the University of Malaya and then joined the Administrative Service in November 1959.
(0:02:18) Worked at the Establishment Division of the Finance Ministry, essentially looking after service matters for the whole of the civil service and appointments, promotions, and recruitment.
(0:04:50) Became Secretary to the Prime Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
(0:07:34) Relationship between the colonial officers who were departing and the local admin officers.
(0:10:07) The feelings among civil servants when the People's Action Party (PAP) first came into power.
(0:14:46) Role of the Political Study Centre, which was set up during the People's Action Party (PAP) era.
(0:16:24) Changes in the attitudes of civil servants during the transitional period.
(0:21:00) How he helped set up Referendum machinery and organised work brigades.
(0:24:54) Impressions of Dr Goh Keng Swee.
(0:28:57) Organisation of constituency tours where he worked closely with the police department and other agencies.
Joined Administrative Service in November 1959. Work at Establishment Division of Finance Ministry. Became Secretary to Prime Minister in Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Role of Political Studies Centre. How he helped set up Referendum machinery and organised work brigades. Organisation of constituency tours.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 6
Metadata
- 7 Jan 1993
Recording Date
- 00:31:14
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:01:21) Following racial riots in 1964, arranged for Members of Parliament (MPs) to visit constituencies.
(0:03:36) Petitions received during the Prime Minister's constituency visits had to be processed by him.
(0:08:11) His impression of Prime Minister Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.
(0:15:45) The security perception of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) during the outbreak of racial riots.
(0:19:56) Arranged press conference to announce Singapore's separation from Malaysia.
(0:24:54) Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but still attached to the Prime Minister's office.
(0:25:26) Joined the Singapore delegation's visit to the United Nations and tour of African countries.
Following racial riots in 1964, arranged for MPs to visit constituencies. Petitions received during Prime Minister's constituency visits. On morning of 9 August 1965, asked to report to Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Arranged press conference. Joined Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Joined Singapore delegation's visit to United Nations and tour of African countries.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 6
Metadata
- 26 Jan 1993
Recording Date
- 00:30:42
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:02:20) Appointment as the Director of Manpower, Ministry of Interior and Defence.
(0:02:53) Building up of the armed forces and oversaw the development of the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute.
(0:04:43) Worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) from 1967 to 1968.
(0:05:12) Worked in the Ministry of Finance (MOF) from 1969 to 1972.
(0:06:27) Posted to the Ministry of Communications as the Acting Permanent Secretary.
(0:11:47) Description of his work in MFA, mainly focused on administration, particularly during the establishment of new missions worldwide.
(0:15:28) Description of his work in MOF included establishing policies related to wage supplements, negotiating with trade unions, and formulating budget plans.
(0:23:32) The condition of traffic congestion and the introduction of a central business district scheme for vehicles.
(0:26:22) Challenges faced by the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore.
Appointment as Director of Manpower, Ministry of Interior and Defence. Building up of armed forces. Worked in Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) from 1967 to 1968; in Ministry of Finance from 1969 to 1972. Description of Communications portfolio. Merger of bus companies. Introduction of central business district scheme for vehicles. Building of Changi airport. Telecommunications services and problems.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 6
Metadata
- 26 Jan 1993
Recording Date
- 00:31:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:01:07) Cabinet memorandums for submitting new policies, seeking cabinet directives on existing activities, and initiating changes to existing legislation or activities.
(0:04:27) Visionary policies, such as those concerning Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), airports, and telecommunications.
(0:06:18) Elaboration on bus services and problems faced by the bus companies.
(0:10:22) How the issue of pirate taxi problem was dealt with.
(0:16:41) How the idea of moving the Paya Lebar Airport to Changi came about and was carried out.
(0:23:37) Expansion of Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) services.
Types of Cabinet memorandums. Kinds of policies. Piecemeal policies such as those dealing with bus services. Visionary policies like those concerned with Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), airport and telecommunications. Elaboration on bus services and building of Changi airport. Expansion of Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) services. Permanent Secretaries' meetings.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 6
Metadata
- 3 Feb 1993
Recording Date
- 00:31:03
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:31) Posted to the Ministry of Education (MOE) in January 1976.
(0:05:13) Division of responsibility between professional and administrative sections.
(0:07:07) Closing down of vernacular schools as pupils preferred to go to the English stream where they could study English.
(0:12:44) Revamp of Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB) to emphasise on vocational and industrial training policies.
(0:16:45) The rationale behind a series of visits to schools.
(0:22:49) Posted to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as Deputy Managing Director in May 1980 and then to the Ministry of Finance in 1981.
Posted to Ministry of Education (MOE) in January 1976. Division of responsibility between professional and administrative sections. Closing down of vernacular schools. Revamp of Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB). Vocational training. Visits to schools. Posted to Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as Deputy Managing Director in May 1980; to Ministry of Finance in 1981. Programme budgeting.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 6
Metadata
- 3 Feb 1993
Recording Date
- 00:19:47
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:02:48) Introduction of a fully computerised system of budgeting.
(0:03:36) Corporate planning techniques and changes in budgeting processes to a top-down approach.
(0:07:21) Permanent Secretaries' relationship with Ministers.
(0:13:09) On the board of Malayan-Singapore Airways, later Singapore Airlines, to keep watching brief for the Government.
(0:15:37) Became the chairman of the Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC).
Computerised system of budgeting. Corporate planning. Budgeting now top-down approach, whereas before, bottom-up. Annual budget reviews. Permanent Secretaries' relationship with Ministers. Was in Neptune Orient Line, Malayan-Singapore Airways, later Singapore Airlines, to keep watching brief for Government.
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