HOCHSTADT, Herman Ronald
The Public Service,
Accession Number 003361
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 7
Total Reels
- Santanu Gupta
Interviewer
- 06:38:08
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 7
Metadata
- 23 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Born in Singapore in 1933. His parents and siblings. Life in Singapore during childhood in Katong area. Present location of siblings. Schooling in Singapore and memories of Principal, St. Andrew's Primary. Recollections of World War II, attendance at Japanese School. End of war. Entry into the Singapore Administrative Service. First posting to Ministry of Finance (Establishment) and encounters with senior civil servants. Anecdote about toilets. Posting to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as Secretary to the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. First encounter with Mr. Lee.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 7
Metadata
- 23 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*First encounter with Wong Chooi Sen, Secretary to Cabinet. Duties as Secretary to PM Lee Kuan Yew. Referundum on Malaysia and Singapore's entry into Malaysia. Constituency tours with PM Lee Kuan Yew and PM's temperament. Fish tank in PM's office. Comtemplated resignation and PM's intervention. Long hours in Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Tumultous days within Malaysia, Visits to Singapore by Malaysia's top leaders. PM Lee's frequent trips across the causeway. Separation from Malaysia in August 1965. Setting up of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Defence (Mindef). His secondment to MFA. Goodwill tour of Asian and African countries and his role in this trip. Exhausting two month tour led by Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye. Details on countries visited. Amusing anecdote about reception in New Delhi hosted by Indira Gandhi. Immediate posting to Ministry of Interior and Defence (MID) on return from trip. Initial posting to Home section of MID. Then appointed Director, Manpower. Introduction of compulsory National Service.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 7
Metadata
- 6 Nov 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*How Ministry of Defence (MID) went about building our armed forces. Recruitment drive. Problem with languages used in signages. Setting up of Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI). Anecdotes on Minister, MID Dr. Goh Keng Swee. Advent of Israeli advisors, their drive and attitude. Assistance from Egypt on naval matters. Resigned and joined Straits Times. Immediate recall by PM Lee KuanYew. Posting to MFA and duties there. Posting to Ministry of Finance (MOF) as Acting Deputy Secretary. Interesting letter about him from DPM Dr. Goh to PM Lee. Privatisation of Government Printing Office. Upgraded to Acting Permanent Secretary in 1972 and posted to Ministry of Communications.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 7
Metadata
- 6 Nov 2008
Recording Date
- 00:54:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Pressing issues in Ministry of Communications. Both domestic and international. Road transport, chaotic bus services, congestion etc., and how these were tackled. Feasibility study on train system and high-level opposition to it. Decision to proceed with train system. Measures to restrict vehicles into the city area. Possible expansion of Paya Lebar airport and decision to build new airport in Changi. Negotiations with Malaysia on various issues and personal cordiality with Malaysian counterparts. Posting to Ministry of Education (MOE) as its Permanent Secretary on 1 January 1976 and his personal feelings about this posting. Team of three Dy. Secretaries appointed to assist him in MOE.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 7
Metadata
- 27 Nov 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Views of Head, Civil Service on his posting to Ministry of Education (MOE). Difficulties encountered in MOE; political sensitivities. Pressing issues in MOE. Weekly visits to schools to gather ground sentiment. Obstacles from professionals when trying to make major changes. Need to win their trust and confidence. Vast differences between English and Chinese mediuum teachers. Felt frustrated after about three years in MOE. Advent to Systems Engineers into MOE and their report on MOE. Apprenhension in MOE on changes brought about by new Minister Dr. Goh and his team. Weekly meetings with Dr. Goh. Appointment of Dr. Tony Tan as Senior Minister of State. Posting to Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in 1980 as its Dy. Managing Director (Special Duties) and his work there. Posting of Dr. Goh to MAS. Restructuring of MAS.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 7
Metadata
- 27 Nov 2008
Recording Date
- 00:52:39
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Changes brought about by Dr. Goh in Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Handling of reserves and misgivings of Attorney-General. Major restructuring in MAS and sensational reporting by media. Return to Ministry of Finance( MOF) in 1981 as Permanent Secretary. Changes in the budgeting system over the years. Block budgeting. Major civil service salary revision in 1982. Reasons for it and how it was done. Coffee Club in MOF. Setting up of Public Service Division (PSD) in 1984 in MOF to handle all Civil Service HR matters. Asked to helm PSD but declined. Asked to concurrently take over as Permanent Secretary (Law) in addition to his duties as Permanent Secretary (Budget). Duties in Law. Assumed full-time as Permanent Secretary (Law) in 1987. Issues in the Ministry. In 1989, at age 56, opted to retire and reasons for doing so. Appointed to Presidential Council on Minority Rights as well as Non-Resident envoy to a few African countries. His views on Africa and interesting anecdotes about his visits there.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 7
Metadata
- 15 Dec 2008
Recording Date
- 00:56:38
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Continued on his appointment as envoy to African countries. Relinquished diplomatic posts in 2000 and what he had been doing since then. How he juggled his many roles. Appointment as Pro- Chancellor, Nanyang Technological University. How he keeps himself busy these days. Things that gave him great satisfaction in career and others that saddened him. Pivotal role of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew in moulding and shaping modern Singapore. His views on race relations here. Why emphasis had to be placed on scholastic achievements. His vision for Singapore.
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