WONG, John (Prof) 黄朝翰
The Public Service,
Accession Number 003413
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 3
Total Reels
- Jesley Chua Chee Huan
Interviewer
- 02:34:00
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 3
Metadata
- 30 Jul 2009
Recording Date
- 00:55:54
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:21) His personal background.
(0:01:55) He was invited by Dr Goh Keng Swee to join the Institute of East Asian Philosophies (IEAP).
(0:05:55) His educational background.
(0:07:29) Came to Singapore in 1970 from Hong Kong.
(0:09:28) Dr Goh invited a famous economist, Peter Bauer, to give a public lecture.
(0:14:36) How he arranged the public lecture in The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Conference Hall.
(0:16:56) His first impression of Dr Goh.
(0:18:08) His wife encouraged him to make a career switch.
(0:19:13) Advice from Prof Lim Pin about taking up the job in IEAP.
(0:25:57) Dr Goh’s width, depth of knowledge, and political acumen were illustrated in his study of the China tax system.
(0:29:46) His impression of Dr Goh’s secretary.
(0:35:18) Why he and his wife decided to stay in Asia.
(0:37:33) How he adapted to life in IEAP.
(0:40:05) His opinion was that there was no good scholar on modern China due to the Cold War.
(0:40:45) In the early days, many China scholars and dissidents came to Singapore including Premier Zhao Ziyang’s son and personal assistant.
(0:43:23) China scholars at the Institute of East Asian Political Economy (IEAPE) gave him many problems.
(0:43:38) Some of the scholars were selected by Dr Goh.
(0:46:06) How Eu Chooi Yip helped him to deal with the China scholars.
(0:47:04) China scholars used to complain to Dr Goh, and even to Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
(0:49:07) He learnt how to write cabinet briefs from Dr Goh.
(0:54:09) Dr Goh sometimes assigned research topics to him.
Dr Goh Keng Swee invited interviewee to join Institute of East Asian Philosophies (IEAP). Interviewee’s educational background. Came to Singapore in 1970 from HongKong. How he arranged a public lecture for Dr Goh Keng Swee in Singapore Conference Hall. His first impression of Dr Goh. Interviewee’s wife encouraged him to make a career switch. Advice from Prof Lim Pin about taking up the job in IEAP. Dr Goh’s width and depth of knowledge and political acumen was illustrated in his study of the China tax system. Comments on Dr Goh’s secretary.
Why interviewee and wife decided to stay in Asia. How interviewee adapted to life in IEAP. No China scholars during the Cold War. In the early days, many China scholars and dissidents came to Singapore including Premier Zhao Ziyang’s son and personal assistant. Institute of East Asian Political Economy (IEAPE) China scholars gave interviewee many problems. Some of the scholars were selected by Dr Goh. Eu Chooi Yip helped interviewee to deal with the China scholars. China scholars used to complain to Dr Goh. Interviewee learnt how to write cabinet brief from Dr Goh. Dr Goh sometimes select research topics for interviewee.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 3
Metadata
- 30 Jul 2009
Recording Date
- 00:56:53
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:15) Elaborated further on his experience working with Dr Goh.
(0:03:17) Illustration of Dr Goh’s intolerance for poor performance.
(0:09:47) Dr Goh will observe a person before forming an opinion.
(0:10:10) Names of Dr Goh’s favourites.
(0:13:41) He was motivated by Dr Goh’s conscientiousness.
(0:18:41) Incident where Dr Goh approved a report which was subsequently criticised by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
(0:19:58) Incident where they sent publications with missing pages to President SR Nathan.
(0:23:29) His working arrangement in the Institute of East Asian Political Economy (IEAPE) with Dr Goh.
(0:26:36) Dr Goh sourced funds for IEAPE to computerise.
(0:29:57) He provided an example of Dr Goh’s thriftiness.
(0:35:00) Dr Goh paid attention to the seating protocol.
(0:37:45) Dr Goh was very relaxed with China scholars.
(0:43:19) He thought that Dr Goh was a good scholar.
(0:45:34) Described his working relationship with Dr Goh.
(0:47:43) He learnt to be more practical in his academic approach.
(0:49:57) How Dr Goh influenced his perspective of things.
(0:52:29) Why Dr Goh seemed to have lost interest in China in his later years in IEAPE.
Dr Goh left interviewee on his own. Illustration of Dr Goh’s intolerance for poor performance. Dr Goh will observe a person before forming an opinion. Names of Dr Goh’s favorites. Interviewee was motivated by Dr Goh’s conscientiousness. Incident where Dr Goh approved a report which was subsequently criticized by MM Lee Kuan Yew. Incident where they sent publications with missing pages to President SR Nathan. Interviewee’s working arrangement in IEAPE with Dr Goh. Interviewee was free to have his views with Dr Goh. Dr Goh sourced funds for IEAPE to computerize. Example of Dr Goh’s thriftiness. Dr Goh paid attention to seating protocol. Dr Goh was very relaxed with China scholars. Dr Goh’s command of the language. Interviewee felt that Dr Goh was a good scholar. Dr Goh was able to see issues from various perspectives. Interviewee learnt to be more practical in his academic approach. How Dr Goh influenced interviewee’s perspective of things. Why Dr Goh lost his interest in China in his later years in IEAPE.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 3
Metadata
- 30 Jul 2009
Recording Date
- 00:41:13
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:02:02) Lee Kuan Yew shared the same view as Dr Goh about China.
(0:06:17) He mentioned Dr Goh’s reading habit.
(0:10:44) He felt that joining the Institute of East Asian Political Economy (IEAPE) was his turning point in life.
(0:13:02) Circumstances under which IEAPE came under the National University of Singapore (NUS).
(0:15:16) Reason why he said Eu Chooi Yip died an unhappy man.
(0:18:02) Dr Goh and Eu Chooi Yip were good friends.
(0:19:09) His impression of Eu Chooi Yip.
(0:19:54) Eu used to translate for the China scholars.
(0:21:27) Recounted an occasion when he saw Dr Goh and Eu quarrelled.
(0:25:23) Elaborated on his working relationship with Dr Goh.
(0:28:00) Dr Goh liked classical music.
(0:30:12) Dr Goh learnt and was able to read Chinese in his later years.
(0:31:16) Dr Goh not only read documents and reports but also read important books.
(0:31:30) Dr Goh’s interest in nature.
(0:35:00) The approach adopted by the institution was due to Dr Goh’s legacy of maintaining a neutral stand towards China.
(0:37:35) Dr Goh influenced him in some way in terms of scholarship.
(0:40:55) Dr Goh’s health declined slightly towards his last few years at the Institute.
Interviewee shared the same view as Dr Goh about China. Dr Goh used to send interesting articles for staff to read. Interviewee felt that joining IEAPE was his turning point in life. Circumstances under which IEAPE came under National University of Singapore ( NUS). Why interviewee said Eu Chooi Yip died an unhappy man. Dr Goh and Eu Chooi Yip were good friends. Eu was mild and easy going. Eu used to translate for the China scholars. Interviewee saw Dr Goh and Eu quarreled. Interviewee’s working relationship with Dr Goh. Dr Goh likes classical music. Dr Goh learnt and was able to read Chinese in his later years. Dr Goh’s interest in nature. EAI (East Asia Institute) is a leading institution on China due to Dr Goh’s legacy of maintaining a neutral stand towards China.
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