Honorary Citizen of Singapore explained

The Honorary Citizen Award is the highest national honour conferred by the Government of Singapore to foreigners since 2003, to recognise and acknowledge the contributions of foreigners who have contributed extensively and significantly to Singapore and its people.[1]

Description

The Honorary Citizen Award was first introduced in 2003, it is the highest national honour for foreigners.[2] The title Honorary Citizen is conferred for life.

Other existing national awards for foreigners includes the Public Service Star (Distinguished Friends of Singapore) award and the Public Service Medal (Friends of Singapore) award.

The award does not equate to citizenship. Therefore, atypical rights and duties of Singapore citizens, such as voting rights and the requirement to fulfil National Service (NS), do not apply to Honorary Citizens. Additionally, grants and subsidies which Singaporeans are entitled to are not made available to the recipients.

The privileges for the award recipients include the right to live and work in Singapore for themselves as well as their immediate dependent family members and to purchase property if they decide to stay in Singapore.[3] [4]

Administered by Ministry of Manpower, a selection committee panel made up of high-level government officials would receive nominations of foreigners who have rendered extensive and valuable services to Singapore and its people, or who have made a significant impact in the areas of business, science and technology, information communications, education, health, arts and culture, sports, tourism, community services or security. The final selections are then endorsed by the Cabinet of Singapore. Recipients are conferred the Award in the following year of their nomination. The Awards are presented at a formal ceremony by the President of Singapore at the Istana.[5]

, there are 21 recipients being conferred with the title.

Honourees

List of recipients[6] !Year of conferment!Recipient !Nationality!Recognition!Additional Ref.
2003Dr. Sydney BrennerScientific Advisor to Ministers / Senior Fellow, A*STARUnited Kingdomcontributions in establishing Singapore as a biomedical hub[7] [8]
Mr Pasquale PistorioPresident & Chief Executive, STMicroelectronicsItalycontributions in establishing Singapore as a microelectronics hub
2004Sir Richard B. SykesChairman, GlaxoSmith Kline PLC (2000-2002)United Kingdomcontributions to the development of Singapore as an international biomedical sciences hub[9]
Mr Lodewijk Christiaan van WachemChairman of the supervisory board of the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company (Shell) (1992-2002)Netherlandscontributions in positioning Singapore as a compelling global hub for business and investment
2005Dr Tsutomu KanaiChairman Emeritus of Hitachi, Ltd.Japancontributions to the development of Singapore[10] [11]
Dr Robert A. BrownPresident of Boston UniversityUnited Statescontributions to the Singapore Government
2006Mr Lee RaymondFormer Chairman and CEO, ExxonMobil CorporationUnited Statescontributions to the development of Singapore economy[12]
Dr Heinrich von PiererFormer Chairman of the supervisory board, Siemens AGGermany
2008Sir Ratan TataChairman of Tata SonsIndiacontribution to the growth of high-tech sectors in Singapore[13] [14]
Tan Sri Frank Tsao Wen-KingSenior Chairman of IMC GroupMalaysiapivotal role in shaping the growth of the maritime industry and in promoting maritime education and research[15]
2010Mr Jeroen van der VeerFormer CEO of Royal Dutch ShellNetherlandscontributions to Singapore economy through Shell[16]
2011Professor Edward HolmesExecutive Chairman of the National Medical Research Council, MOHUnited Statesleadership in building up translational and clinical research infrastructure in Singapore[17]
2012Lord Ronald OxburghCo-chairman of A*STAR's Science & Technology Advisory Committee (STAC)United Kingdomcontributions to Singapore's higher education, science and technology landscape as well as energy policy since 1997[18]
2014Mr Hiromasa YonekuraChairman, Sumitomo ChemicalJapancontributions to the growth of the chemicals industry[19]
2015Professor Sir George RaddaChairman, Biomedical Research Council, A*STAR (2009–2017)United Kingdomcontributions to biomedical sciences industry[20]
Dr Joan Bray RoseChairperson, PUB External Audit PanelUnited Statescontributions towards establishing NEWater as a supplementary water source[21]
2016Dr Tadataka YamadaVenture Partner, Frazier Healthcare PartnersUnited Statescontributions to biomedical sciences industry[22]
2017Emeritus Professor Ulrich Werner SuterAdvisor, National Research Foundation (2012 – Present)Switzerlandcontributions to developing Singapore into a vibrant and well-known research and development hub[23]
2018Sir Andrew Philip Wittyformer chief executive officer of GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK)United Kingdomcontributions to Singapore's economic development, and the growth of biomedical sciences industry[24]
2019Sir John O'ReillyChairman of the Science and Engineering Research Council at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star)United Kingdomcontributions to engineering research and development[25]
Professor Victor DzauPresident of the US-based National Academy of MedicineUnited Statescontributions to postgraduate medical education

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parliamentary reply by SM Teo Chee Hean on creating honorary citizenship for those who have invested in Singapore and created quality jobs for Singaporeans. www.strategygroup.gov.sg. en. 2020-02-22.
  2. Web site: Singapore honours contributions of top global talent with inaugural Honorary Citizen award. 22 October 2003. A*STAR. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200222055017/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3A18Ubnt2KVesJ%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.a-star.edu.sg%2FNews-and-Events%2FNews%2FPress-Releases%2FID%2F302+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=sg. 22 February 2020. 22 February 2020.
  3. News: Shing Huei. Peh. Two global talents to get Honorary Citizen Award; they will be honoured for contributions to S'pore's R&D and electronics sectors. 2005-12-29. Straits Times. Singapore.
  4. Web site: Honorary Citizen Award (Singapore). Wellcome Library. en. 2020-02-22.
  5. News: Nirmala. M.. Honorary citizenship for two who fueled S'pore's growth; Dutch and Briton to get highest-level govt award for petrochemical and biomedical efforts respectively. 2004-10-05. Straits Times. Singapore.
  6. Web site: Annex A - About the Honorary Citizen Award.
  7. Web site: Singapore honours contributions of Dr Sydney Brenner and Mr Pasquale Pistorio with inaugural Honorary Citizen award. https://web.archive.org/web/20071216090259/http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/press_room/press_releases/2003/20031022-SingaporeHonoursContributionsOfTopGlobalTalentWithInauguralHonoraryCitizenAward.html. dead. 16 December 2007.
  8. Web site: Singapore honours contributions from top global talent with prestigious Honorary Citizen Award. 4 October 2004.
  9. Web site: Singapore honours contributions from LSir Richard B Sykes and C van Wachem with prestigious Honorary Citizen Award. https://web.archive.org/web/20071020145952/http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/press_room/press_releases/2004/20041004-SingaporeHonoursContributionsFromTopGlobalTalent.html. dead. 20 October 2007.
  10. Web site: SINGAPORE CONFERS PRESTIGIOUS HONORARY CITIZEN AWARD ON DR TSUTOMU KANAI AND DR ROBERT A BROWN. 28 December 2005.
  11. Web site: Singapore Confers Prestigious Honorary Citizen Award on Dr Tsutomu Kanai and Dr Robert A Brown. https://web.archive.org/web/20070428012204/http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/press_room/press_releases/2005/20051228_SingaporeconfersprestigiousHonoraryCitizenAward.html. dead. 28 April 2007.
  12. Web site: Singapore Confers Prestigious Honorary Citizen Award on Mr Lee R. Raymond and Dr Heinrich Von Pierer. https://web.archive.org/web/20071102061335/http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/press_room/press_releases/2007/20070301-Singapore_Confers_Prestigious_Honorary_Citizen_Award.html. dead. 2 November 2007.
  13. Web site: Singapore Confers Prestigious Honorary Citizen Award on Mr Ratan N. Tata and Tan Sri Frank Tsao. https://web.archive.org/web/20080915014313/http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/press_room/press_releases/2008/20080829-HCA.html. dead. 15 September 2008.
  14. Web site: Singapore confers honorary citizenship on Ratan Tata. 29 August 2008. India Today. en. 2020-02-22.
  15. Web site: SINGAPORE CONFERS PRESTIGIOUS HONORARY CITIZEN AWARD ON MR RATAN N. TATA AND TAN SRI FRANK TSAO. 29 August 2008.
  16. Web site: Retired chief executive of Shell receives Honorary Citizen Award. Shafawi. Mustafa. 25 February 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100227022714/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1039832/1/.html. 27 February 2010.
  17. Web site: US researcher is Honorary Citizen. www.asiaone.com. 2020-02-22.
  18. Web site: Lord Ronald Oxburgh Conferred Prestigious Honorary Citizen Award. 2 October 2012. Ministry of Manpower Singapore. en. 2020-02-22.
  19. Web site: National Day awards presented to six who have made significant contributions to S'pore. Chia. Yan Min. 2014-02-14. The Straits Times. en. 2020-02-22.
  20. Web site: Two foreigners made Honorary Citizens of S'pore. Khew. Carolyn. 2015-10-22. The Straits Times. en. 2020-02-22.
  21. Web site: SINGAPORE CONFERS PRESTIGIOUS HONORARY CITIZEN AWARD ON PROFESSOR SIR GEORGE RADDA AND DR JOAN B. ROSE. 21 October 2015.
  22. Web site: Tadataka Yamada Made Honorary Citizen of Singapore. 15 November 2016.
  23. Web site: Swiss materials science expert made honorary citizen for contributions to Singapore R&D. hermesauto. 2017-08-14. The Straits Times. en. 2020-02-22.
  24. Web site: Singapore Confers Honorary Citizen Award on Sir Andrew Witty. 26 June 2018.
  25. Web site: Doctor, A*Star engineer named honorary citizens. Begum. Shabana. 2019-04-27. The Straits Times. en. 2020-02-21.

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