Lee Hsien Loong

Prime Minister of Singapore

10 February 1952 Colony of Singapore

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Incumbent

3rd Prime Minister of Singapore In this Chinese name, the family name is Lee (李 ) and Hsien (显) is a generation name. His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong李显龙 Lee Hsien Loong at The Pentagon in 20163rd Prime Minister of SingaporeIncumbentAssumed office 12 August 2004PresidentHalimah Yacob See former S. R. Nathan (1999–2011)Tony Tan (2011–2017) DeputyHeng Swee Keat See former Tony Tan (1995–2005)S. Jayakumar (2004–2009)Wong Kan Seng (2005–2011)Teo Chee Hean (2009–2019)Tharman S. (2011–2019) Preceded by Goh Chok TongMember of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRCIncumbentAssumed office 21 August 1991Preceded by Constituency establishedSecretary-General of the People's Action PartyIncumbentAssumed office 2 December 2004Preceded by Goh Chok Tong Past offices Deputy Prime Minister of SingaporeIn office 28 November 1990 – 12 August 2004Serving with Tony TanPrime Minister Goh Chok TongPreceded by Goh Chok TongSucceeded by S. JayakumarMinister for FinanceIn office 10 November 2001 – 1 December 2007Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong HimselfPreceded by Richard HuSucceeded by Tharman ShanmugaratnamMinister for Trade and IndustryIn office 1 January 1987 – 6 December 1992Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew Goh Chok TongPreceded by Tony TanSucceeded by S. DhanabalanMember of Parliament for Teck Ghee SMCIn office 22 December 1984 – 14 August 1991 Personal detailsBorn (1952-02-10 ) 10 February 1952 (age 69) Colony of SingaporePolitical partyPeople's Action Party (PAP)Spouse(s)Wong Ming Yang ​ ​(m. 1978 ; died 1982 )​ Ho Ching ​(m. 1985 )​ChildrenDaughter – Li Xiuqi Son – Li Yipeng Son – Li Hongyi Son – Li HaoyiParentsFather – Lee Kuan Yew Mother – Kwa Geok ChooRelativesBrother – Lee Hsien Yang Sister – Lee Wei LingAlma materTrinity College, Cambridge (BA, Dipl.) Harvard University (MPA) United States Army Command and General Staff College (MMAS)SignatureWebsiteLee Hsien Loong on FacebookMilitary serviceBranch/service  Singapore ArmyYears of service1971–1984RankBrigadier-GeneralCommandsDirector of the Joint Operations and Plans Directorate Chief of Staff of the General Staff Lee Hsien LoongLee's name in Simplified (top) and Traditional (bottom) Chinese charactersTraditional Chinese李顯龍 Simplified Chinese李显龙 TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinLǐ Xiǎnlóng Wade–GilesLi3 Hsien3-lung2 IPA Yue: CantoneseYale RomanizationLéih Hín-lùhng JyutpingLei5 Hin2-lung4 IPA Southern MinHokkien POJLí Hián-liông Lee Hsien Loong (Chinese: 李显龙 ; born 10 February 1952) is a Singaporean politician and former army general who has served as Prime Minister of Singapore and secretary-general of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) since 2004. He served as the deputy prime minister to Goh Chok Tong from 1990 to 2004 and was minister for finance from 2001 to 2007. His wife is Ho Ching, the CEO of Temasek Holdings. Born in British Singapore, Lee is the eldest son of Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. He studied in Trinity College, University of Cambridge, graduating in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in computer science. In 1980, he earned a Master of Public Administration at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. From 1971 to 1984, he served in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), where he rose to the rank of brigadier general. Entering civilian politics in 1984, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Teck Ghee SMC and since its dissolution in 1991 has represented Ang Mo Kio GRC. Lee served in various ministerial appointments under Goh before succeeding him as prime minister in 2004. In his first two years, his government enacted a "five-day work week" and extended maternity leave days. His proposal to build two Integrated Resorts (IRs) in Singapore to increase tourism revenue led to the development of the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. Following the 2008 financial crisis, he oversaw the country's economic recovery within two years. Political reforms in 2010 legalised online activism and increased the number of non-constituency members of parliament (NCMPs) in Parliament. His government has advocated Goods and Services Tax (GST) hikes to fund social spending and infrastructure development, with the GST expected to be raised from 7% to 9% by 2025. In 2019, his government introduced the controversial Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) to combat online misinformation. That year, Lee reshuffled his cabinet and promoted Heng Swee Keat to deputy prime minister. In foreign policy, Lee's government's policy has been to stay neutral in an era of great power competition between China and the United States. Under Lee, both the Chinese and Singaporean governments have cooperated on projects, with Lee's government backing China's Belt and Road Initiative as one of its largest investors. At the same time, Singapore has a close defence relationship with the United States, signing the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) in 2005 to cooperate on terrorist and cybersecurity threats. Lee's government has had complex and fraught relations with Malaysia, particularly with regard to water supply and territorial claims, although the countries have agreed to work on cross-border projects such as the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System.