Royal pageantry marks start of President's UK visit
Booming gun salutes and stately carriage procession all part of day's splendour
By Charissa Yong, In London, The Straits Times, 22 Oct 2014
THE red-and-white flag of Singapore flew proudly alongside the British Union Jack in central London yesterday, as President Tony Tan Keng Yam officially began his state visit to the United Kingdom to much fanfare.
Booming gun salutes and a stately carriage procession flanked by Royal Horse Guards were all part of the day's pageantry for Dr Tan, the first Singaporean president to make a state visit to Britain.
The morning began with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeting Dr Tan at the Royal Garden Hotel where he was staying.
It was the first public appearance of Prince William's wife, Catherine, in over two months, and she appeared healthy and cheerful. The royal couple are expecting their second child in April next year, and the Duchess has been suffering from acute morning sickness.
Dr Tan and his wife, Mary, together with the royal couple, then went in a car procession to the Horse Guards Parade ground, where they were received by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. A 103-gun royal salute was fired from Green Park, a royal park, and from the Tower of London, a royal palace and fortress, as part of the ceremonial welcome.
The Queen, who wore a navy blue coat and matching hat, presented dignitaries to Dr Tan. These included British Prime Minister David Cameron, secretaries of state, senior military officials, and top officials from London.
Dr Tan then inspected the guard of honour, who were in their signature red tunics and towering black fur hats.
The President and his wife then boarded gilded state carriages - Dr Tan rode with the Queen while Mrs Tan rode with the Duke of Edinburgh - that brought them to Buckingham Palace, where they will stay until tomorrow.
Escorted by over 100 members of the Queen's household cavalry mounted on horses, the procession moved off to rousing renditions of the Singaporean and British national anthems, Majulah Singapura and God Save The Queen.
Later, after a private lunch, Dr Tan and his wife were given a tour of the palace's picture gallery by the Queen and Prince Philip, where they viewed an exhibition of Singapore-related items from the royal family's art collection. These included a diary entry describing Queen Mary's visit to Singapore in 1901.
The President gave the Queen a collection of hand-painted china plates depicting places she had visited during her three previous state visits to Singapore in 1972, 1989 and 2006.
The Queen, in return, gave him copies of Adam Smith's famous The Wealth Of Nations volumes and James Maitland's 1804 tome, The Nature Of Public Wealth.
[View the story "The Republic of Singapore State Visit" on Storify]
Security in central London had been beefed up yesterday following earlier fears that the ceremony would be disrupted by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria sympathisers, The Times reported. But the day proceeded without incident.
Dr Tan was set to visit Westminster Abbey, address the British Parliament and attend a state banquet hosted in his honour.
Post by Dr Tony Tan.
S'pore, UK to renew science research tie-up
By Charissa Yong, In London, The Straits Times, 23 Oct 2014
SINGAPORE and Britain will renew a partnership in scientific research first formalised in 2004, President Tony Tan Keng Yam announced in London yesterday.
The tie-up, known as the United Kingdom-Singapore Innovation and Research Partnership, entails students and researchers from both countries going on exchange programmes, and sharing research and development activities and infrastructure.
There will also be joint funding of research.
An earlier agreement to partner in scientific research was made in 2004 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and then British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Announcing this renewed tie-up yesterday at Britain's premier science institution, the Royal Society, Dr Tan noted that both Singapore and Britain face similar challenges such as urbanisation, ageing, health care and environmental sustainability.
He said Singapore sees itself playing a role in the scientific search for answers, and has established research collaborations with many world-renowned universities including Cambridge University in Britain.
"Such challenges cannot be solved by any one nation and the future of research lies in international and multidisciplinary collaborations," said Dr Tan, who is on a state visit to Britain.
Yesterday, the Royal Society conferred on him the King Charles II medal, given to foreign heads of state who have played a big role in furthering scientific research in their country.
Only four others - Emperor Akihito of Japan in 1997, Indian President Abdul Kalam in 2007, German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2010 and Premier Wen Jiabao of China in 2011 - have received the medal.
Dr Tan, a mathematics and physics lecturer by training, recalled taking into account the impact of science as a Cabinet minister overseeing education, trade and industry and defence policy.
In his address to the Royal Society, whose fellows include Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Sir Stamford Raffles, who was also a botanist, Dr Tan said Singapore's development had been enabled by science, such as water desalination technology.
Dr Tan also said that investment in research and development has doubled since 1991 to 2.3 per cent of the country's gross domestic product now.
Royal Society president Paul Nurse, in paying tribute to Singapore's scientific achievements, called the Republic a "success story in global science and innovation". He noted Dr Tan's role in transforming research and development in Singapore, including as chairman of the National Research Foundation.
Yesterday, Dr Tan was also hosted to lunch by British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of British prime ministers.
They discussed issues such as the European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and how to enhance science, research and education cooperation, and also exchanged views on regional and international developments.
Post by The Royal Society.
Friends 'in all types of weather'
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 23 Oct 2014
MUCH has changed since Sir Stamford Raffles set up a British trading port in Singapore almost two centuries ago, and from the time Singapore and Britain established diplomatic ties in 1965.
But the bond between both countries has endured and strengthened over the years, President Tony Tan Keng Yam said on Tuesday in London during his state visit to the United Kingdom.
"We are friends in all types of weather, whether it is British or Singapore weather," he added. "Our friendship will undoubtedly prove valuable in the face of emerging global challenges that will impact the future generations of both our countries."
Dr Tan on Tuesday spoke on the common interests and heritage shared by Britain and Singapore, at the Palace of Westminster, the seat of Parliament, and at a state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in his honour.
Addressing Parliament, he said historical links between Singapore and the United Kingdom had been a strong foundation for bilateral cooperation.
The common strategic outlook and mutual values both countries share have also boosted partnership in the areas of the economy, security and defence, he said.
Singapore and Britain are also proponents of free trade, he noted, adding that the European Union-Singapore free trade agreement will be beneficial once it is ratified.
In the areas of defence and security, both countries also have strong reasons to continue working together, he said, especially in areas such as counter-terrorism and countering transnational crime.
He added that underpinning these bilateral relations are the ties between the people. Many Singaporeans have made Britain their second home and contribute actively to it, he said.
The same is true of the British community in Singapore, and this has boosted the "already deep reservoir of goodwill" between both sides, Dr Tan added.
Later at the state banquet in Buckingham Palace, he invited the Queen, or her representative, to visit Singapore next year as it celebrates 50 years of independence.
During the banquet, the Queen wore the Order of Temasek red and white sash and white star - Singapore's second highest national order - which she received in 1972 when she visited Singapore.
The Queen, in her speech, said Dr Tan's state visit "marks the continued deepening of the relationship between our countries".
"I have no doubt that by maintaining longstanding commitments to openness, fairness and enterprise, this friendship will not only be sustained but will flourish and thrive," she said.
She also announced new scholarships to the United Kingdom for Singaporeans under the newly revived Royal Commonwealth Society of Singapore.
UK rolls out red carpet for President Tony Tan
By Charissa Yong, In London, The Straits Times, 21 Oct 2014
THE red carpet was rolled out for President Tony Tan Keng Yam yesterday when he arrived in London for a six-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
His plane landed just before sunrise at Heathrow Airport, where he and his wife, Mary, were greeted by Queen Elizabeth II's lord-in-waiting, Viscount Henry Lyttelton Alexander Hood.
Lining the red carpet were members of the Queen's Colour Squadron, an elite ceremonial unit from the British Royal Air Force, who stood at attention as Dr Tan was escorted to the airport's royal suite.
Also present was Mr Bill Henderson, who represents the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and Singapore's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ms Foo Chi Hsia.
Dr Tan stayed the night at the Royal Garden Hotel, which overlooks Kensington Palace, the London home of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, who are scheduled to greet Dr Tan and Mrs Tan at the hotel today on behalf of the Queen.
They will then journey with the royal couple to the Horse Guards Parade grounds, near Buckingham Palace, where the President and his wife will be formally welcomed by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Dr Tan, the first Singaporean President to make a state visit to Britain, will reside at Buckingham Palace until Thursday.
President Tan on first state visit to Britain by a Singapore leader
By Charissa Yong, In London, The Straits Times, 20 Oct 2014
PRESIDENT Tony Tan Keng Yam will arrive in London today, in the first state visit to Britain by a Singapore head of state.
The six-day visit, which officially begins tomorrow, will include an address to the British Parliament, and is expected to further boost strong bilateral relations.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday that the visit will "showcase our longstanding relations with the United Kingdom ahead of the 50th anniversary of UK-Singapore relations in 2015".
Political exchanges between both countries are frequent, and there has been a stream of bilateral visits this year, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong just in London in March.
Britain receives only two state visits each year, and Dr Tan's is the second this year.
Irish President Michael Higgins had been hosted in April.
Dr Tan's visit starts off with a ceremonial welcome by Queen Elizabeth II at the famous Horse Guards Parade ground off Whitehall, which leads to the Queen's official residence in London.
From there, a carriage procession takes them to Buckingham Palace, where Dr Tan will stay for two nights until Thursday.
There, he will get a private viewing of Singapore-related items in the Royal Collection comprising works of art and artefacts collected by the British royal family over centuries.
The Queen will host a private luncheon and a state banquet in his honour.
London's Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf will also host Dr Tan to a banquet at Guildhall, the City of London's administrative centre, while Prime Minister David Cameron will host lunch at 10 Downing Street, the home and office of British prime ministers.
Dr Tan will also meet the leaders of the main British political parties: Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who heads the Liberal Democrats, and opposition leader Ed Miliband of the Labour Party.
Apart from these meetings, the President will lay a ceremonial wreath on the Grave of the Unknown Soldier - a monument dedicated to British soldiers who have fallen in war - at Westminster Abbey.
After London, Dr Tan will visit Bristol, where the city's elected Mayor George Ferguson will host lunch.
The President will be accompanied by his wife, Mrs Mary Tan, on the state visit.
Also with him will be Ms Grace Fu, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Environment and Water Resources; Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Minister of State for National Development and Defence; and some Members of Parliament.
In Dr Tan's absence, the chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, Mr J.Y. Pillay, will exercise the functions of the office of the President.
When the Merlion sups with the British lion
By Ravi Velloor Foreign Editor, The Straits Times, 20 Oct 2014
PRESIDENT Tony Tan Keng Yam is in London this week for the first state visit to Britain accorded a Singapore leader. The official part of the visit, which begins tomorrow with a formal welcome by Queen Elizabeth II on Horse Guards Parade, promises to be a memorable spectacle. British and Singaporean flags, separate carriages for the President, riding with the Queen and Mrs Mary Tan, escorted by the Duke of Edinburgh. With their love for horses, carriages and the monarchy, the British know something about pomp and ceremony.
But Dr Tan's mission is more than about pageantry and show. It is to celebrate the ever-evolving dynamics of an old relationship that started with the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819 and the founding of Singapore as a British colony five years later. Today, even as Singapore has moved away from its British moorings, so much of the island still speaks of that past, from heritage buildings like the Singapore Cricket Club to names such as York and Balmoral on hotels and housing estates.
Remarkably for newly independent societies that tend to sweep away vestiges of foreign rule, Singapore remains angst- free about its colonial past. The 31,000 and more British nationals resident on the island are neither an object of curiosity nor special irritation.
But every child has to grow into adulthood and move out of the parental home. Singapore's coming of age came early in its independence years when it had to deal with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson's shock decision in 1967 to reduce Britain's presence East of Suez. It sent the Lee Kuan Yew government scrambling to shore up Singapore's military sinews, and build up strategic ties with the United States and other nations. Today, the Republic is anchored firmly in Asean, even as it confidently engages wider Asia and beyond.
Still, the trip is filled with meaning and the honour to Singapore is indeed a big one. As the Tans are bound to discover, the Queen regards state visitors as her house guests, practically, in the intense way she prepares for them.
"Her Majesty welcomes and hosts only two countries a year," notes Mr Antony Phillipson, the British High Commissioner to Singapore. "State visits are the highest level of reaching out to a country we can do. The run-up to Singapore's 50th anniversary is a very strong theme to the visit."
London's move to be early in the game as the Republic prepares for its golden jubilee is a smart one. But, as seasoned observers of the relationship are only too aware, it is also a mite overdue and corrects an optical imbalance.
The Queen has visited Singapore three times, arriving at 17- year intervals, the last in 2006. Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge came in 2012.
Meanwhile, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia have all been accorded state visits to Britain.
It is heartening to note, therefore, that Britain has realised the importance of not taking a relationship for granted even if Singapore is confident enough of itself to not always demand reciprocity.
Beyond the shared heritage is a wider canvas worth examining.
Under Prime Minister David Cameron, who understands business better than many of his peers and predecessors, Britain, as Foreign Secretary William Hague said in Singapore last year, is "looking East as never before". More British ministers have thus toured the region in the last four years than in the previous decade, fully aware that their island nation needs Asia to escape the economic malaise in Europe.
In the 1970s, Britain had turned overly towards Europe. Brussels, headquarters of the European Union, can be a jealous mistress, consuming way too much time and attention. Interest in Asia waned consequently. But it no longer makes sense to expend so much energy and time on Europe when the economic weight of the world has rapidly shifted towards Asia with its big emerging markets in China, India, Indonesia and Myanmar.
Britain knows that Singapore has always been a hospitable home and such sentiments have been reinforced since it handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997. Many of its top companies - Shell, HSBC, Rolls-Royce, Unilever - have huge operations on the island, their intellectual property protected, their businesses enhanced by a wide talent pool and a competitive tax regime. Besides, the English language rules, even if, these days, it is spoken increasingly with an American accent on radio and television.
There have been plenty of movements in the other direction as well. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was in London in March and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam followed in July. More than 3,000 Singapore students head to Britain every year to study, and the numbers have been only rising.
Britain takes fully three quarters of Singapore's investments in the European Union. They range from big-ticket investments such as the Frasers Serviced Apartments chain, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels and ComfortDelGro, which owns a third of London's bus fleet, to smaller investments. Among the most significant would also be Keppel's Greater Manchester Energy- from-Waste Plant which uses frontier technology to produce steam and electricity from waste.
Such investments could increase, now that some key political uncertainties have ebbed. Scotland's decision to stay in the United Kingdom should be a confidence booster, and, unless the British decide to exit the European Union, London is still the best hub to tap the European market.
Other issues sit in the background. Britain, which has a substantial Muslim minority, has been keenly watching the Republic's management of race and communal relations. Earlier this year, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the British Minister for Faith and Communities, visited Singapore. "She came away really impressed with the approach here," Mr Phillipson said. "Singapore's approach to inter-faith harmony and de-radicalisation have been part of the conversation for some years."
Aside from the carriage ride down the Mall and the majestic state banquet at Buckingham Palace for 160 guests - some Singapore invitees are flying there next week specially for the dinner, tail coats and white ties packed in their suitcases - the state visit will give an opportunity for both sides to reflect on their long relationship.
That's the day President Tan visits The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, a Unesco world heritage site. Perhaps it was no coincidence that the first scientific director of Singapore's Botanic Gardens was Nicholas "Mad" Ridley, a former Kew hand who established the rubber industry in the Malay peninsula.
Today, of course, the conversation is about urban redevelopment, collaboration in financial services and sharing in science and technology. As the Keppel project shows, a lot of it is flowing the other way.
Talk about a long road travelled!