Song Kok Hoo
Song Kok Hoo | |
|---|---|
 Song Kok Hoo, c. 1950 | |
| Deputy Commissioner of Police | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1906[1] Singapore Straits Settlements |
| Died | 12 May 1985 (aged 79) Australia |
| Spouse | Rosaline Lee (m. 1932; died 1968) |
| Children | 4 |
Song Kok Hoo (1906 – 12 May 1985) was a Singaporean law enforcement officer. He was the country's first Asian Deputy Commissioner of Police and served in the police force for 35 years.
Career
[edit]Prior to joining the Singapore Police Force, Song worked as a government clerk for fourteen months.[1] Not keen on continuing a desk-bound career,[1] he became a probationary police inspector in July 1926.[2] In 1950, he was awarded the Colonial Police Medal for meritorious service.[1] In October 1953, he was promoted from Assistant Superintendent to Deputy Superintendent;[3] he was the first Asian officer in the history of the police force to hold either position.[4] In December 1959, he became the country's first Asian Deputy Commissioner of Police,[5] succeeding A. R. Anderson.[6] He retired from the police force in December 1961,[7] after 35 years of active duty. In January 1962, he was appointed as the Chief Security Officer of the Maruzen Toyo Oil Company's refinery at Tanjong Belayar.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Song was the youngest son of writer Song Ong Liew and his wife Gek Cham (née Chan).[1][9] He graduated from Raffles Institution in 1925.[10] On 18 June 1932, he married Rosaline Lee at the Singapore Presbyterian Church in Orchard Road. Their wedding reception for 250 guests was hosted at Adelphi Hotel.[11] The couple had a son and three daughters.[12] Lee died on 20 November 1968.[13] Song was also a member of the Chinese Christian Association.[14] After fully retiring in 1965, Song alternated between Singapore and Australia, spending about equal time in either country.[1] He died on 12 May 1985, at the age of 79; his funeral was held three days later in Melbourne.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Tan, Chung Lee (26 May 1972). "The first Asian to head the police force". New Nation. p. 9.
- ^ "He is Security Officer". The Straits Times. 21 March 1962. p. 13.
- ^ "8 Police Officers Promoted". The Straits Times. 17 October 1953. p. 7.
- ^ "First Asian 'Super' says: I'm so happy". The Straits Times. 12 August 1956. p. 9.
- ^ "Mr. Song First Asian Named to Act as Commissioner of Police". The Straits Times. 13 December 1959. p. 1.
- ^ "Song Assumes Duties as Acting S'pore Police Chief". The Straits Times. 18 December 1959. p. 18.
- ^ "Deputy Police chief at his last parade". The Straits Times. 13 October 1961. p. 18.
- ^ "Ex-police No.2 Is Oil Firm's Security Chief". The Singapore Free Press. p. 1.
- ^ "Untitled". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 6 October 1931. p. 14.
- ^ "Cambridge Local Results". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 7 April 1925. p. 7.
- ^ "Untitled". Malaya Tribune. 24 June 1932. p. 4.
- ^ a b "Song Kok Hoo". The Straits Times. 13 May 1985. p. 21.
- ^ "In Memoriam". The Straits Times. 20 November 1974. p. 17.
- ^ "Untitled". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 15 January 1927. p. 18.