14 January 2011 | CIL Distinguished Speaker Series
The Importance of International Law to Singapore’s Foreign Policy
Introduction
Mr Peter Ho, the former Head of the Singapore Civil Service and the former Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke on the importance of international law for Singapore’s foreign policy on 14 January 2011 as a CIL Distinguished Speaker. Mr Ho used several case studies from Singapore’s past to illustrate that international law levels the playing field for small countries and the use of international law need not be a zero-sum game but can lead to win-win outcomes for countries engaged in disputes.
About the Speaker
Mr Peter Ho started his career as a naval officer. After holding various command and staff appointments in the Singapore Armed Forces, he transferred to the Singapore Administrative Service and was appointed Deputy Secretary (Policy) in the Ministry of Defence, Singapore (MINDEF) in 1989. In 1990, he was posted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Deputy Secretary. In November 1995, he was appointed Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) in MINDEF, and in July 2000, he was appointed Permanent Secretary (Defence). He assumed the appointment of Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs) on 15 July 2004. On 20 July 2004, he was appointed to the concurrent post of Permanent Secretary (National Security and Intelligence Coordination) in the Prime Minister’s Office. On 1 April 2005, he was appointed Head, Civil Service, and Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) in the Prime Minister’s Office, concurrent with his other appointments. After a career in the Public Service stretching more than 34 years, including 15 years as a Permanent Secretary, Peter Ho retired from the Singapore Administrative Service on 31 August 2010. However, he retains his links with the public sector, and he now serves as Senior Adviser to the Centre for Strategic Futures, and Senior Fellow in the Civil Service College.
Chairperson
Prof Tommy KOH
Chairman, CIL Governing Board
Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
