Song Kok Hoo
Song Kok Hoo, c. 1950
Deputy Commissioner of Police
Personal details
Born1906[1]
Singapore
Straits Settlements
Died12 May 1985 (aged 79)
Australia
Spouse
Rosaline Lee
​
​
(m. 1932; died 1968)​
Children4

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

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

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

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tan, Chung Lee (26 May 1972). "The first Asian to head the police force". New Nation. p. 9.
  2. ↑ "He is Security Officer". The Straits Times. 21 March 1962. p. 13.
  3. ↑ "8 Police Officers Promoted". The Straits Times. 17 October 1953. p. 7.
  4. ↑ "First Asian 'Super' says: I'm so happy". The Straits Times. 12 August 1956. p. 9.
  5. ↑ "Mr. Song First Asian Named to Act as Commissioner of Police". The Straits Times. 13 December 1959. p. 1.
  6. ↑ "Song Assumes Duties as Acting S'pore Police Chief". The Straits Times. 18 December 1959. p. 18.
  7. ↑ "Deputy Police chief at his last parade". The Straits Times. 13 October 1961. p. 18.
  8. ↑ "Ex-police No.2 Is Oil Firm's Security Chief". The Singapore Free Press. p. 1.
  9. ↑ "Untitled". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 6 October 1931. p. 14.
  10. ↑ "Cambridge Local Results". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 7 April 1925. p. 7.
  11. ↑ "Untitled". Malaya Tribune. 24 June 1932. p. 4.
  12. 1 2 "Song Kok Hoo". The Straits Times. 13 May 1985. p. 21.
  13. ↑ "In Memoriam". The Straits Times. 20 November 1974. p. 17.
  14. ↑ "Untitled". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 15 January 1927. p. 18.
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