Yeo Cheow Tong

Yeo Cheow Tong (simplified Chinese: 姚照东; traditional Chinese: 姚照東; pinyin: Yáo Zhào Dōng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Iâu Chiàu-tong; born 22 June 1947) is a former politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he served in the Cabinet from 1990 to 2006, and was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1984 to 2011.

Early life

Yeo was educated at Anglo-Chinese School, before receiving a Colombo Plan Scholarship in 1967 to study at the University of Western Australia, where he received a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree.

He worked for Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB) from 1972–75, before entering the private sector. He entered politics in 1984. At the 1984 general election, Yeo was elected a Member of Parliament for Hong Kah constituency. In 1985, he was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 1988, Yeo became the Acting Minister for Health, before becoming a full member of the Cabinet in 1990. He went on to hold a number of different Cabinet positions including Minister for Community Development (1991–94), Minister for Trade and Industry (1994–97), Minister for the Environment (1997–99), Minister for Communications and Information Technology (1999–2001), and Minister for Transport (2001–06).

In June 2006, Yeo resigned from the Cabinet to return to the private sector. He continued to serve as a Member of Parliament for the Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency until 2011, when he retired from politics. He was succeeded by Alex Yam in the Singaporean general election, 2011.

Yeo is married to lawyer Helen Yeo-Tan Cheng Hoong. The couple have three children.

Political offices
Preceded by Richard Hu Tsu Tau	Minister for Health 1988-1990 (Acting) 1990-1994	Succeeded by George Yeo
Preceded by Seet Ai Mei	Minister for Community Development 1991–1994	Succeeded by Abdullah Tarmugi
Preceded by ?	Minister for Trade and Industry 1994-1997	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by George Yeo	Minister for Health 1997-1999	Succeeded by Lim Hng Kiang
Preceded by George Yeo	Minister for Trade and Industry 1997-1999	Succeeded by Lim Hng Kiang
Preceded by Teo Chee Hean	Minister for the Environment 1997-1999	Succeeded by Lim Swee Say
Preceded by Mah Bow Tan	Minister for Communications and Information Technology 1999-2001	Succeeded by Post renamed to Minister for Transport
Preceded by Post renamed from Ministry of Communications and Information Technology	Minister for Transport 2001-2006	Succeeded by Raymond Lim

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