- Title: File footage of Singapore's deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat
- Date: 7th July 2020
- Summary: SINGAPORE (RECENT - JUNE 28, 2020) (REUTERS) HENG AND OTHER PAP MEMBERS WAVING AND GREETING DINERS AT HAWKER CENTRE HENG SPEAKING HENG AND PAP MEMBERS AT HAWKER CENTRE HENG GREETING HAWKER CENTRE VENDOR VENDOR SPEAKING TO HENG HENG SPEAKING HENG AND PAP MEMBERS GREETING DINERS/ DINERS CHEERING EXTERIOR OF HAWKER CENTRE
- Embargoed: 21st July 2020 07:00
- Keywords: Heng Swee Keat Singapore deputy prime minister finance minister first assistant secretary general people's action party
- Location: SINGAPORE / MANAMA, BAHRAIN / MANILA, PHILIPPINES / TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: SINGAPORE / MANAMA, BAHRAIN / MANILA, PHILIPPINES / TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003CLY681Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mild-mannered and studious, Singapore Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat will face the daunting task of reshaping a struggling economy if, as expected, he becomes the wealthy city-state's next leader.
Heng was promoted in April 2019 to deputy prime minister, putting him first in line to take over as leader from Lee Hsien Loong, who has been in power since 2004.
Heng, a 57-year-old former central bank governor and policeman, would be a break from the past, in the sense that he is not a member of the Lee family, one of whom has ruled Singapore in 40 of the 54 years since independence in 1965.
Heng will probably take over as Singapore faces a series of challenges, such as rising protectionism and a rapidly aging population, and a need to reshape its economy to focus on technology rather than trade.
Heng has a master's degree in economics from Cambridge University, which was also attended by both Lees. He holds a masters in public administration from Harvard University.
After leaving university, Heng joined the Singapore police force, rising through the ranks to assistant commissioner. He then held various public service positions, such as chief executive officer of Singapore's Trade Development Board.
Singapore will hold general elections on July 10 after its prime minister opted to go ahead with a vote that opposition parties and rights groups have criticised as opportunistic and unsafe because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lee is widely expected to step down in a couple of years.
(Production: Mark Ho, Joseph Campbell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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