Tang Liang Hong

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Tang.

Tang Liang Hong
鄧亮洪
Tang in 1997
Personal details
Born(1935-10-02)2 October 1935
Singapore, Straits Settlements
Died15 September 2025(2025-09-15) (aged 89)
Hong Kong
Political partyWorkers' Party (1997)
Spouse
Teo Siew Har
​
(died 2019)​
Children3
Alma materNanyang University
University of Singapore
Professionpolitician, lawyer

Tang Liang Hong (simplified Chinese: 邓亮洪; traditional Chinese: 鄧亮洪; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tāng Liāng-hông; 2 October 1935 – 15 September 2025) was a Singaporean politician and lawyer. He was a candidate for the opposition Workers' Party (WP) in Cheng San Group Representation Constituency (GRC) during the 1997 general election; the WP team was defeated by the governing People's Action Party (PAP).

Early life and education

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Tang was born in Singapore during British colonial rule on 2 October 1935.[1][2] He was one of eight children in his family.[2] Tang attended Ching Primary School in 1949. Tang enrolled in The Chinese High School in 1951.[3] He would later study at Nanyang University in 1962 before moving to the University of Singapore to study law the following year.[2][3] He graduated in 1967[3] and joined the bar a year later at the age of 33.

Career

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Tang opened a law firm in 1968.[3]

Tang served for several years as the chairman of the Nanyang Fine Arts Foundation,[4] and also sat on the board of management of The Chinese High School.[5] He was also part of the management committee for Hwa Chong Junior College and River Valley High School.[3]

In 1991, Tang was part of the 18 founding members of a group to promote Chinese language and culture among Chinese Singaporeans.[6] Among the founding members were a former Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, retired academics Wu Teh Yao and Lau Wai Har, Chinese-language writer and Cultural Medallion recipient Wong Meng Voon.[6] The group was formed after Member of Parliament (MP) for Leng Kee Single Member Constituency, Ow Chin Hock, asked the Chinese community to form a committee and report on the future of the Chinese community.[6] The group would later submit a memorandum to prime minister Goh Chok Tong with recommendations for the new streaming system for primary school students, on how English and Chinese should be taught, to be implemented in 1992.[7]

Political career

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In 1992, Tang was nominated to be a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) by the Chinese community but was not chosen by the government.[8][9] Prime minister Goh said that the NMP scheme was not for representation for ethnic or linguistic lines and that the group representation constituency (GRC) system ensured representation of the minority groups.[9]

During the 1997 general election, Tang, alongside WP's leader J. B. Jeyaretnam, as part of a five-member team contested Cheng San GRC.[10][11][12][13] Tang came under fire from the PAP after he raised the issue of the Hotel Properties Limited apartment sales in 1995 during the election campaign.[14] This issue arose after the Stock Exchange of Singapore had previously criticised Hotel Properties Ltd for its "tardiness" in disclosing details of sales of its condominium units to directors and their family members, which included senior minister Lee Kuan Yew, who had purchased a unit and whose brother was a director of the company.[15][16]

On polling day, the WP's team in Cheng San GRC lost to the PAP's team by 44,132 votes (45.18%) to 53,553 (54.82%).[17][18] This was the highest percentage of the vote garnered by any opposition losing candidates, and was therefore enough to secure one of the team's members a seat as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP).[2] The party selected Jeyaretnam to become its NCMP.[2]

In 2003, Tang and Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff formed an organisation, Association for Democracy in Singapore, in New South Wales, Australia.[19] Former GRC teammate Jeyaretnam and Singapore Democratic Party's secretary general Chee Soon Juan also joined the organisation.[19]

Defamation suits

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Further information: 1995 Hotel Properties Limited apartment sales

In a 1996 interview with Hong Kong-based magazine Yazhou Zhoukan, opposition politician and lawyer Tang Liang Hong opined that "professional bodies" such as the Commercial Affairs Department or the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau ought to have handled the investigation of the Senior Minister (SM) Lee Kuan Yew and his son Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong property purchases.[20] Tang made similar claims regarding the Lees' transactions with HPL at three Workers' Party rallies on 31 December 1996.[21]

The Lees subsequently sued Tang for libel. Tang was represented by his law firm, Tang & Co while the Lees were represented by Lee & Lee.[22] In November, Tang applied for Queen's Counsel (QC) Charles Gray to represent him which was approved as nine lawyers had rejected his request to be his representation.[23] The Lees also applied for representation by a QC.[23] In January 1997, the Lees applied for the Mareva injunction against Tang[24] and High Court judge Lai Kew Chai ruled that worldwide assets belonging to Tang and his wife (valued at S$11.2 million) were to be frozen.[25][26] Tang, who was represented by J. B. Jeyaretnam, unsuccessfully sought to disqualify Lai by claiming that Lai was "close" to the plaintiffs.[20] Tang further alleged that Lai had a "pecuniary interest" in the case because he had also purchased a discounted unit at Nassim Jade on the same day as the Lees.[27] Lai countered that he had done so "separately and independently".[20] In May 1997, judge Chao Hick Tin ruled that Tang's comments constituted "extreme aggravation" and awarded Lee Kuan Yew and Lee Hsien Loong S$1.05 million and S$950,000 in respective damages.[21]

After the 1997 election, Tang was also sued for defamation by 11 PAP politicians, including Goh, SM Lee, and deputy prime ministers Lee and Tony Tan,[8][26] who accused him of making statements during the campaign which falsely questioned their integrity.[28] A total of 13 judgements were entered against Tang for defamation.[29] Tang also subsequently faced charges from the Inland Revenue Department for evading taxes.[30]

After Tang left Singapore, he did not return for the hearings of the defamation suits and had also sacked his lawyers.[31] When Tang failed to file an affidavit disclosing his assets, the plaintiffs obtained default judgements against Tang in all their suits. Damages were assessed by a judge of the High Court at a total of S$739,976.[32] The High Court also declared Tang as bankrupt.[32] Tang was eventually ordered to pay a total of S$7.175 million for the defamation suits.[33] Yazhou Zhoukan, which was involved in the first set of defamation suits, was ordered to pay S$900,000 in damages.[33]

In September, Tang appealed against the damages awarded by the High Court and was represented by Grey again.[34] In November, the Court of Appeal reduced the original total amount from S$7.175 million to $3.63 million.[33] As Yazhou Zhoukan had already paid the damages, the court did not consider a reduction in amount for it.[33]

Personal life and death

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Three days after 1997 general election, Tang left Singapore for Johor, Malaysia,[31] fearing that he could be arrested by the Internal Security Department after being branded as a Chinese chauvinist.[35] His wife Teo Siew Har's passport was then impounded but later released.[36] Eventually Tang moved to Australia, where he was reunited with his wife.[11]

Tang lived in Australia and then Malaysia until his death in Hong Kong on 15 September 2025, at the age of 89. His wife Teo died in May 2019, and he was survived by three children; one son and two daughters.[a][37][38] His death was only made known on 2 October following an obituary in The Straits Times.[39]

Notes

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  1. ^ Sources mislabel his age as "90".

References

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  1. ^ Lee Hoong, Chua (4 October 1997). "Tang Liang Hong on the Net". The Straits Times. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "WP's Tang Liang Hong, who got sued until his pants dropped, waged the Battle for Cheng San". mothership.sg. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Tang's passionate pursuit". The Straits Times. 3 November 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ "Chinese schools offer: Only Tang said yes". The Straits Times. 8 January 1997. p. 45. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG. Mr Tang, then chairman of the Nanyang Fine Arts Foundation
  5. ^ "Former Workers' Party politician Tang Liang Hong dies aged 90". CNA. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Leong, Weng Kam (22 September 1991). "New group set up to promote Chinese language and culture". The Straits Times. p. 13. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ "Chinese group wants streaming system changed". The Straits Times. 12 October 1991. p. 23. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ a b "ASIANOW - Asiaweek". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b Jacob, Paul; Osman, Salim (8 September 1992). "NMPs not meant to represent races: PM". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ^ "Untitled". The Business Times. 24 December 1996. p. 3. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  11. ^ a b "The Workers' Party of Singapore Website / Workers' Party History". Archived from the original on 27 November 2005.
  12. ^ "Former Workers' Party politician Tang Liang Hong dies at 90". The Straits Times. 2 October 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  13. ^ Osman, Ahmad (31 December 1996). "Tang won't seek court injunction". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  14. ^ Seow, Francis. "The Politics of Judicial Institutions in Singapore" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016.
  15. ^ Sreenivasan, Ven; Low, Michelle (24 April 1996). "Analysts support SES censure of HPL". The Business Times. p. 15. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  16. ^ Fernandez, Warren (22 May 1996). "Full details of condo deals revealed". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  17. ^ "1997 PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS". Elections Department Singapore. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Drama, delay and protest at Cheng San". The New Paper. 3 January 1997. p. 4. Retrieved 2 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  19. ^ a b Raymond, Jose (13 May 2003). "New eye on Singapore". Today. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  20. ^ a b c "Absurd to allege that he was close to SM, BG Lee". The Straits Times. 11 March 1997. p. 26. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  21. ^ a b "Tang bore grudge against SM and BG Lee". The Straits Times. 31 May 1997. p. 31. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  22. ^ Chua, Lee Hoong (13 September 1996). "SM and DPM sue lawyer Tang for defamation". The Straits Times. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  23. ^ a b "Court admits QC to defend lawyer in case". The Straits Times. 23 November 1996. p. 31. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  24. ^ "SM Lee's application basis for Mareva injunction'". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. 29 April 1997. p. 25. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  25. ^ "Lawyers say Tang continues attacks on PAP". The Straits Times. 24 September 1997. p. 38. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  26. ^ a b Osman, Ahmad (28 January 1997). "Worldwide court injunction taken out against Tang and wife". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2025. Justice Lai Kew Chai has given his approval today to an order of court dated Jan 27 for a worldwide Mareva injunction and ancillary action up to the value of S$11.2 million in the actions of Messrs Goh Chok Tong, Lee Kuan Yew, BG Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Teo Chee Hean, Ch'ng Jit Koon, Ow Chin Hock, Chin Harn Tong, Ker Sin Tze, Seng Han Thong and Lee Yock Suan against Tang Liang Hong and Madam Teo Siew Har
  27. ^ "Jeya has to wait to know if he has to pay for Tang's move". The Straits Times. 25 March 1997. p. 23. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  28. ^ "Tony Tan also suing Tang for defaming him in report". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. 25 January 1997. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG. The suits over Mr Tang's police report are separate from the three defamation actions by PM Goh, SM Lee, and six other PAP members for his comment that they had concocted lies against him.
  29. ^ "Tang's case". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. 9 March 1997. p. 4. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG. 13 defamation suits filed against him by 11 People's Action Party
  30. ^ "Lawyers' 'last hero'". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. 31 May 1997. p. 32. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG. The beleaguered Mr Tang faces an arrest warrant for evading taxes
  31. ^ a b "Lying in Singapore". The Economist. 8 May 1997. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  32. ^ a b Osman, Ahmad (7 February 1998). "Tang Liang Hong declared a bankrupt". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2025. THE High Court yesterday declared Workers' Party member Tang Liang Hong a bankrupt, when he failed to pay $739,976 in damages and interest he owed after losing the defamation cases brought against him
  33. ^ a b c d Koh, Buck Song (13 November 1997). "Court cuts Tang's damages to $3.63m". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  34. ^ "Tang's appeals to be heard on Monday". The Straits Times. 19 September 1997. p. 53. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  35. ^ Raymond, Jose (30 November 2002). "Club Exile". Today. p. 1. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  36. ^ "Tang's wife can apply to get her passport back". The Straits Times. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. 4 June 1997. p. 19. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Madam Teo Siew Har, the wife of Mr Tang Liang Hong, is now free to travel and can apply to get back her passport
  37. ^ "Former Workers' Party politician Tang Liang Hong dies at 90". The Star. 2 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  38. ^ "Former Workers' Party politician Tang Liang Hong dies aged 90". AsiaOne. 2 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  39. ^ "Former Workers' Party politician Tang Liang Hong dies aged 90". The Straits Times. 2 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
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