Howe Yoon Chong

Howe Yoon Chong DUBC PJG
侯永昌
Minister for Health
In office 1 June 1982 – 2 January 1985
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Goh Chok Tong
Succeeded by	Richard Hu Tsu Tau
Minister for Defence
In office 12 February 1979 – 1 June 1982
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Goh Keng Swee
Succeeded by	Goh Chok Tong
Member of the Singapore Parliament for Potong Pasir SMC
In office 10 February 1979 – 4 December 1984
Preceded by	Baptist Ivan Cuthbert (PAP)
Succeeded by	Chiam See Tong (SDP)
Personal details
Born	(1923-08-12)12 August 1923 China
Died	21 August 2007(2007-08-21) (aged 84) Singapore
Cause of death	Stroke
Nationality	Singaporean
Political party	People's Action Party (1979–1984)
Spouse	Wan Fook Yin
Children	3
Alma mater	Raffles College (BA)

Howe Yoon Chong DUBC PJG (Chinese: 侯永昌; pinyin: Hóu Yǒngchāng; 12 August 1923 – 21 August 2007) was a Singaporean politician and civil servant who served as Minister for Defence between 1979 and 1982, and Minister for Health between 1982 and 1985. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Potong Pasir SMC between 1979 and 1984.

Howe was key in developing Singapore's infrastructural and financial framework, including the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, Singapore Changi Airport and public housing.

As Minister for Health, to address issues raised by a greying population, he made the controversial proposal in 1984, to raise the age for the withdrawal of Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings from 55 to 60 years so that Singaporeans will have more money to live on in their old age.