Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

Over 300 Hong Leong Group employees join queue to pay respects to Mr Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE - Over 300 employees from Hong Leong Group Singapore joined the snaking queue on Thursday to pay their last respects to Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.

They walked from the group's headquarters in Republic Plaza in Raffles Place to join the long queue leading to Parliament House, where Mr Lee's body is lying in state. Carrying stalks of white flower, the employees braved the afternoon heat as they waited in line.

Mr Gerry De Silva, Hong Leong Group Singapore's head of group corporate affairs, was part of the contingent. He said: "Lee Kuan Yew's entire life's work was spent making Singapore a better place to live in. And we are the beneficiaries.

"Lining up and waiting to pay our last respects to him is the least we can do to thank this great man."

In a mark of respect, the group's hotels have postponed or cancelled celebratory events in Singapore, including a wedding show, which was to have taken place this Sunday, when the state funeral service for Mr Lee will be held.

The group's hotels, which have received several requests to postpone events, have waived penalty fees to do so.

Hotels under the group in Singapore include The St Regis Singapore, W Singapore - Sentosa Cove, Orchard Hotel, Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Copthorne King's Hotel and M Hotel.

More than 120 hotels globally under the group as well as its commercial buildings are flying the Singapore flag at half-mast.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.