SINGAPORE -The family of the late former president S R Nathan is at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), says Mr Nathan's daughter Juthika on Monday night.

Ms Juthika Ramanathan, chief executive of the Supreme Court, tells The Straits Times shortly before midnight that her mother, Mrs Urmila Nathan, 87, is holding up well.

"We are still at the hospital. She is fine, thank you," says Ms Ramanathan over the phone.

Mr Nathan died at 9.48pm at the hospital, at age 92. Besides Mrs Nathan and daughter Juthika, he also leaves behind son Osith and three grandchildren.

Government ministers and close family friends arrived in quick succession at the hospital to pay their respects.

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing arrived at the hospital separately between 10pm and 11pm.

They were in a sombre mood, and did not speak to the media.

A table has been set up at Block 5 of the hospital for members of the public to leave their tributes.

The late Mr Nathan suffered a stroke on the morning of July 31 and was warded in SGH on the same day.

Other individuals who visited on Monday night included ambassador-at-large Bilahari Kausikan, Singapore's ambassador to Mexico Jennie Chua, and Mr Peter Lim, former editor-in-chief of The Straits Times.

Mr Nathan was a former diplomat and served as the permanent secretary for the Foreign Affairs Ministry from 1979 to 1982.

After his retirement from the civil service in 1982, he was executive chairman of The Straits Times Press, the predecessor of Singapore Press Holdings until 1988.

Mr Nathan was appointed as high commissioner to Malaysia from 1988 to 1990, and as ambassador to the United States from 1990 to 1996.