Chao Hick Tin


Chao Hick Tin is a former appellate judge in the Supreme Court of Singapore and former Attorney-General of Singapore.

Early life

Chao was born in Singapore and studied at Catholic High School. He received his legal education at University College London, where he obtained his Bachelor and Masters of Law degrees in 1965 and 1966 respectively.

Career

Chao was called to the Bar as a barrister of the Middle Temple in 1965. In 1967, he joined the Attorney-General's Chambers, Singapore where he rose to become a Senior State Counsel in 1979.
Chao was appointed the Head of the Civil Division in the Attorney-General's Chambers in 1982 and held that post until his elevation to the Supreme Court bench on 1 October 1987 as Judicial Commissioner. His elevation to the position of a Judge of the Supreme Court followed on 15 November 1990. On 2 August 1999, he was appointed as a Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court. On 11 April 2006 he stepped down from the court to become Attorney-General of Singapore. He ceased to be Attorney-General and was reappointed a Judge of Appeal every two years since 11 April 2008, and shortly thereafter was appointed Vice-President of the Court of Appeal, until he retired the day before his 75th birthday on 27 September 2017.
In the National Day Awards of 2008, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his special contributions to the Pedra Branca dispute case.
Chao is also one of the founding members of the ASEAN Law Association. He was also the first Commander of the Vounteer Special Constabulary, holding the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police.