Red Ministerial Box, mid-20th century

This red box was used by Lee Kuan Yew while he was in political office. It contained his work
– papers, speech drafts, letters, readings, notes and cassette tapes with his recorded instructions. According to Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat, who was Mr Lee’s Principal Private Secretary from 1997 to 2000, the locked red box would arrive at Mr Lee’s office at 9 every morning. His secretaries would transcribe the dictated notes and Mr Heng would follow up on his instructions before he arrived at office. Mr Lee used this red box for the last time on 4 February 2015, the day before he was hospitalised. Today, it has become a symbol of Mr Lee’s unwavering commitment to Singapore.