He won a scholarship to attend St Joseph's Academy in London, where he became friends with Ong Hock Thye.

He initially worked at Aubrey Davies & Company, later moving to Rodyk & Davidson, where he remained until the start of World War II.

He was appointed to the Advisory Council in 1946, serving until the following year,[1] when he was amongst the founders of the Progressive Party in August 1947 and, despite not being a good public speaker,[2] became its first president.

In 1954 he was part of the nine-man panel led by George William Rendel that reviewed the territory's constitution,[2] leading to the promulgation of a new one.

[6] He served as president of the Singapore Olympic Sports Council from 1951 until 1962, and as chairman of the Straits Times press between 1974 and 1982.