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CHEE HUCK JEE

90 yEARS OLD

METEOROLOGICAL TECHNICIAN

CHEE HUCK JEE, METEOROLOGICAL TECHNICIAN 3

Mr Chee was a meteorological technician for more than 30 years. His career in the meteorological service began before Singapore’s independence and he is a proud recipient of the Long Service Medal from then President Devan Nair in 1983. These days, he laments that the weather patterns have become unpredictable.

What did you work as in the past? When I arrived in Singapore in 1952, my aunt’s acquaintance recommended me to a job at the Singapore Wireless Receiving Station at St. Michael’s Road. I started working as a radar operator.

When the land at St. Michael’s Road was going to be developed into a housing estate, my boss asked me, “Where do you want to go? To the post office or the airport?” I knew that I was a good technician, so I decided to go to the meteorological department at the Upper Air Observatory at Kim Chuan Road, a research station for the Paya Lebar Airport.

When did you join the meteorological service? I joined the Malayan Meteorological Service in 1953. During that time, Singapore was still

part of British Malaya. Later, after Singapore’s independence, it became known as the Meteorological Service Singapore.

4 BEFRIENDING CONVERSATIONS

information regarding atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature.

After compiling all the information, we would send them to the main weather forecast office at the airport and the two subsidiary offices at Paya Lebar and Tengah aerodromes.

Did you also do weather predictions? No, I was only in charge of collecting data for the weather conditions. Interpreting the data was not part of my job.

Did you have to take any tests? Yes. First, there was a probation test and one examination before I was confirmed into employment. There were two more examinations and after I passed each of them, I had a pay raise.

What were your working hours? I worked shift hours from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for six days a week.

How did you get to work? I cycled to work from my house. It took about an hour.

What did you do as a meteorological technician? Every morning and evening, we would release an instrument into the sky, which consisted of a thin plastic parachute, a reflector, and a radiosonde attached to a balloon filled with helium. At first, we used hydrogen gas, but that resulted in an explosion and some of our staff were injured, so we decided to change to helium gas. This instrument would then be tracked by our radar to tell the direction and strength of the wind, while the radiosonde attached to the instrument would transmit

CHEE HUCK JEE, METEOROLOGICAL TECHNICIAN 5

Every morning and evening, we would release

an instrument into the sky, which consisted of a thin plastic parachute, a

reflector, and a radiosonde attached to a balloon filled

with helium.”

“ What if there was a thunderstorm? We still had to work as usual. We would wait under the shelter until the rain subsided before releasing the instrument. But the biggest challenge was to release the instrument in a strong wind because otherwise it would not be able to fly.

How do you get your instruments back? We did not. The balloon would pop when it was around 28–29 km in the air, where there is a lot less pressure. By then, the balloon would have flown far away, often out of Singapore, and we could not trace them.

So you could already speak English then? I was from Anglo-Chinese Catholic School in Penang. It was an English school.

Were you born in Penang? Yes, I was born in Penang before I moved to Bukit Ho Swee — the place where the fire happened.

Did you happen to witness the Bukit Ho Swee Fire*? No, I was working at that time. My parents witnessed it though.

* see page 16

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CHEE HUCK JEE, METEOROLOGICAL TECHNICIAN 7

What happened to your house then? It was burnt down. Most of what I had was burnt, including my birth certificate. Then we moved to Jalan Satu in Kallang.

How long did you work as a meteorological technician? I retired in 1984 so I worked for about 31 years. I even received a Long Service Medal from the then President Devan Nair in 1983!

But now the weather has become unpredictable so it is hard to tell when the

monsoon seasons will arrive.”

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What do you think about the weather patterns over the years? I think the weather has definitely changed. In the past, the North-east Monsoon usually started in November. But now the weather has become unpredictable so it is hard to tell when the monsoon seasons will arrive.