Julius Chan

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Sir Julius Chan, GCL, GCMG, KBE, PC (陳仲民 Pinyin: Chén Zhòngmín) (born 29 August 1939) was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea in 1980–1982 and 1994–1997.

Born on Tanga Island, New Ireland to Chin Pak (陳柏), a trader from Taishan, China, Julius Chan was educated at Marist College Ashgrove in Australia and first became actively involved in politics in the 1960s. He was Deputy Prime Minister three times (1976, 1985, 1986), and Minister of Finance twice (1972–1977, 1992–1994). He also held the portfolios of Primary Industry (1976), and External Affairs and Trade (1994). Chan became leader of the People's Progress Party in 1970. He held that positiion until 1982, when he became the leader of the Minority Party(PNG). He was knighted as Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1981, and appointed a Privy Counsellor the next year.

His re-election campaign in August 1994 had a dual platform: national security and appropriate economic management. In 1997, the Chan government's million-dollar contract with Sandline International, a mercenary organization, to counter separatist guerrilla on Bougainville caused the Sandline affair, with immense public protests and a 10-day mutiny by the underpaid national army. On 20 April 1997, during an inquiry that started on 21 March that caused five ministers to resign, the Parliament defeated a motion calling on Chan to resign (59-38). However, the next day, Chan and two ministers chose to step down.

Chan married Stella, Lady Chan in 1966 and has four children: Vanessa Andrea, Byron James, Mark Gavin, and Toea Julius.

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