predecessor successor death_date px|center|order birth_place death_place party primeminister birth_date term_start spouse image article_title term_end name
edward luckhoo -lrb- acting -rrb- forbes burnham 23 june 2008 1st president of guyana windsor forest , west demerara , british guiana bel air springs , guyana independent forbes burnham 10 january 1918 17 march 1970 doreen chung president arthur chung.jpg arthur chung
 6 october 1980 arthur raymond chung
arthur chung

arthur chung -lrb- january 10 , 1918 -- june 23 , 2008 -rrb- was the first president of guyana from 1970 to 1980 .
he was the first ethnic chinese -lrb- hakka -rrb- head of state in a non-asian country .
during his time as president of guyana , the office was that of a ceremonial head of state , with real power in the hands of prime minister forbes burnham .
he was awarded guyana 's highest national award , the order of excellence -lrb- o.e. -rrb- .
