Build the most beautiful city you can; plant as many trees as you can; invest in the latest technology; conserve water, energy and resources; and find honest, competent and visionary leadership
I spoke at the Opening Plenary of the Singapore International Water Week 2012, World Cities Summit and CleanEnviro Summit. Professor Tommy Koh, who was the moderator, asked:
“Minister, my question to you is two-fold. First, this plenary brings together our colleagues from water, city and the environment. What is the common thread that ties the three together, and what are some lessons learned that you would like to share with us?”
Gardens by the Bay
Rio+20: Future cities and national urban policies – The paradox of building a city in a garden is that we actually have to be very high-rise, highly urbanised, highly compact and very dense
Excerpts from speech delivered at UN Habitat Meeting in Rio de Janeiro 21 June 2012.
The moderator asked, “What does even perfect Singapore still confront that other cities can learn?”
Let me put things in perspective. The distance from this conference hall to Copacabana Beach is 30 km. That is the entire size of Singapore from east to west. The population of Singapore is the population of Norway – 5 million – squeezed into land between RioCentro (Convention Centre) and Copacabana beach. But 47% of the land is still covered by trees, either virgin jungle or trees that we have planted.
Design competition for new Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre
NTUC Foodfare to be appointed manager of the new Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre.
NEA-SIA Design Competition For BPHC
A design competition co-organised by NEA and the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) will be launched on 11 June for the design of the upcoming BPHC. NEA is seeking innovative new ideas from architects that address the local identity and context. In particular, special consideration will be placed on designs that are attractive, practical, cost effective, environmentally sustainable and promote social bonding.
Singapore’s water industry doubles to 100 companies
Excerpts from press release by PUB, EDB, IE Singapore & Spring
Since being identified as a strategic growth industry in 2006, Singapore’s water sector has experienced rapid growth, with the total number of companies doubling from 50 to about 100. Over the same period, Singapore-based water companies also secured over 100 international projects worth close to S$9 billion.
Industry Update and Strategies
Singapore’s water industry continued its growth momentum in 2011 with investments which will add S$130 million of annual value-add and generate 460 jobs when fully realised.
Lim Hock Siew (1931-2012) – a fiercely independent unbending tenacious political fighter all his life
I remember meeting him 24 years ago at a party hosted by my mentor Professor. Arthur Lim. They were classmates in medical school and life long friends.
He introduced himself as “I am Lim Hock Siew, and just came out of prison a few years ago!”
We had a good chat and he freely shared his life experiences. I was struck by the absence of bitterness despite all his sacrifices. I think he knew in his heart that he was a patriot, and was proud that he never gave in.