Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2^nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 837-9666

Mr Alan Choe will retire as Chairman of the Sentosa Development Corporation on 28 February 2001, after over 30 years of distinguished service. Mr Philip Ng, currently Deputy Chairman, will succeed him as Chairman.

Mr Choe joined the SDC Board as a Member when it was established in 1972. He was appointed Deputy Chairman in 1977 and took over as Chairman in 1985. Mr Choe will remain as Chairman of the Sentosa Golf Club and Sentosa Cove Pte Ltd.

Mr Choe has been deeply involved in all facets of Sentosa’s development. He is responsible for its transformation from a British military base in the 1960’s to Singapore’s most popular tourist attraction and favourite recreational playground for locals. Last year, Sentosa welcomed 3.43 million visitors, of which 58% were foreign tourists. Sentosa benefited from Mr Choe’s vision, dynamism and his personal attention to details. Sentosa was sensitively master-planned and progressively developed. He introduced the monorail in Sentosa in 1982, and a causeway link to the Singapore mainland in 1992.

Mr Choe was also instrumental in bringing in major private sector investments into Sentosa, including the Beaufort Hotel, Rasa Sentosa Resort and the Underwater World, with a total investment of nearly $500 million. He personally supervised the development of many attractions that are identified with Sentosa today, including the Ferry Terminal Building, the Merlion and the new Siloso beach.

The new Chairman, Mr Philip Ng, brings with him a wealth of experience in the private sector. As Chief Executive Officer of Far East Organization, Mr Ng has served in various public sector committees and boards. Mr Ng will lead SDC in its next phase of development as a recreational lifestyle destination for both locals as well as tourists.

MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY