We are here for a double celebration in Chinatown.

First, we celebrate the opening of the Chinatown Heritage Centre, which holds precious memories of old Chinatown.

And, second, we are also here to celebrate the 50^th wedding anniversary of Mdm See Cheng, one of the key personalities featured in the Chinatown Heritage Centre. 50 years ago, Mr Wong Dai Lee came to the second floor cubicle of the shophouse on my right to receive his bride, Mdm See Cheng. Tonight, they will renew their marital vows here in what is now the Chinatown Heritage Centre. We are honoured to witness this special moment in their lives.

As part of Tourism 21, the Singapore Tourism Board works closely with the National Heritage Board and other agencies to revitalise districts in Singapore with strong historical character, beginning with Chinatown.

Chinatown is of course very important in the history of early Singapore, not only to Chinese Singaporeans but also to Singaporeans of other races as well. The Chinatown Experience Guide Plan was unveiled in 1998 to coordinate our efforts. Since then, many exciting projects have been carried out. In November last year, the Chinatown Food Street located at Smith Street was launched. Three weeks ago, Telok Ayer Green was re-opened after 9 months of redevelopment. Today, we open the Chinatown Heritage Centre.

This Centre traces the history of Chinatown from the time Raffles drew up his plans for Singapore and recalls the experiences of Chinese migrants who left China in the 19^th and 20^th centuries in hope for a better life here, not only their trials and tribulations, but also their hopes and joys. Many came intending to return to China after earning some money. In the end, most stayed and made this foreign land their home. Together with the other ethnic groups, these Chinese migrants created modern Singapore. It is important for Singaporeans to know how we got here because the past is often a guide to the future.

The stories told in this Centre are based on the real-life accounts of people who lived here in Chinatown. The artefacts are either real or accurate reproductions of the originals.

For most people, life was hard. But it was generally better than life in the parts of China they came from, which was why they often paid to come. In this Centre, the tiny cubicles, the communal kitchen, the furniture and the things used in daily life remind us of what those days were like. For older Singaporeans, they bring back memories of the past. For younger Singaporeans, it is an education.

Today’s Chinatown is as lively as it was in the past. The difference is that the rest of the island is now much more developed so that, in relative terms, Chinatown no longer plays the role it once did in the economy of Singapore. For example, not very long ago, Singapore River and both its banks were an economic artery filled with tongkangs and coolies carrying sacks of rice and bales of rubber. Today, the tongkangs carry tourists and the banks are lined with pubs, restaurants and expensive apartments. The old Hill Street Police Station which kept the peace on the river now houses the Ministry for Information, Communications and the Arts.

What we are trying to do is to preserve and revive some of the old to complement the new so that modern Chinatown has a contemporary character which connects it to its history. The Chinatown Heritage Centre will add life to Chinatown and interest both Singaporeans and foreigners. We hope many Singaporeans will be inspired by Mr Wong Dai Lee’s and Mdm See Cheng’s decision to renew their marriage vows here and try also to rediscover or strengthen their links to Chinatown. The Heritage Centre will not only be open for wedding anniversaries, it will also be a venue for the celebration of traditional festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival. In this way, there is not only a heritage reason to preserve and recall the past, there is also an economic reason to do so. Every traditional Chinese festival becomes an occasion to do more business in Chinatown. Every tourist who visits Chinatown should benefits many who live here. For this reason, the Citizens’ Consultative Committee, business groups and other grassroots organizations are all actively involved in our efforts to revive the heritage of Chinatown.

Many people have worked hard to make this project a success. We are fortunate to have many of the contributors with us here today to celebrate this launch. Apart from Mr Wong Dai Lee and Mdm See Cheng, we have Mdm Yap Say Mui, Dr. Richard Eu and members of the Cheong family, just to name a few. Without the support and contribution of residents past and present, clan associations and other stakeholders, this Centre could not have been established.

(When you drink water, think of its source – never forget where one’s happiness comes from)*.

There has always been Singaporeans of other races living in Chinatown. One needs only to walk down Telok Ayer Street to realize that Singapore has been multi-racial and multi-religious from the earliest days. In the same way as we treasure and preserve the heritage of Chinatown, we are also making similar efforts in Kampong Glam, Little India and other parts of Singapore. Foreign tourists visiting Chinatown and these other places will be able to appreciate better the racial and religious diversity and cooperation which undergird Singapore society.

There are other plans for Chinatown which residents and visitors can look forward to. This includes the launch of the Kreta Ayer Square in conjunction with the Mid-Autumn Festival in September this year, and the introduction of street markets by the end of the year to bring back the vibrant nightlife of Chinatown. Next year, we will also see the completion of Ann Siang Hill Park and the installation of many more storyboard markers, and street lamps, street signage and dustbins with a heritage touch.

The Chinatown Heritage Centre is a major milestone in the revitalisation of Chinatown. With each year, we hope to do more all over Singapore to establish heritage sites. In this way, we fill Singapore with memories so that, modern as we are, we are not a hotel but a home, a place not only to work and do business, but where we raise and root our young and give them reason to be proud, self-reliant and strong.

I congratulate the National Heritage Board, the Singapore Tourism Board and all those who are involved in creating this Heritage Centre. I wish everyone here a pleasant and a memorable evening.