Gala Dinner
PM Lee Hsien Loong celebrates HDB’s 50th anniversary with officials from MND and HDB at the Raffles City Convention Centre on 26 January 2010.
HDB is a central part of the Singapore Story, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. For over half a century, it has housed a growing population and was integral in nation-building. Speaking at a gala dinner on 26 January to mark the Board’s 50th anniversary, as well as to launch the International Housing Conference 2010, the Prime Minister also reflected on HDB’s success, and noted how “two generations of Singaporeans have grown up in HDB flats.”
“Nobody else but the Government can build houses not just to achieve a housing objective, but to achieve a social goal – racial integration, community bonding, establishing and upgrading and maintaining a high quality living environment for the whole community,” he observed.
Please click here for PM Lee's full speech.
International Housing Conference 2010
Around 500 eminent policymakers, architects, urban planners and professionals from over 20 countries gathered over the following two days at the Suntec Convention Centre to learn more about the HDB story. They also shared their experiences, ideas and perspectives on sustainable housing at a variety of plenary and expert sessions.
In his opening address, Minister for National Development Mr Mah Bow Tan stressed that public housing in the 21st century must evolve to meet changing needs, such as an ageing population, rising affluence and increased expectations.
“In this globalised world, we face many common challenges: climate change, migration, demographic shifts, shrinking resources, among others,” he told the conference. “These challenges impact all cities alike, large or small, developed or developing, sooner or later.”
engaging exchanges between MM Lee
Kuan Yew and moderator Professor
Tommy Koh during the dialogue
session
“As the public housing authority, HDB’s key task is to find innovative ways to accommodate our people, taking these challenges into account,” he said.
Please click here for Minister Mah's full speech.
A highlight of the conference was the dialogue session with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, where delegates had the privilege to hear from the man who envisioned a nation of homeowners and mooted the idea of “Home Ownership for the People” nearly half a century ago.
“We decided from the very beginning, everybody must have a home, every family will have something to defend. And that home, we developed over the years into the most valuable asset,” said MM Lee.
Site Visits
As part of the IHC 2010, conference delegates also got to embark on half-day site visits to HDB towns. The visit tracks offered the overseas visitors an opportunity to understand how HDB, through its planning efforts and estate renewal strategies, created environmentally friendly, vibrant and sustainable homes for Singaporeans.
On the itinerary were trips to the newly revamped HDB Gallery, Punggol and Sengkang new towns, as well as guided tours around Toa Payoh Town and its studio apartments, plus HDB’s milestone project, The Pinnacle@Duxton.
Further Celebrations
Besides the gala dinner and the IHC, there were other celebratory events organised in conjunction with the 50th anniversary. For more information on the programmes and activities held to mark this occasion, please click here to learn more.