Hwa Chong Institution (High School Section)
Geography, Population
Reading
Name: ____________________ ( ) Date: ________ Class : Sec 2 __
Read the 2 readings below and answer the following question:
What are your views on the White Paper – especially on the need for foreigners
to boost Singapore’s growth and accommodating the expected 6.9 m
population.
3 key issues in population debate
AS THE population debate continues, there are three key aspects that need to be
addressed.
First, as citizens, we are concerned about overcrowding, dilution of our national identity and
our children's future.
But we also need to think as consumers of goods and services.
As enlightened consumers, we want quality and convenience. The irony arises when we say
we do not want too many foreigners.
We cannot do without our maids, the construction workers who build our homes, and the
waiters who serve us in restaurants.
There is no dichotomy between being a citizen and a consumer; we need to wear both hats.
If our "primary hat" is that of a citizen, and we are against overcrowding and dilution of
national identity, we have to make some tough choices.
The consumer in us would have to settle for, perhaps, slower service, or we may have to
serve ourselves.
Somehow, we have forgotten that the services and convenience that we have enjoyed are
supported by a large number of foreigners.
Second, while it is easy to assess productivity in the fields of manufacturing and
construction, where machines can replace workers, what about the service sector?
In this sector, high-quality service often means very low productivity. For example, an air
stewardess serving only a limited number of passengers in the premium class, or a private
banker serving only a few high-net-worth clients, provides good service but has low
productivity.
What about childcare centres and health-care facilities? High-quality services would naturally
mean a low service provider to customer ratio.
There are limited technology and automation options in the service, health and education
industries.
Third, a common identity will bring solidarity, but dreams are what people live and fight for.
A decade ago, Singaporeans aspired to have the 5Cs - cash, credit card, car, condominium
and country club membership. This dream was fuelled by a desire for a better life.
Cars, with the high certificate of entitlement prices nowadays, have become out of reach for
many. Even the country clubs' golf courses may have to go soon.
It is time to redefine the Singapore Dream to one that is more qualitative, and will enable us
to sink our roots deeper as stakeholders and do our collective part to make Singapore a
better home.
Edwin Sam
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/3-key-issues-population-debate20130221
To house 2 m people in Singapore
Veteran architect proposes building up southern coast
Leonard Lim Straits Times 22 Feb 13;
Even as the debate continues over the 6.9 million figure in the population White Paper,
veteran architect Tay Kheng Soon said at an industry lecture last night that Singapore can
accommodate a population increase of up to two million.
All two million would be housed on a 2,187ha swathe of land along the southern coastline,
stretching from Pandan Reservoir in the west to the East Coast Park beach.
Land where the Keppel and Marina Bay golf courses are currently sited would make way for
housing, as would the port area once container port functions are consolidated in Tuas in the
long term.
Space around the Gardens by the Bay would cater to the super-rich, with homes built on the
sea to entice those keen on waterfront living. Some parts of the south would also be for
schools, offices and factories.
And while this might mean Singapore loses its biggest beach, he said all other areas,
including green and heritage spaces, need not be "disturbed".
Mr Tay's "southern intensification" proposal comes two weeks after an intense parliamentary
debate over the population White Paper that projects Singapore's population rising by 1.6
million by 2030.
"What I hear is a lot of grumbling (about the White Paper), so let us as a profession
contribute," said the former president of the Singapore Institute of Architects who is known
for his outspoken and at times radical views.
The 73-year-old said his ideas came about before the policy document was unveiled, and
were several years in the making. "I've been wanting to know the density limit for
Singapore."
Unlike the Government Land Use Plan which also proposes reclaiming more land and
consolidating military activities onto Tekong Island, his proposal focuses on the single large
strip of land, building more densely on it.
Based on an assumption of 50 sq m of floor area per person that is comparable to a region
in Virginia on the East Coast of the United States, a gross plot ratio of 4.5 can accommodate
1.968 million, he said. If this ratio is lowered to 4, then about 1.75 million people can be
housed in the south.
Gross plot ratio is a measure of the density of building units in a given space. He said that
the highest ratio here currently is 3.24, in Punggol.
Meanwhile, he proposed restructuring estates in other parts of Singapore, by having a
central corridor in each. Schools, businesses and other amenities would be located along it,
to build social cohesion and bonding.
The lecture drew a crowd of about 100 guests, including vice-president of the Economic
Society of Singapore Yeoh Lam Keong.
Despite the seemingly controversial nature of the southern intensification plan, no one raised
questions about it during a question-and-answer session after the lecture, at the Singapore
Institute of Architects' premises in Tanjong Pagar.
Mr Yeoh, who has been following the population White Paper debate, told The Straits Times
later: "Physically you might be able to squeeze in another two million... but it doesn't fully
measure or avoid the negative impact on social well-being from increase in income and
wealth inequality and overcrowding in common facilities."
Responding, Mr Tay said: "That's why I proposed not intensifying land use in other parts of
Singapore, so that we can build social cohesion there. It will be like New York in the south of
the country, and Bali in the north."
http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2013/02/a-plan-to-house-2m-morepeople.html#.USczCqVBOSo
Read more on the White Paper at:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1250894/1/.html