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SINGAPORE OPENS THE CHINATOWN HERITAGE CENTRE
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12 July 2002

Singapore's Chinatown revives the tales of its early settlers, with the opening of the Republic's first ever Chinatown Heritage Centre (CHC) on July 12. 

This unique heritage centre which occupies three shophouses on Pagoda Street, is a milestone attempt to trace the lives and times of early Chinatown. 

Developed jointly by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the National Heritage Board (NHB), the project took three-and-a-half years. Inside, are true-to-life depictions of a bygone era when life was much poorer and more desperate. 

The 15 exhibition galleries across three floors invite visitors to "walk into" recreated dark and narrow corridors, along which crammed cubicles depict what life was like in the past.

From charcoal stained kitchens to a typical tailor shop, every gallery is the collective effort of former residents, whose contributions will enrich the lives of modern-day Singaporeans. From a samsui woman to an authoress, these former Chinatown residents have generously shared their stories and collections to develop this living heritage centre. 

One important contributor is Madam See Cheng, author of two books entitled 'Lotus from the Mud' and 'Down Memory Lane'. She and her husband, Mr Wong Dai Lee, grew up and married in Chinatown 50 years ago. The couple is lending added significance to the launch of the CHC by renewing their wedding vows within the recreated cubicle that Madam See Cheng helped put together. 

The happy couple will also join in the celebration dinner on Food Street to mark the opening of the CHC, complete with entertainment from a Chinese opera troupe.

Other contributions to the CHC include furniture from clan associations, a personal collection of Cantonese Opera costumes and jewellery, and an old migration pass and clothing belonging to a samsui woman. Other galleries tell stories of Chinatown's past vices such as gambling and prostitution. There is also a depiction of "death-houses" where the terminally ill laid among coffins and offerings to the dead. Equally fascinating is a wall featuring some 40 Chinese surnames and their origins.

Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry, Brigadier-General George Yeo, who officially opened the centre, said: "The stories told in this centre are based on the real-life accounts of people who lived here in Chinatown. I congratulate the Singapore Tourism Board, the National Heritage Board and all those involved in creating this heritage centre."

He added: "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 our young and give them reason to be proud, self-reliant and strong." 

The launch of CHC marks another success in STB's Chinatown Experience Guide Plan, that seeks to revitalise the ethnic district. This plan has thus far materialised such projects as the Chinatown Food Street - which has brought back street hawkers to Singapore - and the enhancement of the Telok Ayer Green Park. 

To mark CHC's opening, the STB has organised street stalls just outside the museum on Pagoda Street. The 10 stalls will entice with traditional games and snacks which used to be enjoyed in the old days of Chinatown. These stalls will ply their trade from July 12 to 14. 

The CHC will open to the public from 10 am to 7 pm daily, including public holidays. Singapore Cable Car (Pte) Ltd is the operator of the Centre. Apart from providing guided tours of CHC, the company will also provide tourist information and distribute tourism brochures.

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