Esther Ng Today Online 15 Nov 11;
SINGAPORE - It has been almost 50 years since former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew launched his Garden City movement.
And just as becoming a Garden City took "strong political will" and dedication, achieving the "City in a Garden" vision will need "innovation, ownership and dedication" at all levels of society, said Mr Lee yesterday.
Mr Lee was speaking at a tour of the Flower Dome, one of the two conservatories at Singapore's Gardens by the Bay.
Mr Lee hailed Gardens by the Bay as a world-class garden, a testimony to how far Singapore has progressed in greening the city-state, and one that will contribute to the vision of "City in a Garden".
"It will showcase what we can do to bring the world of plants to all Singaporeans," he said. "The gardens will no doubt continue to grow and this is where the support of the corporate community and individual will make this Garden the pride of Singapore."
He added that he was sure that Singaporeans will grow to love the gardens "as much as they do the Singapore Botanic Gardens".
Despite urbanisation, Singapore has become more green since the time he planted his first tree at Holland Road Circus in 1963, as Singapore has set aside land for gardens, parks and nature reserves, Mr Lee noted.
"Many visitors are amazed at our tree-lined roads, and this has become an economic value for us," said Mr Lee.
"More importantly, Singaporeans today live in beautifully landscaped housing estates, and are able to exercise and enjoy fresh air in the urban oases right at their doorsteps. None of this would have been possible without decades of conscientious planning and commitment," he added.
The Flower Dome is open this week to the public for preview.
Mr Lee takes in the blooms at Gardens by the Bay
Tessa Wong Straits Times 15 Nov 11;
AFTER a tour of Singapore's newest gem at Marina Bay, the man who envisioned Singapore as a Garden City declared: 'I am sure Singaporeans will grow to love Gardens by the Bay as much as they do the Botanic Gardens.'
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's former prime minister, gave his nod of approval yesterday as he took in the bountiful blooms in the Flower Dome, one of three sections in the Gardens by the Bay complex being developed by the National Parks Board (NParks).
Under a soaring glass dome, Mr Lee viewed landscaped exhibits that featured, among others, olive and palm trees, before he stopped to admire sprays of butterfly orchids that were part of the ongoing World Orchid Show.
The show ends on Nov 20, which is when the Flower Dome will also be closed to the public until its scheduled opening next June.
The journey to building this 'world-class garden' by the bay can be traced back almost 50 years, recalled Mr Lee.
In 1963, he planted his first tree in Holland Road Circus.
'It was to make Singapore green,' he told about 100 people who were invited to yesterday's special preview of the Flower Dome for their contributions to the creation of the new Eden.
Cities of concrete buildings, tarmac and pavements would be depressing and unpleasant to live in, he said. 'You need to balance that with trees and flowers.'
Almost half of Singapore is covered with greenery, he noted, adding that 'this has become an economic value to us'.
Also important are the beautifully landscaped housing estates, he said: 'None of this would have been possible without decades of conscientious planning and commitment.'
But many countries also plant trees now and call themselves garden cities, he said, and to remain competitive, Singapore has a new vision: City in a Garden.
It is not just about developing green infrastructure: 'We are building a home to be proud of in the next few decades.'
Urging Singaporeans to work with the Government on it, he said: 'Just as becoming a Garden City took strong political will, dedication and support from Singaporeans, achieving the City in a Garden vision will need innovation, ownership, and dedication at all levels of society.'
Looking at the corporate bigwigs before him, he expressed confidence that support from 'the corporate community and individual will make this garden the pride of Singapore'.
Among the business leaders were hotelier Ong Beng Seng; his wife Christina, owner of luxury retail company Club 21 and chairman of NParks; City Developments executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng; and former banker Theresa Foo, who is chairman of Gardens by the Bay.
Dr Tan Wee Kiat, chief executive officer of Gardens by the Bay, said Mr Lee was curious to know if the plants would grow any bigger, and whether the baobab trees from Africa were all from the same genetic background.
Dr Tan told him the plants were mature and unlikely to grow bigger, and the baobabs were of different specimens.
'He was very curious, and very interested in everything he saw,' said Dr Tan.
