[Shop N Win Grand Draw cum Thai Cultural Event at Hougang Central]
SPEECH BY GEORGE YEO, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND MP FOR ALJUNIED GRC, AT THE SHOP N WIN GRAND
DRAW CUM THAI CULTURAL EVENT AT HOUGANG
CENTRAL ON 1 MAR 2008 AT 7.45 PM

Dear Friends
Ladies and Gentlemen

1. We have three big celebrations this evening.

2. First, we are here for the Chinese New Year grand lucky draw. Over the Chinese New Year, shoppers who patronize participating shops in Hougang Central are eligible to win valuable prizes. The grand prize is a Geely motorcar.

3. Second, we have just announced the plans for the upgrading of Hougang Central. Near here, the land in front of Blk 811 will be tendered out for a two-storey building selling fresh produce and cooked food. Surface car parks will be provided next to it, in front of Blk 804. Additional car parks will also be built next to the HDB Branch Office near the MRT station. HDB will also install an ERP system for all the car parks in the vicinity. Other minor works will be carried out as well to enhance the entire area. This is the second upgrading programme for Hougang Central. The last one was completed at the end of 2004.

4. Third, we are also here this evening to celebrate good Singapore-Thailand relations. This evening, we have Thai Ambassador Nopadol Gunavibool as our special guest. Please give him a round of applause. With the return of a democratic government in Thailand, our bilateral relations have been fully normalized. Last week, the new Thai Foreign Minister Nappadon Pattama stayed back for a bilateral visit after the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Later this month, the new Thai PM Samak Sundaravej will also be visiting Singapore. As part of the celebration, we are having Thai products on sale at Hougang Hub, free Thai massage, Thai boxing and naturally we are also having Thai dishes for this
evening's dinner.

5. I want to thank members of the CCC Shop Sub-Committee for all your help in proposing ideas for upgrading the area and for organising this evening's event. I thank HDB and the Town Council for working so hard to provide facilities for our residents and shoppers. I also thank the Thai Ambassador for choosing Hougang Central as the place for us to celebrate our good bilateral relations.

6. I wish everyone a happy evening!

外交部长杨荣文在后港中心购物赢奖乐幸运大抽奖
暨泰国文化节晚宴上的致词
2008年3月1日,晚上7时45分

亲爱的朋友们、女士们、先生们:

今晚,我们有三件值得庆祝的喜事。

首先，我们将举行幸运大抽奖。所有参与有奖购物活动的顾客，都有机会赢取丰富奖品。大奖是一辆吉利轿车。

第二，建屋发展局刚宣布了后港中心翻新计划。我们将在离这儿不远的大牌811前的空地上兴建一座两层楼高的建筑。到时候，我们将可以到那儿购买新鲜的蔬菜、水果和熟食。我们也会在旁边的大牌804前，建造一座露天停车场。在地铁站附近的建屋发展局分区办事处旁也将兴建更多停车场。建屋发展局将在附近所有的停车场安装电子收费系统，为驾车人士提供更便捷的服务。另外，我们还将推出一些规模较小的工程项目来美化后港中心。这是继2004年后港中心改造后又一个翻新计划。

第三，今晚我们将一起庆祝新加坡和泰国双边友好关系。我们很荣幸地邀请到泰国大使Nopadol Gunavibool担任今晚活动的特别嘉宾。让我们以热烈的掌声欢迎他！随着泰国民主制度的恢复，新泰两国的关系已经全面正常化。上个星期，新上任的泰国外交部长参加了在圣淘沙举行的亚细安外长会议之后，对我国进行了官方访问。这个月，泰国新首相沙玛（Samak Sundaravej）也将访问我国。为了庆祝新泰两国的友好关系，后港中心举行了一系列活动。除了售卖泰国产品外，也提供免费的泰式按摩和泰拳表演。当然，我们今晚也能品尝到美味的泰国佳肴。

在此，我要感谢咨询委员会商店小组成员为翻新计划所提供的建议以及为筹备今晚活动所付出的努力；我还要感谢建屋发展局和市镇理事会尽心尽力地为区内居民和顾客提供完善的服务；我也要特别感谢泰国大使莅临后港中心和我们一起庆祝新泰双边友好关系。

最后，我祝大家有一个愉快的夜晚。谢谢！







Do also read my posts on Beyond SG