Singapore Speakers' Corner is a local version of London's Speakers' Corner

Speakers' Corner

A Speakers' Corner is an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion are allowed. The original and most noted is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London, United Kingdom. Speakers there may speak on any subject, as long as the police consider their speeches lawful, although...

, where members of the public can give speeches and engage public debates. Launched on September 1, 2000, the Singapore Speakers' Corner was created as critics claimed Singapore's strict censorship laws were not giving enough space to public debate.

The Speakers' Corner is located at Hong Lim Park, with the boundaries clearly demarcated. It was chosen as it was a popular venue for political rallies in the 50s and 60s. It is open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm for citizens to give speeches and public debates.

The first person to speak was Mr Lim Kian Heng, aged 40. He spoke about the state of law enforcement in Singapore. In total, 19 people registered to speak on the opening day.

As of today, the initial enthusiasm has waned, and there are very few spectators or audience at the corner. In the state-funded documentary The History of Singapore (2006), Senior Minister

Senior Minister

Senior Minister is a political office in the political system of Singapore taken by a prime minister or senior cabinet minister when he or she retires from that office, but still has something to offer the government based on his or her long experience...

 Goh Chok Tong

Goh Chok Tong

Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...

 is quoted as saying that "to me it [the Speaker's Corner] is very successful, because very few people go there to speak".

Regulations

At the point of its inception, the Speakers' Corner was regulated by the Singapore Police Force

Singapore Police Force

The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...

. The original regulations which were in force included:

• Only Singapore citizens can speak.
• Religious and racial issues are not allowed.
• Microphones and loud speakers are prohibited.
• Speakers must register at the Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post before speaking.

In 2004, public exhibitions and performances were added to the list of exempted activities at the Speakers' Corner.

From 1 September 2008, Singapore citizens can also organise or participate in demonstrations at Speakers' Corner without having to obtain a police permit. With this latest change in policy to allow the venue to be used freely as an outdoor demonstration site, coupled with the liberalisation on the use of sound amplification and the extension of operating hours of the venue, the Speakers' Corner aims to address the genuine desire by some Singaporeans for lawful outdoor demonstrations and processions as a means of political expression.

Singapore citizens who wish to hold a speech, exhibition/performance or demonstration at the Speakers' Corner can register onlinehttp://www.nparks.gov.sgwith the National Parks Board, who manages Hong Lim Park and will also now regulate the Speakers' Corner.
In July 2009, five CCTVs were installed in the vicinity of Speakers' Corner.

External links

• Lets go to Speakers' Corner Unofficial site for listing events at Speakers' Corner Singapore