MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

The Ministry of Communications and Information will continue to upgrade Singapore into a key international communications and information centre. It will train staff to higher levels of skills to handle more sophisticated telecommunications and information technology.

By 1988, we will be able to ride the first Mass Rapid Transit trains from Yio Chu Kang to Outram Park. Bus services will be rationalized to complement the MRT to provide a comprehensive network for public transport.

We will maintain our liberal policy of encouraging more airlines to fly to Singapore. We will expand and upgrade airport facilities to ensure a smooth and expeditious flow of aircraft, passengers and air cargo through Singapore. We shall build a second passenger terminal and a third cargo agents building.

We will ensure a comprehensive range of efficient services to port users at competitive prices. An eighth berth at the Tanjong Pagar Container Terminal will be completed in 1985. A multi-million dollar container freight station complex will be built to meet the anticipated increase in container traffic. We will increase our productivity and improve our international competitiveness.

We will upgrade our postal services through the use of more sophisticated mail processing machines. Post offices will be fitted with computerized on-line counter terminals to increase efficiency in handling transactions.

We will continue to expand our telephone network. There will be a telephone for every two persons in Singapore by 1989. We shall upgrade the network to handle digital signals and optical fibre cables. This will prepare the way for introducing the sophisticated telecommunication services of the new information age into our homes and businesses. All our 25 fully automatic national telephone exchanges will be linked by optical fibre cables by 1987. We will continue to enhance our communication links with the rest of the world via satellite and submarine cable systems.

We will improve the public relations work of government to keep our people well-informed and knowledgeable.

SBC will strive for better quality in its radio and TV news and current affairs programmes through higher standards of reporting, editing and presentation of local, regional and international news. More specialized information of interest to the business community will be provided.

SBC's output of local drama and music/ variety productions has enjoyed tremendous local support and attracted international interest. SBC plans to increase the number and upgrade the quality of such productions.

YEO NING HONG Minister for Communications & Information