HAW PAR VILLA (Preservation and maintenance)

Encik Abbas Abu Amin asked the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry if the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board has details of a plan to preserve and maintain Haw Par Villa which attracts both tourists and Singaporeans.

The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Dr Lee Boon Yang) (for the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, Sir, I shall be answering on behalf of my Minister.

Sir, the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board indeed intends to preserve and maintain Haw Par Villa as an attraction for both tourists and Singaporeans.

In response to advertisements placed in local and international newspapers, STPB has received 10 private sector proposals to redevelop Haw Par Villa and two adjoining plots of land into a "Chinese Mythological Theme Park".

Apart from preserving and enhancing the existing exhibits, the plan is to recreate the traditional Chinese settings within the Garden and introduce new theme park attractions. The project will require private investment exceeding $20 million.

An announcement of the award of the project will be made shortly. When completed in about two years' time, Haw Par Villa will be a unique attraction for both tourists and Singaporeans.