ADDENDA TO PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY, 6TH JANUARY, 1992 MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS

MR MAH BOW TAN Minister for Communications

Air Transport

We aim to maintain Changi Airport's reputation as the best airport in the world. We will invest $200 million to improve facilities for transit passengers, and refurbish Terminal 1 to the standard of the newly completed Terminal 2. We will build a fourth cargo agents' building at a cost of $60 million. This will increase Changi Airport's cargo handling capacity by 350,000 tonnes per year, to 1.1 million tonnes, making Singapore one of the largest air cargo centres in the region.

Sea Transport

2. We will strive to maintain our premier status as the world's busiest port and the number one container port. Over the next five years, we will invest $2.2 billion in new port facilities. The first three berths at the Brani Terminal will commence operations in 1992. When completed in 1994, the Terminal will have the capacity to handle 4 million TEUs a year. PSA is also planning a new container port to serve our needs in the 21st century.

3. The container freight station at Nelson Road will be completed by end 1993. It will boost our position as a regional cargo distribution centre. The Singapore Cruise Centre will begin operations in early 1992, and will make Singapore the cruise hub in the Southeast Asian Region.

Telecommunications

4. Singapore Telecom will be corporatised in 1992. Subsequently, its shares will be sold to the public.

5. The national and international telecommunications infrastructure will be upgraded at a cost of $3.7 billion over the next 5 years. The telephone network will be completely digitised by 1994.

6. The optical fibre submarine cable linking Singapore and Brunei will be inaugurated in 1992. Singapore will then be linked by optical fibre cables to the Asia Pacific region and the US via Brunei and the Philippines. We can then provide users with an efficient and high quality international telecommunication service.

7. An integrated postal complex will be built at Jalan Eunos by 1995. It will use modern technology to process mail and improve our mail service.

Land Transport

8. We will strive to keep our roads free-flowing, so that people and goods can move about efficiently and smoothly. We will continue to improve the Vehicle Quota System to allocate scarce and valuable road space as fairly and efficiently as possible to vehicle owners. Towards the middle of the decade, we expect to implement the Electronic Road Pricing System, in order to charge road users according to 2usage, and price roads according to congestion. This will be a more responsive and sensitive way to control traffic flow. More people will then be able to own cars.

9. We will continue to improve public transport to make it more convenient, accessible and affordable to commuters. Work on the $1 billion MRT extension to Woodlands has started and will be completed in five to six years' time. We will encourage bus operators to further upgrade their buses and streamline their routes, to provide a comprehensive network of public transport service together with the MRT.