http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100909-0000132/Spore-has-room-for-7,5m-people--Ex-HDB-chief
S'pore has room for 7.5m people: Ex-HDB chief
SINGAPORE - The quality of life in Singapore will not be heavily affected even if the population were to hit 7.5 million people, said Dr Liu Thai Ker, the former chief executive of the Housing and Development Board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Asked what he thought was the "appropriate size" for Singapore's population after a Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) lecture yesterday, Dr Liu said: "Since we have planned for 5.5 million people (in the Singapore Concept Plan 1991), if we increase ... to, say, 6, 6.2 million, I think that additional 10 to 12 per cent will not make a huge difference."
There are still the islands of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong to fall back on, quipped Dr Liu, who was addressing the issue purely from a planner's perspective.
"If we have to grow to 7.5 million, personally I think it would not cause a deterioration of the environment.
"But beyond that, we need to do some re-thinking," he added.
Dr Liu, who chairs the CLC advisory board and is director of RSP Architects, spoke on the importance of urban planning in his lecture.
Singapore is the only success story of urbanisation in the 20th century in terms of dealing with high population density and high-rise living, he said.
Foreign visitors are always surprised when they learn the Republic is home to 30 golf courses and seven airstrips.
"Good planning can help you have your cake and eat it," said Dr Liu.
S'pore has room for 7.5m people: Ex-HDB chief
SINGAPORE - The quality of life in Singapore will not be heavily affected even if the population were to hit 7.5 million people, said Dr Liu Thai Ker, the former chief executive of the Housing and Development Board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Asked what he thought was the "appropriate size" for Singapore's population after a Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) lecture yesterday, Dr Liu said: "Since we have planned for 5.5 million people (in the Singapore Concept Plan 1991), if we increase ... to, say, 6, 6.2 million, I think that additional 10 to 12 per cent will not make a huge difference."
There are still the islands of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong to fall back on, quipped Dr Liu, who was addressing the issue purely from a planner's perspective.
"If we have to grow to 7.5 million, personally I think it would not cause a deterioration of the environment.
"But beyond that, we need to do some re-thinking," he added.
Dr Liu, who chairs the CLC advisory board and is director of RSP Architects, spoke on the importance of urban planning in his lecture.
Singapore is the only success story of urbanisation in the 20th century in terms of dealing with high population density and high-rise living, he said.
Foreign visitors are always surprised when they learn the Republic is home to 30 golf courses and seven airstrips.
"Good planning can help you have your cake and eat it," said Dr Liu.
