LocationSoutheast Asia.
Area659.9 sq km (254.8 sq miles).
Population4.4 million (UN, 2005).
Population Density6,667.7 per sq km.
CapitalSingapore City.
Population: 4.2 million (2005).
GovernmentRepublic. Gained full independence from the UK in 1965.
Recent history: In both January 1997 and September 2001, opposition parties decided to contest only a small proportion (about one-third) of the 83 seats. Not surprisingly, the People’s Action Party (PAP) won both polls comfortably.
Goh was widely expected to stand down in favor of Lee Junior and, indeed, finally did so in August 2004. In September 2005, Sellapan Ramanathan began his second six-year term as President of Singapore. He won the election after the other contenders were disqualified for not meeting the strict selection criteria.
The Parliament is unicameral; executive power nominally rests with the President, but is effectively wielded by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet: the Presidency is a largely ceremonial post whose incumbent is elected by Parliament to serve a six-year term. The 93-member Parliament is elected for a five-year term; apart from nine Presidential appointees, its members are elected under a constituency system.
LanguageMandarin Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. Most Singaporeans are bilingual and speak English, which is used as the main language of communication.
ReligionTaoist, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim.
TimeGMT + 8.
Electricity220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plug fittings of the three-pin square type are in use. Many hotels have 110-volt outlets.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Lee Hsien Loong since 2004.
Head of StatePresident Sellapan Ramanathan since 1999, re-elected in 2005.
TelephoneFull IDD is available. Country code: 65. IDD calls made from hotels are free of surcharge.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.
InternetInternet cafes throughout Singapore provide public access to Internet and e-mail services.
MediaSingapore’s media environment has the shadow of Singaporean Government cast over it. Censorship is common; Internet access is regulated; and private ownership of satellite dishes is not allowed.
PostAirmail to Europe takes up to one week. There are limited postal facilities at many hotels. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1700, Sat 0830-1300. The airport and Orchard Point branches are open daily 0700-1900. The General Post Office on Fullerton Road (near the river) and the Comcenter near Orchard Road are open 24 hours.
PressSingapore Press Holdings, which has close links to the ruling party,has a virtual monopoly of the newspaper industry. The English-languagedailies are
The Business Times (website:
http://business-times.asia1.com.sg),
The New Paper,
The Straits Times (website:
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg) and
Today (website:
www.todayonline.com).
Radio MediaCorp operates more than 12 stations in Singapore.
Unionworks operates
WKRZ, an English language station, and Mandarin station,
UFM.
Radio Singapore International operates broadcasts in four languages, including English.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.
2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
18-20 Feb Chinese New Year.
6 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
31 May Vesak Day (Birth of the Buddha).
9 Aug National Day.
13 Oct Hari Raya Puasa (End of Ramadan).
8 Nov Deepavali.
20 Dec Hari Raya Haji (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
7-9 Feb Chinese New Year.
21 Mar Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
20 May Vesak Day (Birth of the Buddha).
9 Aug National Day.
2 Oct Hari Raya Puasa (End of Ramadan).
28 Oct Deepavali.
9 Dec Hari Raya Haji (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
Note(a) Not all Muslim festivals listed above are national holidays, but all will affect Muslim businesses. Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Hari Raya Puasa (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Hari Raya Puasa itself. Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the town. (b) Hindu festivals are declared according to local astronomical observations and it is only possible to forecast the month of their occurrence.
Contact Information:High Commission for the Republic of Singapore in the UK9 Wilton Crescent Belgravia, London SW1X 8SP, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 8315.
Website:
www.mfa.gov.sg/london Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; 1000-1200 and 1400-1600 (visa section).
Singapore Tourism Board in the UK1st Floor, Carrington House, 126-130 Regent Street, London W1B 5JX, UK
Tel: (020) 7437 0033
or 08080 656 565.
Website:
www.visitsingapore.comEmbassy of the Republic of Singapore in the USA3501 International Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 537 3100.
Website:
www.mfa.gov.sg/washington Singapore Tourism Board in the USA1156 Avenue of the Americas Suite 702 New York NY 10036 USA
Tel: (212) 302 4861.
Website:
www.visitsingapore.com
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