EZ-Link rolls out world’s first dual-currency transit card | TODAYonline:
SINO Visitor Pass developed with Guangdong Lingnan Pass; Transport Minister Lui also oversees eight project signings involving Singapore companies, organisations
2013 Aug 21
GUANGZHOU — Singapore company EZ-Link unveiled the world’s first dual-currency transit card that can be used across international borders at the fifth Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council (SGCC) meeting in Guangzhou today (Aug 21).
The SINO Visitor Pass, developed jointly with Guangdong Lingnan Pass, will be issued by both companies in Singapore and Guangdong and will carry two currencies — the Singapore dollar and renminbi (RMB) — which can be used at all points that accept either EZ-Link cards or Lingnan Pass.
The card is expected to be officially launched in both markets in the first half of next year, enabling SINO Visitor Pass users to make payments at over 100,000 retail and transit points.
In the second phase of development, EZ-Link and Guangdong Lingnan Pass intend to extend usage of the card to payment for a wider range of items including goods, services and tickets of tourist attractions and performances. There are also plans to widen the card usage to other parts of China.
The unveiling in Guangzhou was witnessed by SGCC co-Chairmen, Singapore’s Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew and Guangdong Vice-Governor Zhao Yufang.
“We have a strong and mutually beneficial partnership with Guangdong. As Singapore companies contribute to Guangdong’s economic transformation, Singapore is also seeing strong number of Guangdong tourists and businesses here,” Mr Lui in his closing address.
“Last year, we received 266,000 Guangdong tourists; this is about 15 per cent of total Chinese visitors to Singapore. In the same year, 12 Guangdong companies with a combined investment of US$240 million (S$306.4 million) set up presence here. We are pleased with these positive developments and hope to do more with Guangdong.”
Guangdong was one of the earliest Chinese provinces to embrace reforms and has led China’s provinces in GDP growth for 24 consecutive years.
Following the meeting, Mr Lui and Mr Zhao witnessed eight project signings involving Singapore-based companies and organisations.
The SGCC, which is into its fifth year, is also set to explore business opportunities in three pilot zones in Guangdong province: Hengqin, Nansha and Qianhai.
The Council’s secretariats are International Enterprise (IE) Singapore and Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
HomeTeamNS REAL Run returns to Sentosa
The HomeTeamNS REAL Run returned to Sentosa island on Saturday after six years
SINGAPORE: Labelled as Singapore's toughest 10-kilometre race in 2013, the HomeTeamNS REAL Run finally returned to Sentosa island on Saturday after six years.
This year's race was held at the more scenic Sentosa island after being staged in Changi for the past six editions.
A total of 6,000 participants competed at the event and 5,500 of them negotiated a 10-kilometre route criss-crossed between regular tarmac, gravel and beach sand.
The Kenyans swept the top spots in both the Men's and Women's Open categories.
In the Men's Open, Paul Kimani came in first with a time of 35 minutes and 17 seconds, while Jackline Muriuki clocked 40 minutes and 20 seconds to win the Women's Open.
- CNA/fa
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SINGAPORE: Labelled as Singapore's toughest 10-kilometre race in 2013, the HomeTeamNS REAL Run finally returned to Sentosa island on Saturday after six years.
This year's race was held at the more scenic Sentosa island after being staged in Changi for the past six editions.
A total of 6,000 participants competed at the event and 5,500 of them negotiated a 10-kilometre route criss-crossed between regular tarmac, gravel and beach sand.
The Kenyans swept the top spots in both the Men's and Women's Open categories.
In the Men's Open, Paul Kimani came in first with a time of 35 minutes and 17 seconds, while Jackline Muriuki clocked 40 minutes and 20 seconds to win the Women's Open.
- CNA/fa
-->
The Straits Times Run in the Park: Scenic run for readers along Punggol, Sengkang river
By Priscilla Kham
Published on May 15, 2013 6:32 PM
The Straits Times Run in the Park: Scenic run for readers along Punggol, Sengkang river:
Readers will get a chance to get close to nature at the inaugural The Straits Times' Run in the Park on Aug 25.
The route for the event covers the scenic waterway of the North Eastern Riverine Loop which spans the natural coastline of Punggol Beach, and the river banks of Punggol and Sengkang. In what is the biggest run ever along this corridor, participants will not only get to close to lush greenery but they can expect to catch a glimpse of colourful waterside birds.
Said editor of The Straits Times, Mr Warren Fernandez: "Many of our readers love to get outdoors and have fun while keeping fit. They read us for the latest news and trends on just how to do that, so we have decided to take them to this unique spot on the park connector network for a run with a difference."
"We will also be with our runners every step of the way as they prepare for the run, in our coverage in the run-up to the event, in our Home pages and the Mind Your Body pages."
The run, which is part of the Straits Times Appreciates Readers (STAR) series to actively engage its readers and the community, is being held in collaboration with the National Parks Board which is commemorating "50 Years of Greening Singapore".
There are three runs available for the participants: a 5km fun run, 10km competitive run and a 15km competitive run. The registration fee for competitive runners is $55, while the registration fee for the fun run is $46. Those who sign up as a group of four pay $50 and $42 each respectively for the competitive and fun run.
For their registration fee, participants will receive a ticket to the Resorts World Sentosa's S.E.A Aquarium worth $33, a New Balance t-shirt worth $47 and other attractive goodies.
Registration begins early June and can be done online, through readers' mobile devices and at upcoming roadshows for the event.
Published on May 15, 2013 6:32 PM
The Straits Times Run in the Park: Scenic run for readers along Punggol, Sengkang river:
Readers will get a chance to get close to nature at the inaugural The Straits Times' Run in the Park on Aug 25.
The route for the event covers the scenic waterway of the North Eastern Riverine Loop which spans the natural coastline of Punggol Beach, and the river banks of Punggol and Sengkang. In what is the biggest run ever along this corridor, participants will not only get to close to lush greenery but they can expect to catch a glimpse of colourful waterside birds.
Said editor of The Straits Times, Mr Warren Fernandez: "Many of our readers love to get outdoors and have fun while keeping fit. They read us for the latest news and trends on just how to do that, so we have decided to take them to this unique spot on the park connector network for a run with a difference."
"We will also be with our runners every step of the way as they prepare for the run, in our coverage in the run-up to the event, in our Home pages and the Mind Your Body pages."
The run, which is part of the Straits Times Appreciates Readers (STAR) series to actively engage its readers and the community, is being held in collaboration with the National Parks Board which is commemorating "50 Years of Greening Singapore".
There are three runs available for the participants: a 5km fun run, 10km competitive run and a 15km competitive run. The registration fee for competitive runners is $55, while the registration fee for the fun run is $46. Those who sign up as a group of four pay $50 and $42 each respectively for the competitive and fun run.
For their registration fee, participants will receive a ticket to the Resorts World Sentosa's S.E.A Aquarium worth $33, a New Balance t-shirt worth $47 and other attractive goodies.
Registration begins early June and can be done online, through readers' mobile devices and at upcoming roadshows for the event.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Bedok's Berlin Wall to go back to US owners
Bedok's Berlin Wall to go back to US owners: Housed in a glass, steel and concrete facility at Bedok Reservoir Park, the 5m-long section of the Berlin Wall features the spray-painted artwork of German artist Dennis Kaun, called Kings Of Freedom.
By Lisabel Ting
The Straits Times
Apr 19, 2013
FOUR panels of the historic Berlin Wall on display in Bedok Reservoir Park will be returned to their owners by the end of this year.
The 5m-long section of the wall, which was unveiled here in January 2010 to much fanfare, is on indefinite loan from American oil industry veteran Robert Hefner III, 78, and his Singapore- born wife MeiLi.
The couple plan to move the wall back to one of their properties in the United States, former foreign minister George Yeo revealed in an e-mail interview with The Straits Times.
Mr Yeo is a friend of the Hefners and former MP for Bedok Reservoir-Punggol.
The National Parks Board also confirmed the return of the wall panels.
Mr Yeo said: "When the Hefners told me some months ago that they wanted the wall back, I expressed sadness and the strong hope that they would keep it at Bedok Reservoir for a while longer. But it is a decision they have taken which I have to respect."
The couple, who are art collectors, acquired the 4m-high, 60cm-thick segments in 1990 - a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall - for an undisclosed amount.
Spray-painted on the concrete slabs are two kings, one smiling and one looking sad.
Titled Kings Of Freedom, the painting is the work of German artist Dennis Kaun.
The Hefners originally wanted to exhibit the pieces with their collection of Chinese oil paintings at the National Museum of Singapore in September 2008, but it proved logistically impractical to transport the pieces here and back to their original location in Oklahoma City a month later.
Mr Yeo, who is now based in Hong Kong as chairman of Kerry Logistics Network, had offered to house the pieces in Bedok Reservoir Park, then part of his constituency.
The former minister has a keen interest in the arts and history, having headed the Information and the Arts Ministry for almost a decade.
He is also a patron of Lasalle College of the Arts, and adviser to the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall.
Other luminaries who were involved in bringing the wall sections to Singapore include veteran businesswoman Jennie Chua, who chaired the fund-raising committee for the project.
The pieces are housed in a specially-constructed $2 million glass, steel and concrete facility at the park. This facility will stay; a spokesman for the fund-raising team said it is in discussions with NParks to fill the enclosure.
Regulars of the park said they would be sad to see the wall go.
"I feel like it's a waste, because the wall is quite colourful and has graffiti on it," said Mr Chiam Wee Leong, 29, who owns WaWaWa Bistro, a German eatery located next to the wall. "Without it, this park would just be like any other."
Mr Jonathan Lim, 25, a resident of Bedok, agreed. Said the operations officer: "It's important that history isn't forgotten, but shared with the young."
The spokesman for the fund-raising team said one option being explored is for Kaun to work with Singapore artists to create an artwork for the enclosure.
Mr Yeo is happy that the facility will not go to waste.
He said: "I'm glad that NParks is planning to use the enclosure for some other object of interest so that the Kings Of Freedom facility will continue to be interesting and inspiring to Singaporeans, young and old."
By Lisabel Ting
The Straits Times
Apr 19, 2013
FOUR panels of the historic Berlin Wall on display in Bedok Reservoir Park will be returned to their owners by the end of this year.
The 5m-long section of the wall, which was unveiled here in January 2010 to much fanfare, is on indefinite loan from American oil industry veteran Robert Hefner III, 78, and his Singapore- born wife MeiLi.
The couple plan to move the wall back to one of their properties in the United States, former foreign minister George Yeo revealed in an e-mail interview with The Straits Times.
Mr Yeo is a friend of the Hefners and former MP for Bedok Reservoir-Punggol.
The National Parks Board also confirmed the return of the wall panels.
Mr Yeo said: "When the Hefners told me some months ago that they wanted the wall back, I expressed sadness and the strong hope that they would keep it at Bedok Reservoir for a while longer. But it is a decision they have taken which I have to respect."
The couple, who are art collectors, acquired the 4m-high, 60cm-thick segments in 1990 - a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall - for an undisclosed amount.
Spray-painted on the concrete slabs are two kings, one smiling and one looking sad.
Titled Kings Of Freedom, the painting is the work of German artist Dennis Kaun.
The Hefners originally wanted to exhibit the pieces with their collection of Chinese oil paintings at the National Museum of Singapore in September 2008, but it proved logistically impractical to transport the pieces here and back to their original location in Oklahoma City a month later.
Mr Yeo, who is now based in Hong Kong as chairman of Kerry Logistics Network, had offered to house the pieces in Bedok Reservoir Park, then part of his constituency.
The former minister has a keen interest in the arts and history, having headed the Information and the Arts Ministry for almost a decade.
He is also a patron of Lasalle College of the Arts, and adviser to the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall.
Other luminaries who were involved in bringing the wall sections to Singapore include veteran businesswoman Jennie Chua, who chaired the fund-raising committee for the project.
The pieces are housed in a specially-constructed $2 million glass, steel and concrete facility at the park. This facility will stay; a spokesman for the fund-raising team said it is in discussions with NParks to fill the enclosure.
Regulars of the park said they would be sad to see the wall go.
"I feel like it's a waste, because the wall is quite colourful and has graffiti on it," said Mr Chiam Wee Leong, 29, who owns WaWaWa Bistro, a German eatery located next to the wall. "Without it, this park would just be like any other."
Mr Jonathan Lim, 25, a resident of Bedok, agreed. Said the operations officer: "It's important that history isn't forgotten, but shared with the young."
The spokesman for the fund-raising team said one option being explored is for Kaun to work with Singapore artists to create an artwork for the enclosure.
Mr Yeo is happy that the facility will not go to waste.
He said: "I'm glad that NParks is planning to use the enclosure for some other object of interest so that the Kings Of Freedom facility will continue to be interesting and inspiring to Singaporeans, young and old."
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