LocationSouth-East Asia.
Area697.1 sq km (269 sq miles).
Population4.6 million (official figure 2007).
Population Density6,584 per sq km.
CapitalSingapore City State.
Population: 4.6 million (2007).
GovernmentRepublic. Gained full independence in 1965.
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 S R Nathan since 1999, re-elected in 2005.
Recent HistoryIn both January 1997 and September 2001, opposition parties decided to contest only a small proportion (about one-third) of the 83 seats. Unsurprisingly, the People’s Action Party (PAP) won both polls comfortably. Goh was widely expected to stand down in favor of Lee Junior finally doing so in August 2004. In September 2005, S R Nathan 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. Singapore staged the high profile IMF/World Bank meeting in 2006, and its first F1 Grand Prix in 2008.
TelephoneCountry code: 65.
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.
Press•
Singapore Press Holdings, with close links to the ruling party, has a virtual monopoly of the newspaper industry.
• The English-language dailies are
The Business Times,
The New Paper,
The Straits Times and
Today.
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 2009-December 2010 period.
2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
26-28 Jan Chinese New Year.
10 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
2 May Vesak Day (Birth of the Buddha).
9 Aug National Day.
20 Sep Hari Raya Puasa (End of Ramadan).
17 Oct Deepavali.
27 Nov Hari Raya Haji (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
14-16 Feb Chinese New Year.
2 Apr Good Friday.
28 Apr Vesak Day (Birth of the Buddha).
1 May Labor Day.
9 Aug National Day.
10 Sep Hari Raya Puasa (End of Ramadan).
5 Nov Deepavali.
16 Nov 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, 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 UKSingapore Center, Grand Buildings, 1-3 Strand, London WC2N 5HR, UK
Tel: (020) 7484 2710.
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/washingtonSingapore 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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