Regent Secondary School's National Education Online Management Guide: April 2009

By Channel NewsAsia's Olly Barratt | Posted: 26 April 2009 1740 hrs

LONDON: Some 12,000 people turned out to celebrate Singapore Day 2009 in London on Saturday. Singaporeans who live and work all over Europe travelled to Hampton Court Palace to attend the outdoor event, enjoying the food, live performances and the chance to mix with fellow expatriates.

Amy Kiesgen, who travelled from Germany, said: "I know Singaporeans. They're all homesick no matter where we are. We go as Singaporeans and as you know Singaporeans, we want to meet Singaporeans all over Europe. And I think, that they waited for two years for this day to come. And they want to also enjoy Singapore food, to know more about Singapore, (to know) what is going on in Singapore."

Chew Chee Keong, who travelled from Switzerland, said: "Firstly, because I think it's a rare opportunity for overseas Singaporean community to get together and really enjoy the authentic hawker food from home. And I get to meet a lot of my friends here, so that's the other incentive!"

Wee Kim Kian, who also travelled from Switzerland, said: "I think it's good about having groups...wherever you might be in the world... you still have a community you can rely on in times of need."

The food was provided by a hand-picked selection of hawkers who travelled from Singapore for the event.

There were also showcases of Singapore's changing cityscape, an update on Singapore's education facilities and an armed forces exhibition.

The crowds enjoyed live performances too, hosted by Michelle Chong and Adrian Pang.

Adrian Pang said: "An event like this, you know, bringing people who have lived out of Singapore for some time together, just for one day, just to soak in everything that they hold dear to them as Singaporeans, it's just wonderful."

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng was on hand, too, to explain why he thought it was important to hold an expensive event like this at a time of recession.

Mr Wong said: "Even though the times are not good, we should not just enjoy when we have good times but, I think, in bad times we must also hold up hope for a better future....For Singaporeans here, some of them might be quite anxious about their jobs and anxious about their families back home because they might have members who lose their jobs. We want them to know that the government will put in place programmes to ensure that Singaporeans will be taken care of."

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/425023/1/.html