The initial mission of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) was to address the housing shortage and improve the living conditions of the public.
Today, its mission is to provide affordable and quality public housing for Singaporeans and to create sustainable living environments with good facilities for communities.
On a sunny morning in August, a mother with two children entered the community library on the first floor, while on the second floor, a coffee shop employee in the hawker center was preparing coffee for customers with the help of a robot.
On the fifth floor, there were thirty to forty people exercising together on the open space, with a terrace planted with flowers and plants, and a grilling station available for residents.
This is an ordinary day at the Punggol Integrated Community Center in the northeast of Singapore, where a five-story building provides various facilities needed for daily life for Punggol residents, from public service centers, hawker centers, libraries to elderly care centers, nurseries, badminton courts, basketball courts, and more.
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Punggol is a coastal town in the northeast of Singapore, with 170,000 residents living in nearly 60,000 public housing units.
In the early years, it was a fishing village where villagers made a living by planting fruit trees, vegetables, and raising pigs and chickens.
In the 1980s, the Singapore government acquired private land and carried out land reclamation projects on swamps.
Today, Punggol has been transformed into a 21st-century waterfront city known for its green and smart features.
In the Punggol pre-sale public housing launched in February this year, the price of a four-room (three-bedroom) unit ranged from 300,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 1.6 million RMB) to 400,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 2.2 million RMB), and prices could be even lower after deducting the housing grants provided by the government.
The Singapore public housing system began in 1960.
At that time, Singapore, which had just separated from British colonial rule, faced a crisis of housing shortage and poor living conditions.
Then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew proposed to realize the dream of "a home for every Singaporean," and began to build government public housing across the country.
More than 60 years have passed, and the HDB has built more than 1.2 million public housing units scattered across 24 towns on the island.
The HDB is a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development of Singapore, providing public housing and services for Singaporeans through urban planning and development.
"The initial mission of the HDB was to solve the housing shortage and improve the living conditions of the public.
Today, its mission is to provide affordable and quality public housing for Singaporeans and to create sustainable living environments with good facilities for communities," said Senior Planner Chen Mingli of the HDB to a Chinese press delegation, including reporters from Caijing magazine.
She said that the HDB has created a vibrant and sustainable living environment for the public, thanks to strong government support, the "a home for every Singaporean" program, comprehensive planning, innovation, and technology.
(Public activity area of Punggol Integrated Community Center.
Photography/Jiang Wei) During exchanges with Chinese journalists, several Singaporean cabinet ministers mentioned that Singapore is a small country, implying that some of Singapore's experiences may be difficult to replicate in other countries.
The Singaporean practice of providing housing to the vast majority of citizens through government departments is also unique.
Public housing provides shelter for about 80% of Singaporeans.
The prices of these public housing units are usually only one-third of the prices of private apartments in the same area, but they are not inferior to private residences in terms of quality and living comfort.
Singapore's private property prices have been rising continuously for the past seven years, especially in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant increase.
As a result, the Singapore government increased the additional buyer's stamp duty for foreigners purchasing residential properties by 30 percentage points to 60% in 2023, hoping to cool down the real estate market.
Compared with private apartments, public housing, although more stable in price, has seen a continuous rise in the resale of public housing units, with the number of second-hand public housing units sold for more than 1 million Singapore dollars reaching a new high in recent years.
"In the past few years, the prices of Singapore's public housing have risen, but we will ensure that Singaporeans have affordable purchasing opportunities," said Wu Shu Xian, Director of Strategic Communication and Collaboration Division of the HDB, to Caijing.
In August this year, Singaporean Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced at the National Day rally that pre-sale public housing in Singapore will be sold according to a new classification framework starting from October to ensure reasonable public housing prices.
Heng Swee Keat said that housing issues are important topics that affect many Singaporeans, especially young couples.
"This is my guarantee to all young Singaporeans: once you start working and want to settle down, we will ensure that there is a public housing unit within your budget in every area.
We will always keep public housing affordable for you in Singapore."
Heng Swee Keat frankly stated that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the construction industry, leading to a slowdown in the supply of new public housing and a rise in housing prices.
However, the government has taken a series of cooling measures to restore stability to the real estate market while increasing supply.
He expects that all pre-sale public housing projects that have been delayed due to the pandemic will be completed by early next year.
Due to the reduction in the supply of new public housing, the prices of resale public housing have risen, with increases of 12.7% and 10.4% in 2021 and 2022, respectively, and an increase of 4.9% in 2023.
Taking the median price of four-room resale public housing units including grants as an example, the price-to-income ratio once exceeded 5 after the COVID-19 pandemic, which is five times the annual family income.
In 2019, this ratio was less than 4.
Although the price-to-income ratio of resale public housing has recently fallen back to 4.8, it is still higher than the pre-pandemic level.
Heng Swee Keat pointed out that the key to making public housing affordable for Singaporeans is to increase supply.
Currently, the waiting time for most pre-sale public housing is about four years, and the Singaporean authorities will work to reduce the waiting time to less than three years.
According to the new plan, Singapore's public housing will be classified into standard, preferred, and prime locations.
The division of mature and non-mature areas that has been in use for more than 30 years will be phased out.
Singapore started dividing public housing into mature and non-mature areas from 1992.
Mature public housing areas are usually more advantageous in terms of location, transportation, and facilities, but the prices are also higher.
Although non-mature public housing areas are not as advantageous in terms of location and convenience, they have an advantage in price.
In 2023, the Singapore government announced reforms to the public housing system.
Then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong emphasized at the National Day rally that year that the reforms must meet three major goals: ensuring that all income groups can afford public housing; maintaining good social integration in every town and area; and maintaining fairness to everyone in the system.
Under the new classification, standard location public housing will still be the main source of Singapore's housing supply, located in towns that are currently non-mature areas, or in less central locations of mature areas.
Preferred location public housing is mostly located in the city center or near subway stations, and prime location public housing has the most advantageous geographical location.
The new framework, especially the introduction of the preferred location public housing category, is to resolve the contradiction in pricing for projects with superior locations.
Lee Hsien Loong, when announcing the new framework for public housing classification last August, cited the pre-sale public housing project Central Weave in Hongmao Bridge as an example.
The prices of five-room and three-generation public housing units in this project ranged from 713,000 to 877,000 Singapore dollars, and some people complained that the prices were too high and difficult to afford.
However, the final 372 housing units attracted more than 6,500 applications, equivalent to 17 applicants per housing unit.
Lee Hsien Loong explained that if the price of such public housing is too high, most families will not be able to afford it, and it is not conducive to social integration.
People who can afford such public housing are either close to the income limit or rely on the help of their parents, leading to this public housing area becoming a place where high-income people gather.
However, if the price of such public housing is too low, it will intensify the speculation effect because the potential gains are higher.
Under the new framework, the better the geographical location of public housing, the higher the subsidies that eligible buyers can enjoy.
The subsidies for purchasing standard location public housing are the same as the current pre-sale public housing.
The purchase of prime and preferred location public housing can enjoy a higher share of subsidies, because the Singapore government hopes that even groups with not-so-high income can have the opportunity to afford the best public housing.
(Punggol Regional Library is the largest public library in the area.
Photography/Jiang Wei) Obtaining higher subsidies also means more restrictions: prime and preferred location public housing must be lived in for at least ten years before entering the resale market; renting out the entire public housing unit is not allowed; additional subsidies must be returned when reselling; buyers of resale public housing must meet the eligibility criteria for applying for pre-sale public housing, including the income limit, that is, the family's monthly income should not exceed 14,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 76,000 RMB).
However, there is no income limit requirement for buyers of standard location resale public housing.
At this year's National Day rally, Heng Swee Keat used two couples with monthly incomes of 7,000 and 4,000 Singapore dollars as examples to illustrate the operation of the new framework.
A couple with a monthly income of 7,000 Singapore dollars plans to buy a house in the preferred location public housing project Bayshore Vista, with the pre-sale price of a four-room public housing unit at 580,000 Singapore dollars.
They will be able to enjoy an additional settlement subsidy of 25,000 Singapore dollars and can get a 25-year loan from the HDB.
This couple will mainly use their CPF to repay the loan, with only a small additional expenditure per month.
A couple with a monthly income of 4,000 Singapore dollars plans to buy a house in the standard location public housing project Fernvale Sails, with the pre-sale price of a three-room public housing unit at 300,000 Singapore dollars.
Due to their lower income, they will be able to enjoy a higher subsidy, amounting to 55,000 Singapore dollars.
They can also get a 25-year loan from the HDB and can fully use their CPF to repay the loan without any additional expenditure.
Heng Swee Keat said that the Singapore government will further increase public housing subsidies, especially for low-income groups, to ensure that public housing is affordable for the people.Homeownership rate exceeds 90%.
Singapore's current total population is approximately 5.92 million, of which nearly 4.15 million are Singaporean citizens and permanent residents.
In this island nation with an area of only 735 square kilometers, there are 8,058 people per square kilometer, making Singapore one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
The public housing system has not only solved the problem of housing shortage in Singapore but also made it one of the countries with the highest homeownership rate globally, with over 90% of Singaporeans owning personal property.
When discussing housing issues, Lee Hsien Loong once said, "Housing means more than just a roof over one's head.
It also endows every Singaporean with a valuable asset and a strong reason to fight for our country and future... Our Singaporean identity is deeply connected with our public housing and community."
As subsidized public housing, HDB flats are only available to Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, and buyers need to meet conditions such as being over 21 years old and having a family income not exceeding SGD 14,000.
Due to the high demand, the purchase of HDB flats in Singapore requires a lottery system.
The sale of pre-construction flats has been changed from four rounds a year to three rounds since this year, in February, June, and October, and the construction time for these pre-construction flats usually takes three to four years.
Homebuyers can apply for flats of different prices and types according to their budgets and needs, and obtain corresponding grants and housing loans.
Figures from the Housing and Development Board of Singapore show that on average, each family only needs to use less than a quarter of their income to repay loans, without the need for additional large expenses.
Eligible first-time homebuyers or single individuals can mainly obtain three types of grants: Additional CPF Housing Grant, Special CPF Housing Grant, and Proximity Housing Grant.
In 2019, Singapore merged two housing grants into the Additional CPF Housing Grant, providing subsidies to first-time buyers of new or resale flats.
According to Singapore's latest policy, first-time homebuyer families with a monthly income not exceeding SGD 9,000 can receive up to SGD 120,000 in Additional CPF Housing Grant, and single individuals with a monthly income not exceeding SGD 4,500 can receive up to SGD 60,000 in Additional CPF Housing Grant.
The Special CPF Housing Grant is aimed at buyers of resale flats.
From 2023, first-time homebuyer families with a monthly income not exceeding SGD 14,000 can receive a Special CPF Housing Grant of SGD 80,000 when purchasing two to four-room resale flats, up from SGD 50,000; those purchasing five-room or larger flats can receive a grant increased from SGD 40,000 to SGD 50,000.
To encourage cohabitation with parents or married children, the Singapore government provides a Proximity Housing Grant of SGD 30,000 for homebuyers, and those living within 4 kilometers can receive a subsidy of SGD 20,000.
Singapore's public housing policy is not friendly to single individuals, and young people under the age of 35 are not eligible to purchase flats.
"Are you willing to apply for a flat with me?"
has become a unique marriage proposal among young Singaporeans.
Under the current policy, even single individuals over the age of 35 can only buy two-room flats in non-mature areas.
After the new classification is implemented, first-time homebuyers have more choices, and can apply for two-room flats in any project in standard, preferred, and prime locations when purchasing pre-construction flats.
Married children also have priority when applying for pre-construction flats close to their parents' homes.
Considering that single children may have the same desire, the Singapore government has decided to extend the priority plan to all eligible individuals from next year, whether they are married or single.
Although restrictions on single individuals purchasing flats have been gradually relaxed in recent years, Singapore's public housing policy still prioritizes family units.
Singapore's public housing system not only encourages the formation of families but also plays a role in promoting racial integration.
Singapore is a multi-ethnic country composed of four major ethnic groups: Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Eurasians, with the Chinese accounting for about 75%.
Historically formed areas such as Little India, Kampong Glam (Malay Village), and Chinatown are tourist attractions, but today's Singapore does not want to see each ethnic group living too concentratedly, but hopes they can live harmoniously in the same community.
(Punggol Integrated Community Hub Community Club.
Photography/Jiang Wei) In order to shape the national identity of various ethnic groups, the Singapore government has adopted a series of policies, including housing policies around public housing.
In 1989, the Singapore government implemented a racial quota system for public housing, setting a minimum quota for the main ethnic group in each community to ensure that people of different races live in each community and do not form ethnic enclaves.
The racial ratio in public housing areas is roughly the same as the overall national racial ratio, and the last update of the quota was in 2010.
In the same community, the proportion of Chinese should not exceed 84%, Malays should not exceed 22%, and Indians and other ethnic groups should not exceed 12%.
Figures released by the Singapore government in 2022 show that about 10% of public housing communities have reached the minimum quota limit.
Wu Shuxian said that in a multi-ethnic society like Singapore, Chinese, Malays, and Indians living in the same community, residents have the opportunity to interact with Singaporeans from different ethnic groups at schools or hawker centers, which is an important policy formulation for Singapore.
At the hawker center in Punggol, residents can eat Fujian fried noodles, peanut glutinous rice balls, and pork rib soup, and can also taste traditional Malay food coconut rice and Indian pancakes.
Song Longquan, the person in charge of the hawker center, told Caijing that in order to better serve customers from different ethnic groups, some stalls are reserved for Malay and Indian vendors.
Like public housing, due to the national subsidy of hawker centers, only Singaporean citizens and permanent residents can apply for stalls.
There are more than 100 hawker centers in Singapore, which are not only places for people of all ethnic groups and income levels in Singapore to solve three meals a day, but also places for them to gather and socialize.
Most Singaporeans are accustomed to eating out, and hawker culture has become a part of Singaporean life, and in 2020 it became the first project in Singapore to be listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Responding to the challenge of aging, in 2022, after taking over as Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, Heng Swee Keat launched the "Forward SG" campaign, listening to public opinion before officially taking over.
Over a year, more than 200,000 Singaporeans participated in it through dialogues, questionnaires, and other means.
In the final report, the fourth generation of Singapore's leadership team outlined the blueprint for the future governance of the Singapore government with the theme of "Building a Shared Future" and seven major transformations, involving education, work, family, the elderly, vulnerable groups, long-term planning, and uniting the nation.
In recent years, the trend of population aging in Singapore has become more and more obvious.
This city-state will enter a super-aged society in 2026, meaning that one in five Singaporeans will be over 65 years old.
The section on the elderly in the "Forward SG" report proposes that in order to let the elderly live a better old age, Singapore has launched a new national plan for the elderly, encouraging the elderly to maintain contact with others through more community activities, while maintaining physical and mental activity; providing more convenient services for the elderly with care needs; making homes and neighborhoods more elderly-friendly.
At the National Day Rally in 2024, Heng Swee Keat said that the Singapore government is implementing the Elderly Plan nationwide to help the elderly stay active and enjoy their old age in the community.
At the same time, Singapore is also expanding the housing options for the elderly, launching community nursing apartments, integrating housing suitable for the elderly and nursing and social services.
For the elderly who do not wish to move and hope to enjoy their old age in their current residence, the Singapore government is studying how to improve existing housing to make it more suitable for the elderly to live in.
"We will take care of the elderly in Singapore, ensuring that everyone can have a dignified, secure, and stable old age," Heng Swee Keat said.
Dr. Pu Jie Li, Senior Minister of State for Health, told Caijing that one part of the Elderly Plan is to build elderly-friendly facilities in the community.
He introduced the example of his constituency, Punggol, saying that there is an elderly care center on the fourth floor of the Punggol Integrated Community Center, providing day care for the elderly.
This care center not only serves the center's customers, but also all the elderly living in Punggol can participate in activities and courses at the center.
In addition, Punggol also has an active elderly activity center, which is a club designed for the elderly, providing opportunities for the elderly to interact with each other and interact with people of all ages.
The first floor of the Punggol Integrated Community Center has a public service center, providing one-stop government services for residents, and more than 400 commonly used services from about 20 government departments can be completed here.
Chen Fuxin, a staff member of the Singaporean community organization People's Association, introduced to Caijing that although many government services can be completed online, considering that some residents, especially the elderly, are not familiar with online operations, an offline center has been specially set up to facilitate residents to handle business.
In August this year, Singapore's Minister for National Development, Lee Zhisheng, announced that the Housing and Development Board launched the Elderly Renovation Plan, and the new plan will be carried out in public housing areas with a higher proportion of elderly residents in Singapore.
By adding facilities such as healing gardens, fitness trails, barrier-free ramps, special patterns, and colored signs, a better community environment for the elderly to age in place will be created.
In order to encourage intergenerational interaction, playgrounds suitable for three generations to use together will also be built, allowing children to play, adults to exercise, and the elderly to be active in the same space.
"By providing funds and building facilities, we strive to implement strategies for the elderly population," Dr. Pu Jie Li said.当然可以，不过您需要提供需要翻译的内容。请告诉我您想翻译的文本。