Speakers' Corner, Singapore

Speakers' Corner, Singapore

Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park
Full name	Speakers' Corner
Address	Upper Pickering Street, Hong Lim Park, Singapore
Location	Hong Lim Park, Singapore
Coordinates	1°17′12.50″N 103°50′48.20″E / 1.2868056°N 103.8467222°E / 1.2868056; 103.8467222
Public transit	NE5  Clarke Quay
Operator	National Parks Board
Type	Free speech zone
Record attendance	25,000 (Pink Dot SG, 4 June 2016)
Surface	Lawn
Opened	1 September 2000; 23 years ago (2000-09-01)
Website
www.nparks.gov.sg/speakers-corner

The Speakers' Corner in Singapore is an area located within Hong Lim Park at the Downtown Core district, where Singaporeans may demonstrate, hold exhibitions and performances, as well as being able to engage freely in political open-air public speeches, debates and discussions. As a free speech zone, it is based upon the premise of its namesake, Speakers' Corner, which was first launched at Hyde Park in London and has since been established in many other countries with a political system of representative democracy.

Launched in 2000, it aims to address the genuine desire by some Singaporeans for lawful outdoor demonstrations and processions as a means of further political expression, without disrupting or hindering the productivity of the country as a whole. Singaporeans are also entitled to organise or participate in demonstrations at the Speakers' Corner without having to obtain a police permit.^[1]

Hong Lim Park was chosen as it was previously also a popular venue for many election rallies and political speeches during the 1950s and 1960s. Furthermore, the park is centrally located within the city-centre, and are well-served by public transport services while being situated at a high public density area.