HG Metal Manufacturing CEO Wee Piew on what Singapore can do to add more fun and buzz to the local night scene

Singapore has always been known for its clean and staid night scene. It lacks the vibrancy of other big Asian cities like Hong Kong, Bangkok and even Seoul. Over the last few years, there have been attempts to create more vibrancy through relaxing of rules, like lifting a ban on bar top dancing, extending operating hours of clubs and pubs and allowing longer shopping hours. Further relaxing of rules will allow more enterprises to come up with more innovative ideas to operate their business around the clock.

For example, you can literally shop till 5 in the morning in Namdaemun, Seoul. A vibrant city needs plenty of bright lights. Building owners and shops should be encouraged to put up more neon lights and lighting displays on buildings akin to those in Times Square, Piccadilly Circus and even Nanjing Road, Shanghai. Why do we have night markets in Chinatown only during Chinese New Year? Night markets should be a permanent feature in Chinatown. To add more fun to Orchard Road, we could develop a huge air-conditioned 24-hour indoor amusement park like Lotte World with rides and rollercoasters.

- Wee Piew
CEO, HG Metal Manufacturing Ltd