Singapore Management University President Launches Second Edition of “Singapore Hawker Centres: People, Places, Food”

Professor Lily Kong’s latest publication continues the celebration of hawker culture, delving into its evolution over the past 16 years and its significance as a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage.

Singapore, 18 December 2023 – Professor Lily Kong, the President of Singapore Management University, has researched and written the second edition of the publication, Singapore Hawker Centres: People, Places, Food. This edition continues celebrating hawker culture, Singapore’s first element inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The publication was launched with the support of the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the National Heritage Board (NHB).

Best known for her work on urban transformations and social and cultural change in Asia, Professor Kong has written extensively on her research, contributing to over 150 books and articles throughout her career. The first edition of Singapore Hawker Centres: People, Places, Food was written by Professor Kong and published in 2007. It focuses on the beginnings and growth of hawker culture in Singapore. The second edition continues the legacy of the first edition by shedding light on how hawker culture has developed since then and further explores its significance as a Singaporean icon. The publication delves into hawker culture’s significance in Singapore and updates on its evolution over the past 16 years, including the resilience of the hawker community during COVID-19, the 2020 inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the people that keep hawker culture alive. It also includes personal stories of the hawkers behind our well-loved local dishes.

Professor Lily Kong said: “Our hawker culture is a reflection of Singapore’s heritage and community. It has undoubtedly shaped our identity; there is no understanding of Singapore without insight into hawker culture. The second edition of Singapore Hawker Centres: People, Places, Food acknowledges hawker culture’s continued role in Singaporeans’ everyday lives, even as it has evolved and developed through the years. The publication is a heartfelt dedication to hawker culture and our hawkers, and I hope it can showcase and celebrate this form of intangible cultural heritage as well as inspire generations of Singaporeans to come.”

Mr. Ng Chun Pin, Deputy CEO (Planning, Corporate, and Technology) in NEA said: “Our hawker centres are our community dining rooms where people from all walks of life gather, in our multiracial society, over a shared love for hawker fare. NEA is committed to safeguarding our hawker culture and sustaining the hawker trade through a multitude of programmes, and by upgrading our hawker centres and building new ones. We are glad that this publication recognizes our hawkers, who are at the core of our Hawker Culture.”

Mr Alvin Tan, Deputy Chief Executive (Policy and Community), NHB, said: “This is a seminal publication that is integral to our safeguarding efforts because it serves as an up-to-date knowledge capture of how our Hawker Culture has evolved and emerged resilient while instilling hope for what the future holds for the local hawker scene. More importantly, publications such as this make Singaporean and non-Singaporean fans of our Hawker Culture feel part of a wider culinary community, by uniting them in a shared love for hawker food and a shared appreciation for generations of hawkers.”

To ensure the sustainability of our hawker centres, NEA has implemented numerous programmes over the years, such as the Incubation Stall Programme, the Hawkers Succession Scheme, and the Hawkers Development Programme. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, NEA also launched a programme to help onboard hawkers to online delivery services to help sustain their businesses. These developments have changed the way hawker centres operate today and are further discussed in the second iteration of Singapore Hawker Centres. NHB has also organized and supported various outreach efforts and research projects that document and celebrate Singapore’s hawker culture. The second edition of Singapore Hawker Centres: People, Places, Food retails for $39.90 (inclusive of GST) from 26 December 2023 at leading bookstores and museums island-wide. It will also be available online at SPH Media e-commerce platform STbooks.sg at a promotional price of $33.90 (inclusive of GST), from 1 to 25 December 2023.

To avail online, Click Here.

For more information about the National Environment Agency (NEA), Click Here.

For more information about the National Heritage Board (NHB) Here.