SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AT LIANHE ZAOBAO 85TH ANNIVERSARY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2008, 8.45PM, AT ST REGIS HOTEL

李显龙总理于《联合早报》85周年报庆晚宴演讲
2008年9月6日

新加坡报业控股主席陈庆炎博士
各位同胞，各位来宾
大家晚上好

今晚，我很高兴能够出席《联合早报》85周年报庆晚宴。

2. 在世界华文报业中，拥有将近百年历史的报纸不多，能够像《联合早报》这样历久弥新的报纸，更为少见。八十多年来，早报紧随时代的步伐，并且把握社会变化的脉搏，不断地提升水平、改进内容，因此得到新加坡人和外地人的支持。本地读者群超过70万人，在中国和东南亚各地的读者群则更多。这样的成绩可喜可贺。

在讲英语的环境里维持华文的生机

3. 新加坡人广泛使用英语，这是各种客观因素造成的语言环境。我们是地处东南亚的一个多元种族社会，我们把英语作为行政和各族沟通的语言，是明智的选择。此外，英语是国际商业用语，使用英语有利于我们成为一个国际都市。
   
   
4. 然而，我们也应该竭尽所能保留我们的母语，并且确保传统文化和传统价值观经久不衰，薪火不断。新加坡人应该致力成为双语双文化的人，使新加坡不致成为一个只讲英语的社会。
   
   
5. 如果我们只懂英语，必定弊多于利。在经济的领域，我们将失去一大优势，特别是在中国崛起的时候。同时，我们将无法敏锐地洞察周边地区的复杂局势，也很难与邻国沟通和建立友好关系。更重要的是，在这个环球化的时代，人们容易失去文化认同感。如果我们留不住母语，文化认同感必将随之流失，这将进而削弱社会的凝聚力和国人的归属感。

早报扮演的重要角色

6. 早报是一份高素质、有使命感的报纸，在促进华族文化的传承方面扮演重要的角色。可是，早报必须成功争取年轻一代读者，才能继续扮演这个角色。客观来说，早报不容易做到这点。年轻一代虽然通晓双语，但是他们阅读英文的能力较强。他们主要是通过英文的媒体、电视频道和网站获取信息。早报要争取他们成为读者，就必须跟英文媒体有所区别，提供独特的风格和内容。
   
   
7. 我认为早报可在两方面为新闻增值，以保持自己的特色。首先，早报在报道本地新闻时可以为读者提供不同的视角。实际上，不论是对时事课题的价值判断，还是表述和呈现新闻的方式，早报向来都有别于英文媒体。让我举个例子。国会最近辩论了有关补选的动议。《海峡时报》和早报的报道用了不同的角度，这可从它们的封面标题看出。《海峡时报》的标题是“国会反对修改补选法律”，这只是指出国会反对有关动议这项决定。而早报的标题则着重表达一个价值判断。标题引述我的话说：“动辄举行补选，影响国家稳定”。两家报纸切入问题的角度不同，重点不一。如果你要全面了解这个重要课题，最好是两家的报道都读。
   
   
8. 早报可以为新闻增值的另一个地方，是对两岸三地的局势进行深入的报道和分析，充分发挥它对中港台社会较为敏锐的触觉。例如，早报对四川地震、北京奥运会和台湾的政治风波的报道，就比英文媒体来得及时和鲜活生动。这是早报天然的优势。我听说，早报对奥运会精彩的报道，获得读者赞赏，报纸的销售量每天增加了数千份。

为海外读者服务

9. 早报在国外拥有广大的读者群。早报网每天的页览量多达500万，其中85％的读者来自中国。我认为这有两个主要的原因。
   
   
10. 第一个原因是，虽然中国媒体业日渐开放和多元化，但是早报对国际问题客观的报道和分析，获得许多中国读者的信赖，成了他们了解外在世界的一个管道。
    
    
11. 另一个原因是，早报为中国和亚洲各地读者提供了一个了解新加坡的窗口。近年来，中港台的媒体纷纷到新加坡采访，深入探讨新加坡的政治，经济和社会发展。例如，《云南信息报》、广东省的《南方月刊》和台湾的《天下》杂志最近都以很大的篇幅介绍了新加坡的体制和发展，并且发表了很有见地的分析和感想。
    
    
12. 这些记者到新加坡采访之前，都做足准备工作。他们阅读了大量早报的报道，并且跟早报的记者交流，以加深自己对新加坡社会的认识。
    
    
13. 中国对新加坡的发展和管理模式尤其感到兴趣。除了派遣记者到新加坡采访，也派了很多市长，党干部和各级官员到这里考察。他们想了解新加坡如何处理现代社会所面对的问题，包括城市规划，外汇管理，环境保护等。他们更想了解新加坡如何长期维持政治稳定，清廉法制，高效政府。
    
    
14. 中港台三地为什么对新加坡有兴趣？这是因为作为亚洲国家，新加坡解决问题的办法更贴近它们的社会情况。此外，由于文化和习俗相近，我们容易跟他们交流。其中，语言沟通方便，是一个重要的因素。当然，他们也在借鉴其他国家的制度，而新加坡的作法也未必适合他们的情况。不过，无论如何，我们很乐于分享我们的经验。
    
    
15. 中港台三地对我们的管理经验有兴趣，对新加坡有许多好处。这是我们应该维持双语环境的另一个原因。这可鼓励国人更积极学习华文华语，进而加强这个语言在新加坡的生命力。同时，它也可以激发我们把早报办得更好更精彩，以继续吸引广大的外地读者群。

反映新加坡人的观点

16. 换一个角度来看，新加坡是个独立自主的国家，我们的媒体在报道国内外问题时，所依据的必须是国家的利益，所采取的自然是新加坡人的角度和观点。
    
    
17. 以早报来说，它在报道类似西藏问题、北京奥运会和两岸关系的课题时，自然要采取客观和持平的态度。这是因为早报虽然有众多国外读者，它还是一家新加坡报纸。我们是局外人，不是当事人或自家人。其实，早报最吸引海外读者的地方，正是它独立持平的立场和客观平衡的报道。这是很珍贵的品牌和定位，值得早报珍惜。

促进华族文化的努力

18. 除了鼓励华文媒体再接再厉，我们还有许多保留和发扬华族文化的政策。特选中学计划便是其中重要的一项。特选中学经过将近三十年的耕耘，可说是成果丰硕。它们所造就的许许多多精通双语的人才，在各个领域作出很大的贡献。
    
    
19. 在教育部的支持下，特选中学将努力维持本身的特色，并且配合时代的需求，为学生开办以华语教学的新课程，使华文成为学生活学活用的语文。例如，圣尼格拉女中和中正总校开办以华语教学的“华文媒体概论”课程。学生既可学习华文，又可探讨现实课题，同时也可认识到华文是时尚的、充满活力的、富有生命力的语文。我认为学校的华文教学可以进一步改进，使它更灵活和贴近生活。例如，学校可以多采用早报的新闻报道作为辅助教材，因为新闻报道反映的是现实生活。不过，这也意味着早报应该尽量做到文字浅白，内容活泼生动，以让学生觉得容易亲近。
    
    
20. 教育部也已经在四所特选中学开展双文化课程，以培养对现代中国具有深刻认识的双语人才。学校为这些学生提供各种浸濡的机会。去年年底，德明政府中学的30名学生在上海的复旦大学学习一个月，由复旦的教授为他们上课，学生过后呈交了简短的论文。他们也到农村，工厂，私人企业和政府机构考察，收获不少。
    
    
21. 除了培养新一代双语双文化人才，我们也鼓励各界人士多用华语。去年11月，中国总理温家宝与李光耀资政一起启动“通商中国”这个新组织。“通商中国”为新加坡人提供一个使用华语以及跟中国交流的新平台。“通商中国”已经开展很多活动，包括与报业控股旗下的Omy网站联合设立一个称为“东游记”的博客，让学生分享到中国学习的经验。
    
    
22. 另一方面，我们推广华语的使用已经将近30年了。来自创意行业的林少芬女士刚出任讲华语运动理事会的主席。我相信在她的领导下，理事会将能为这个运动带来新的构想，开创新的局面。

设立“新加坡华文教研中心”

23. 政府鼓励人民学好华语之外，也决心加强华文的教学，以配合社会情况的改变。现在，越来越多学生是来自讲英语、或者两种语言掺杂使用的家庭。学生的华文基础较弱，华文教师的工作也更艰巨。他们需要激发学生的兴趣，也必须调整教学方法。我们应该为他们提供各种培训的机会，协助他们完成这项任重道远的工作。此外，华文教师不容易找到适当的教学器材和教具，因为多数先进的器材来自西方国家。这也是我们可以帮助他们的地方。
    
    
24. 基于这个考虑，教育部将与国立教育学院合作设立一个教研中心，称为“新加坡华文教研中心”。它将成为国立教育学院属下的自主中心，主要的任务是为在职华文教师提供优质培训，以及改进教学方法和进行针对性的研究和实验。它可以从我们的双语环境，开拓出独特的华文教学方式。在未来，这个中心也可招收外国学生，提供程度不同的华文课程，使新加坡成为国际上一个学习华文的中心。
    
    
25. 新加坡华文教研中心将在明年设立，胡以晨先生将出任董事局主席，他是报业控股华文报集团执行副总裁。担任院长的将是国立教育学院的助理教授陈之权博士。

总结

26. 保留传统文化和母语是细水长流的工作，这也是政府的一项长期和重要的国策。我们的一大目标是维持高素质的华文媒体。直到现在，华文报仍是许多新加坡人主要的精神粮食和信息来源。华文报的总读者量高达130万人，而只阅读华文报的国人多达84万人。如果你不阅读华文报，你很难深入了解一大部分人民的生活和观点。基于此，政府向来很重视华文报的报道、评论文章和读者来函。
    
    
27. 早报必将继续在我国社会扮演重要的角色。吴作栋资政曾说早报是新加坡“代表华文知识界与华族文化的主要机构”。李光耀资政则形容早报为“全国性的事业”，鼓励全国上下各尽所能去推广它。政府将继续给予早报全力的支持，因为它是我们弥足珍贵的文化资产。
    
    
28. 我在此再次祝贺《联合早报》85年来取得的丰厚成绩，并且祝愿早报突破局限，展翅高飞。

谢谢。

 
(Speech outline in English)

Introduction

Keeping Chinese Culture Vibrant in an English Speaking Environment

2. Singapore today is an English speaking environment for several reasons –
   1. We are a multi-racial society in Southeast Asia, and we use English as our language of administration, as well as the common language for all Singaporeans.
   2. English is also the language of international business. Singapore strives to be a global city, supported by widespread use of English.
   
    
3. But we must also make strenuous efforts to preserve our mother tongues, and keep our cultural heritage and social values.
   1. Singaporeans must remain bilingual and bi-cultural. If we become a purely English-speaking people
      1. We would be disadvantaged economically, especially with the rise of China
      2. Our ability to deal with a complex region would be compromised
      3. More importantly, we would lose part of our identity
      4. In a globalised world, our cohesion and sense of nationhood would be weakened.

Important Role of ZaoBao

4. ZB plays an important role in preserving and transmitting our Chinese cultural inheritance.
   1. To keep on fulfilling its role, ZB needs to continue attracting the new generation of Singaporean readers.
   2. Not an easy task in our English speaking environment
      1. Young Singaporeans are mostly bilingual, but they are more comfortable working in English.
      2. They get their news mainly from English sources, be they the English newspapers, TV channels or the internet.
   3. For ZB to attract readership, it must add value by offering something readers cannot get in English, because Singaporeans will not want to read the same news twice.
   
    
5. Suggest two ways ZB can provide unique value:
   1. Firstly, by giving a different perspective of local news. ZB’s sense of what is important is different from the English newspapers. Its explanation and presentation of events often takes on a different slant
      1. For example, in last week’s debate on by-elections, ST and ZB coverage were different. This can be seen in their lead headlines. ST carried a factual statement: “House votes no change to by-election law” while ZB reflected a value judgement in theirs: “PM Lee: frequent holding of by-elections affects stability of country”.
      2. Through reading both perspectives, Singaporeans can gain a deeper understanding of issues affecting us.
   2. Secondly, ZB has a better feel for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and is well-placed to explain events in these places.
      1. For example, events like the Sichuan earthquake and the Olympics as well as political drama in Taiwan are covered by ZB with vividness and immediacy.
      2. This is a natural advantage for the paper.
      3. ZB’s coverage of the Olympics won praise from many readers and increased daily readership by several thousands.

Serving Overseas Readers

6. ZB also has many foreign readers, especially in China. The ZB online edition captures more than 5 million page views a day, 85% of whom are from China. Two reasons:
   1. Firstly, ZB gives readers in China an external, objective view of the world, to supplement the domestic viewpoints from their many newspapers.
   2. Secondly, ZB is a window for Chinese and Asian readers to understand Singapore.
      1. Many Chinese newspapers study and feature Singapore’s political, economic and social developments.
      2. Yunnan Information Newspaper(云南信息报), Guangdong-based Nanfang Monthly (南方月刊) and Taiwan’s Commonwealth (天下)magazine all published well-written and thoughtful reports and commentaries on Singapore.
      3. The reporters did their homework by
         1. Reading ZB articles extensively; and
         2. Speaking to ZB reporters to enhance their understanding of Singapore.
   
    
7. Chinese are eager to learn about Singapore and are studying us intensively.
   1. Besides journalists, China sends many batches of Mayors, Party cadres, officials to Singapore.
      1. To see how we resolve modern-day issues in a practical way – e.g. city planning, reserves management, and environmental protection
      2. To understand how Singapore has maintained long-term political stability and developed an efficient and corruption-free government
   2. Why are China, Hong Kong and Taiwan interested in Singapore?
      1. Because we are an Asian society, and the solutions we come up with are closer to their circumstances.
      2. Also because there is cultural similarity, and Chinese as a common language, so they find it easy to engage us and get a sense of what is happening.
   3. We will not be the only model that they study, and some of our solutions may not be suitable in their context.
   4. But it is a great advantage to us that they find us and our experience interesting and useful.
      1. All the more important to keep Chinese language and culture alive in Singapore
      2. And to keep ZB a good newspaper that continues to attract foreign readers.

Reporting from a Singaporean Perspective

8. As a Singapore newspaper, ZB reports from a Singaporean perspective
   1. Maintaining a balanced, detached perspective in reporting, whether about the Olympics, Tibet or cross-straits relationships
   2. It means reporting objectively as an “outsider”, not as “part of the family”
   3. In this way, ZB can continue to be of value to Singaporean and overseas readers.

Initiatives to Promote Chinese Culture

9. Besides ZB’s efforts, we have many other initiatives to keep Chinese culture alive.
   1. SAP schools were set up almost 30 years ago, and have produced many students who are effectively bilingual
      1. They are enhancing the curriculum with new subjects taught in Chinese.
      2. e.g. CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School and Chung Cheng High are planning to offer Media Studies taught in Chinese. Students learn Chinese and also learn to think critically about media’s impact on society.
      3. They promote interest not just in traditional, classical Chinese culture, but contemporary Chinese society and culture too, so that this is a live, vibrant subject.
      4. Schools can also use Chinese newspapers as teaching material.
      5. To encourage this, Chinese newspapers can keep articles lively and clearly-written.
   2. Introduced the bi-cultural programme in 4 SAP schools to nurture effectively bilingual students with a deeper understanding of contemporary China
      1. Provides more immersion opportunities
      2. Last December, around 30 Dunman High students studied at Shanghai Fudan University for about a month.
      3. They were lectured by Fudan lecturers, and had to write a mini-thesis as their project during the trip.
      4. They also visited rural villages, government ministries and factories, and learnt a great deal.
   3. In Nov last year, Chinese Premier Wen Jia Bao and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew launched “Business China”.
      1. Encourage Singaporeans to learn Chinese Language and language
      2. Business China is collaborating with ZB through a micro-site within OMY website to reach out to net savvy Singaporeans.
   4. Speak Mandarin Campaign has run for nearly 30 years
      1. New Chairman Lim Sau Hoong, who is from the creative industry, will promote the campaign with new ideas and concepts

Singapore Centre for Chinese Language

10. We are also doing our utmost to improve teaching of Chinese.
    1. Young Singaporeans speak either English or a mix of different languages at home.
    2. Chinese teachers have a difficult task of inspiring their students to understand, appreciate and learn the language.
    3. Many modern teaching aids and materials developed in Western countries for English, but few have been developed to teach Chinese language.
    4. We can do more to help our Chinese teachers.
    5. NIE will work with MOE to set up a Singapore Centre for Chinese Language (SCCL) to enhance Chinese teacher training, and conduct focussed research and studies.
       1. Once we have build up SCCL’s brand-name, it will also position Singapore as an international centre of excellence for teaching of Chinese
       2. And establish Singapore as a knowledge hub, “test-bedding” innovative ideas on teaching of Chinese, use of new technology and software.
    6. SCCL will commence operations in mid-2009.
    7. Mr Robin Hu, Vice President of Chinese newspapers in SPH, will be Chairman of the Centre.
    8. Dr Chin Chee Kuen, Assistant Professor at NIE’s Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, will be its first Executive Director.

Conclusion

11. Chinese newspapers have an important role to preserve and transmit Chinese culture and values.
    1. Read by more than 1.3 million Chinese Singaporeans
    2. 844,000 read only Chinese newspapers
    3. Without reading ZB, it is difficult to get a sense of the lives and views of a large segment of our population.
    4. Therefore ZB is an important source of feedback to government regarding issues that the citizenry are concerned about.
    
     
12. ZB will continue to play an integral role in Singapore.
    1. SM Goh called it a “major Chinese intellectual and cultural institution”.
    2. MM Lee called it a “national project” that we must do our best to promote.
    3. We will continue to support ZB.
    
     
13. Congratulate ZB on reaching 85 years, and look forward to a brighter future for the newspaper.