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Hawker Centres 3.0 should be air-conditioned

I agree with the writer of “Spend more on hawker centres to widen their appeal” (Feb 14) that more can and should be done to secure the future of the Singaporean hawker tradition.

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Paul Chan Poh Hoi

I agree with the writer of “Spend more on hawker centres to widen their appeal” (Feb 14) that more can and should be done to secure the future of the Singaporean hawker tradition.

Breathing new life into our hawker centres requires strategic actions: Improving the facilities to meet the expectations of modern-day patrons and preserving culinary heritage at affordable prices.

Singapore has transformed from Third World to First and ranks among the top in per capita gross domestic product, with a high standard of living, tall commercial and public housing buildings and air-conditioned public transport in our hot, humid climate.

Would open-air hawker centres match the vision of a smart city in the near future, with driverless transport, sophisticated technology and a robotic, futuristic landscape?

It would be feasible to make hawker centres 3.0 air-conditioned to blend in with the prevailing living standard.

Hawker centres are among the few public places here that continue to lack air conditioning, wireless connectivity and other comforts that have become the norm in today’s food and beverage sector.

The costs of these features could be partially offset by using rooftop solar panelling to supply some of the electricity. Spacious, well-lit dining areas and toilets with modern plumbing and proper ventilation should be the rule rather than the exception.

Modern facilities alone, however, cannot compensate for substandard food. It is imperative that beloved recipes be preserved. And maintaining the low prices Singaporeans have come to expect from hawker stalls demands gains in cost efficiency.

Examples of how to achieve this include standardised crockery compatible with automated dishwashers, material finishes that are durable and easy to clean and, at a broader level, greater state involvement in administration instead of profit-hungry firms.

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