Restoring the City Hall Chamber

Question

Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth whether the former Surrender Chamber in the old City Hall building will be restored to its former state when the renovations are completed and the National Gallery Singapore opens next year.

Response

1. Minister Lawrence Wong: The City Hall Chamber, commonly known to be the “Surrender Chamber”, is being restored and will retain its original features when the National Gallery opens next year.
   

2. Key elements such as the timber flooring, chandeliers, wooden wall panelling and mezzanine viewing gallery have been well-preserved. Subtle spot-lighting has been the only notable addition to the space.
   

3. The Chamber is where the occupying Japanese forces surrendered on 12 September 1945. It also bore witness to two significant events in the history of modern Singapore – the swearing-in of Singapore's first Prime Minister and Cabinet on 5 June 1959, and the inauguration of Singapore's first Yang-di Pertuan Negara on 4 December 1959. The National Gallery Singapore will feature these and other significant historical events related to the building through information panels, guided tours and multimedia guides.