Hong Lim Park was the first public garden built in 1885 by the Hokkien businessman and philanthropist Cheng Hong Lim. The park has a history of being the focal point of Singapore’s politics; it was the venue where election rallies and political speeches take place in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, that purpose is continued as it was designated in September 2000 as the Speakers’ Corner, a place where members of the public can give speeches and engage public debates.
