VULNERABILITIES

The continuous multi-cultural heritage has also been temporarily disrupted when for ease of tourist awareness Kreta Ayer has been paradoxically renamed as "Chinatown" in a country where the majority of the population are in fact of Chinese descent.

Many of the cultural places, activities and spirit have been lost or masked by pedestrian commercial activities thus devoid of their true intangible values. There is currently only one remaining/functioning theatre for the public (others are abandoned or housing new programs, hotels, betting activities). All of the schools have ceased operation or relocated. Crafts have been replaced by market driven goods and services. And the significance of water forgotten. In addition, the expanding tourism service facilities has squeezed out the diverse public infrastructure and spaces for the community.

It is vital that a novel strategy be used to revive the spirits of these spaces so that the lineage between the past, the present, and the future can be reconnected again. The following are threats identified for the area:

01 Negative impact of market forces on cultural heritage

"Non-attractive" "non-market driven" authentic elements will continue to decline if it doesn't appeal to tourists
Expanding tourism service facilities has squeezed out the diverse public infrastructure and spaces of the community
Lack of diverse users
Mass consumerism is not appealing to the true cultural tourist

02 Narrow heritage interpretation

The sanitized “Chinatown” concept has obscured the true quality of Kreta Ayer
Some cultural traditions unique to the site have been ignored in urban regeneration, such as Cantonese opera culture
Urban regeneration cannot show the legacy of some major historical events, such as the National Parade, Kreta Ayer Incident, as well as the oppression to early Chinese immigrants

03 Limited time and resources to uphold the heritage

Preserving the memory and sense of place is time-sensitive agenda
Limited collection and documentation of social and cultural traditions

04 Rise of HDB Blocks

Relocation of residents into HDB blocks have decreased local presence in "Chinatown”
Self contained HDB blocks isolate residents