Bukit Ho Swee (Chinese: 河水山; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hô-súi-soaⁿ; Jyutping: Ho4 Seoi2 Saan1) is a subzone within the Bukit Merah planning area in Singapore, as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). This area is bounded by the Alexandra Canal to the north, Kim Seng Road and Outram Road to the east, Zion Road and Jalan Bukit Ho Swee to the south, and Delta Road and Lower Delta Road to the west.
Historical Background
Bukit Ho Swee derives its name from both Malay and Hokkien origins. "Bukit" is Malay for hill, and "Ho Swee" commemorates Tay Ho Swee (鄭河水; Tēⁿ Hô-súi) (1834–1903), an influential Chinese opium and spirit farmer, timber merchant, and ship owner. Tay Ho Swee was also the son of Tay Han Leong, the first opium and spirit dealer in Singapore. When Bukit Ho Swee was officially named in 1907, it was an area characterized by numerous plank and attap houses.
Early Community and Challenges
Bukit Ho Swee had a prominent Chinese community dating back to British colonial times. The area was filled with wooden frame huts with thatched roofs, forming an unplanned, self-built township that housed about 20,000 people. Its narrow lanes, accessible only to pedestrians, made it an ideal base for gangs, who could easily escape police pursuit.
The Bukit Ho Swee Fire
On 25 May 1961, a major fire, known as the Bukit Ho Swee Fire, broke out and completely destroyed the wooden huts. This inferno was unprecedented, destroying the homes of nearly 16,000 people and surpassing the scale of all previous kampong fires. The newly formed Housing and Development Board (HDB) swiftly moved in to construct low-cost housing in the form of apartment blocks, significantly reducing gang influence as these areas were easily patrolled by the police.
Urban Redevelopment and Modernization
Following the fire, Bukit Ho Swee underwent significant redevelopment. The HDB constructed many one-room emergency flats and slightly larger two-room flats to accommodate the displaced residents. These flats were affordable, with rental prices around 20 dollars a month for a one-room flat and purchase prices of about 4,000 dollars for a two-room flat.
Education and Community Facilities
In line with the HDB’s plans, Bukit Ho Swee Secondary School was opened in 1967 to serve the residents. The school later merged with Tiong Bahru Secondary School in 1991. Today, the site is occupied by the PSB Academy Delta campus. The area is now served by several schools, including Alexandra Primary School, Zhangde Primary School, Gan Eng Seng School, Outram Secondary School, and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School.
Transportation and Accessibility
Bukit Ho Swee is well-connected by public transportation. The Tiong Bahru MRT station on the East-West Line is the nearest station to the western parts of Bukit Ho Swee, while the Havelock MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line is closer to the eastern parts.
Amenities and Services
Residents have access to various amenities, including two hawker centres: Beo Crescent Market and Havelock Cooked Food Centre. Additionally, there are several shops along the shophouses on Havelock Road and a 24-hour NTUC FairPrice supermarket located on the ground level of Block 50.
Current Management
The entire Bukit Ho Swee town, along with its neighboring areas such as Delta Avenue estate and Indus Road, is currently managed by Jalan Besar Town Council.
From its origins as a chaotic kampong to its current status as a well-developed residential estate, Bukit Ho Swee has undergone significant transformation. Today, it stands as a testament to Singapore’s rapid urban development, offering residents a blend of historical heritage and modern conveniences.