hawker centres Buildings housing a number of low- cost food- stalls. Hawker centres were established from the 1960s as a result of government efforts to remove itinerant food hawkers from streets and public spaces. Before the establishment of hawker centres, hawkers would often obstruct traffic, and their stalls were not subject to effective hygiene regulations.

Hawker centres are purpose- built, and are a feature of most housing estates. There are over 100 centres islandwide. Stall operators are required to be licensed, and their stalls are checked regularly by public health officials. In 1997 a grading system was introduced for food stalls based on standards of cleanliness and hygiene: A is excellent, B good, C average and D below average. By 2004, 43% of stalls were A grade, and 48% B grade. Hawker centres and markets are progressively being renovated and upgraded under the Hawker Centre Upgrading Programme, launched in 2001.

Photo credit: National Archives of Singapore/ Singapore Tourism Board collection