(QFB) licences, which are ABN Amro, Banque Nationale de Paris (present day BNP Paribas), Citibank, and Standard Chartered. Another eight banks are awarded Qualifying Offshore Bank (QOB) licences. In addition, eight new Restricted Banks (RB) are announced, with 4 RBs to start operations immediately and another 4 more from 1 October 2000. MAS will eventually award up to 20 RB licences compared to 18 previously after a high demand from banks. 21 October – library@orchard officially opens in Ngee Ann City, operating until its closure in 2007. 22 October – ST Engineering announces the acquisition of Chartered Industries of Singapore through ST Auto, now called ST Kinetics. The acquisition will help make ST Engineering a successful world-class engineering company. November 6 November – The Bukit Panjang LRT line opens. 18 November – The Ministry of Health announced the formation of two healthcare clusters known as the Eastern (SingHealth) and Western (National Healthcare Group) Networks, which will take effect in 2000. 19 November – Smart Radio, a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) service is launched in Singapore. 30 November – Singapore Power launches a new website CAN.COM.SG. December 1 December – The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore is launched from a merger between the National Computer Board and the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore to take charge of Singapore's infocomm sector. The Singapore Exchange (SGX) is formed from the merger of Stock Exchange of Singapore (SES), Singapore International Monetary Exchange (Simex) and Securities Clearing and Computer Services Pte Ltd (SCCS), first announced on 4 August. 28 December – Keppel Land and PSA Corporation (now Mapletree) start construction of the HarbourFront office towers, which is completed in 2003. 31 December – The redevelopment of Changi Prison starts, eventually having consolidated clusters and facilities to optimise land use. The Antarctica 2000 team becomes the first Singapore team to reach the South Pole after a 1,125 km trek. Date unknown -The last quarry on Pulau Ubin is closed. - Hougang 1 and Rivervale Plaza are officially opened to the public. - Woodlands Mart and Woodlands North Plaza are completed and opened to the public. Deaths 8 January – Punch Coomaraswamy – High Court judge, envoy (b. 1925). 23 February – Pan Shou – Chinese calligrapher and poet (b. 1911). 20 March – G. Kandasamy – Union leader, politician, community leader (b. 1921). 30 July – Ling Siew May – Wife of late former President Ong Teng