The following lists events that happened during 1997 in Singapore. Incumbents President: Ong Teng Cheong Prime Minister: Goh Chok Tong Events January January – The Singapore Kindness Movement is officially launched. White Sands opens to the public. 2 January – In the 1997 General Election, the People's Action Party team led by Goh Chok Tong won 81 out of 83 seats (including 47 uncontested seats) with a vote share of 65.0%. The opposition won the remaining two, with one seat going to the Workers' Party and the Singapore People's Party winning the other seat. Meanwhile, the Singapore Democratic Party lost all three seats. 25 January – Temasek Polytechnic's new campus is officially opened. February 15 February – The Battle Box museum is officially opened. The Toa Payoh Hospital and Changi Hospital are closed and merged into New Changi Hospital. 24 February – The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched the Home Team concept, which aims to strengthen collaboration between agencies of MHA. March 1 March – The National Dental Centre Singapore starts operations. 7 March – The Senoko Gasworks officially opened. That facility replaced Kallang Gasworks (which closed in 1998). April 1 April – M1 launches cellular services. It is the second telco after SingTel. 14 April – Neptune Orient Lines announced that it will buy APL Logistics in a merger. 21 April – The Asian Civilisations Museum is officially opened. May 17 May – National Education is launched to encourage national cohesion and national identity. 19 May – SingPost launches the SAM machines, allowing people to buy stamps on the go. 30 May – The Singapore Expo starts construction to replace World Trade Centre Halls 1 and 2, first announced on 24 July 1996. The MTI will appoint PSA to run the centre. June June – A new standard for grading food stalls is launched, with hygiene, cleanliness and housekeeping standards taken into account. There are four grades, mainly A, B, C and D. 2 June – The Ministry of Education unveiled a new strategy known as 'Thinking Schools, Learning Nation'. The new strategy aims to encourage lifelong learning and creativity. 9 June – The Singapore ONE broadband network is launched with new interactive features, making Singapore the first country in the world to have such a system. The network is launched commercially in 1998. 12 June – 12 Storeys, a local films, is released in cinemas. It