 The Housing Development Board ( HDB ) continued to promote public housing with new towns , such as Ang Mo Kio , being designed and built . These new residential estates have larger and higher @-@ standard apartments and are served with better amenities . Today , 80 – 90 % of the population lives in HDB apartments . In 1987 , the first Mass Rapid Transit ( MRT ) line began operation , connecting most of these housing estates and the city centre . 
