李顯龍總理今天（8月9日）發表國慶獻詞，他提到冠病負面影響預計會比經曆過的經濟危機更持久，但是只要全國齊力，終將克服危機。可能還要多等一兩年，才會看到各國廣泛使用冠病疫苗，成功擺脫病毒的威脅。在那之前，大家必須保持警惕，決心對抗疫情，保護大家的安全。
新加坡還需應付嚴重的經濟衰退。在接下來的幾個月，更多公司可能會倒閉，更多員工會被裁退。也許，這次危機會比經濟危機持續更久，但相信一定能夠克服它。每個人都要貢獻自己的一份力量，同舟共濟。
政府正在積極幫助國人掌握新技能，找到新工作，推出了多項援助計劃，如雇傭補貼計劃和自雇人士收入補貼計劃，幫助雇主和員工減輕負擔。職總也正在與雇主合作，爲工友創造職業培訓和發展機會，同時確保每一位工友都能獲得公平的待遇。在當前的情況下，或許無法保住每一份工作，但一定要維護每一位工友的利益。另一方面，雇主也必須盡最大的努力保住員工，裁員應該是最後的選擇，這樣能讓員工記住這份情誼。經濟好轉後他們必盡心盡力爲公司重振旗鼓。危機當前，全民合力對抗疫情，加強了凝聚力。大家經曆磨難後，也更加堅毅、更加團結。就如建國和立國一代一樣，他們共同經曆了新馬分家和新加坡獨立後的動蕩不安，以及建國初期經濟發展的艱辛。未來困難重重，我們絕不退縮，要勇敢面對。許多年後，當我們的子孫歡慶國慶，回溯這一段曆史時，他們一定會記得我們這一代人是如何互相扶持、 團結一致，爲國人創造一個更美好的未來。以下是李顯龍總理演講中文全文：
各位同胞: 每年的 8 月 9 號,新加坡人都會風雨不改,一同觀賞國慶慶典,歡慶我國 獨立建國,並再次誓願同心協力、建設國家。
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國慶慶典
國慶慶典1966年首度舉行至今，我幾乎出席了每一場慶典。1968 年，我更參與了在政府大廈大草場舉行的檢閱禮。那天大雨傾盆而下，把所有人淋濕了，但是檢閱隊伍在大雨中堅定不移，繼續前進。我們向國人和全世界展示了新加坡人在逆境中堅毅不屈的特質。2015年的國慶慶典也是另一個難忘的盛會。我們慶祝了獨立金禧年，以及新加坡建國以來所取得的成就。那一年，我們沉痛地送別了建國總理李光耀先生，並在國慶慶典上向他致敬，以及肯定了他和建國領袖的巨大貢獻。在好景時，我們通過國慶慶典共同歡慶國家的繁榮進步,並憧憬更美好的未來。在艱難時期，我們還是會舉行國慶慶典，重申我們排除萬難，迎向光明的決心。今年的國慶日，我國還處于冠病疫情中。所以，國慶慶典會有別于往年，以體現全民一心，克服逆境。今天早上，我們將在政府大廈大草場舉行規模較小的慶典，以及在全島七個地點舉行慶祝儀式。每一個地點都有它的象征意義， 代表我國對抗冠病的工作，例如：國家傳染病中心代表我們爲國人提供的醫療 照顧；終身學習學院代表我們致力于幫助工友提升技能、保住工作；德新中學 代表我們努力確保學生能繼續學習，接受良好教育；海軍部村莊則代表我們發 揚社區精神。我們希望通過這樣的安排，讓所有國人無論在全島各地或是身處 海外，都能在家參與今年別具意義的國慶慶典。我們將一同見證許多特別時刻，例如紅獅跳傘隊和懸挂國旗的直升機將第一次在鄰裏出現，機動隊伍也將開進組屋區。我們也將一起念信約、唱國歌。
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前線英雄的故事
此外，我們也要通過慶典向那些在前線對抗疫情的英雄們致敬。他們鞠躬盡瘁，爲國人全心付出。有些退休醫生和護士自願回到工作崗位， 穿上防護服，到醫院和客工宿舍服務。有些全職國民服役人員選擇延遲退伍，協助抗疫工作。有些公務員則自願接受調派，去照顧客工。許多國人也發揮了 互助精神。一些人沿家挨戶，爲年長人士或低收入家庭派送食物和日用品。另 一群國人則改裝善心人士捐贈的手提電腦，讓有需要的學生可以居家學習。上 千名新加坡人也挺身而出爲民服務，自願接受冠病檢測培訓，到客工宿舍和社 區護理設施，參與前線工作。此外，有些客工也做出貢獻，支援抗疫工作。政府對所有前線英雄的無私奉獻深表感激。
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爲接下來的經濟挑戰做好准備
現在，我們比任何時候都更需要保持團結堅韌。我國要完全走出冠病危機，還需要一段時間。許多國家在疫情受到控制之後放寬管制措施，結果卻出現新一波疫情，病例再度激增。盡管我們已經做足防範措施，這種情況也可能在新 加坡發生。我們可能還要多等一兩年，才會看到各國廣泛使用冠病疫苗，成功擺脫病毒的威脅。在那之前，我們必須保持警惕，決心對抗疫情，保護大家的安全。我們還需要保持堅韌不拔，以應付嚴重的經濟衰退。國人難免會對未來感到焦慮和擔憂。在接下來的幾個月，更多公司可能會倒閉，更多員工會被裁退。不過，這不是我們第一次面臨經濟危機。這二十多年來，我們經曆了好幾個經濟危機。比如亞洲金融風暴、九一一恐怖襲擊事件帶來的經濟沖擊，以及全球金融危機。每一次，前景都非常黯淡。但是，我們都努力穩住陣腳，咬緊牙關，全民攜手挺過一次又一次的危機。一份力量，同舟共濟。政府正在積極幫助國人掌握新技能，找到新工作，推出了多項援助計劃，如雇傭補貼計劃和自雇人士收入補貼計劃，幫助雇主和員工減輕負擔。職總也正在與雇主合作，爲工友創造職業培訓和發展機會，同時確保每一位工友都能獲得公平的待遇。在當前的情況下，我們或許無法保住每一份工作，但我們一定要維護每一位工友的利益。另一方面，雇主也必須盡最大的努力保住員工，不要遇到困難時，就馬上裁員。這樣，員工 會記住這份情誼。在經濟好轉時，他們必將盡心盡力幫助雇主重振旗鼓。危機當前，全民合力對抗疫情,加強了凝聚力。大家經曆磨難後,也更加堅毅、更加團結。就如建國和立國一代一樣，他們共同經曆了新馬分家和新加坡獨立後的動蕩不安，以及建國初期經濟發展的艱辛。未來困難重重，我們絕不退縮，要勇敢面對。許多年後，當我們的子孫歡慶國慶，回溯這一段曆史時，他們一定會記得我們這一代人是如何互相扶持、 團結一致，爲國人創造一個更美好的未來。
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衛國廣場
每年的國慶日，我們都會回顧我國的發展，爲國家所取得的進步感到自豪，並承諾致力打造更溫馨的家園。當我們在政府大廈前的大草場或濱海灣浮動舞台舉行國慶慶典時，國人都可以看到濱海灣迷人的風景線。濱海灣曾經是一片大海。我們在這一帶進行填 土、建造堤壩,積水成池，逐步將它發展成一個亮眼獨特、朝氣蓬勃的市中心。從濱海灣放眼望去，國人立刻能親眼看到新加坡的變化，想象新加坡在未來所 擁有的無限可能。如今，國民服役人員完成了基本訓練後，都會邀請親友們到濱海灣浮動舞台參加他們的結業檢閱禮。這個儀式讓他們更清楚了解保家衛國的使命，明白爲什麽世世代代的國民服役人員都願意付出精力和時間，捍衛家園。他們守護的不僅僅是這座城市。他們也守護每個國民、家人和朋友，以及新加坡的未來。爲了體現國民服役的重要性，政府三年前宣布把濱海灣浮動舞台改建成永久建築，並將它稱爲“衛國廣場”。這是“衛國廣場”的初步設計，它將和這一帶的中軸對齊，成爲一個在市中心閃亮的小紅點。這裏將增設以國民服役爲主題的展覽區，以此肯定國民服役人員爲新加坡的國防和安全所做出的貢獻。衛國廣場將會是一個老少鹹宜、同歡共樂的場所。當然，我們也會和往年一樣，繼續在這個地方舉辦國慶慶典。
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總結
由于冠病疫情，我們今年無法像往年一樣，在國慶日這一天和衆人聚集一起高唱國歌，但我們無論在何處，還是可以一起念信約、唱國歌，更加用心感受信約和國歌的含義。我們還有許多夢想和目標等著我們去實現。盡管前方充滿挑戰,我相信國人會心手相連、堅毅向前,讓新加坡再創輝煌!祝大家國慶日快樂!英文演講原文如下：
My fellow Singaporeans,Every year, rain or shine, Singaporeans come together on the 9th of August for the National Day Parade, to celebrate the making of our nation, and renew our commitment to Singapore.
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National Day Parade
I have been privileged to attend almost every NDP since the first in 1966. One of the Parades I took part in was in 1968 at the Padang. The rain poured down, but the contingents stood steady, and marched past proudly, drenched, yet undaunted. We showed ourselves and the world that Singaporeans were rugged people, and had the steel in us to stand firm in adversity. Five years ago, SG50 was another memorable Parade. We celebrated our Golden Jubilee, and what we had achieved in Singapore. We also paid tribute to our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. We mourned his passing that year, but also affirmed what he and the pioneer leaders stood for.In good years, our parades rejoice in our progress, and look forward to a better future together.In difficult years, we still hold National Day Parades, to renew our resolve to weather the storm and take Singapore through to better days.This year, National Day falls amidst COVID-19. We are not able to celebrate in our usual way, but we are determined still to hold the Parade as a symbol of our unity as a nation, like we have done every year since independence. We will have a smaller Parade at the Padang, and also ceremonies at seven other locations around the island this morning. Each location will symbolise one aspect of our response to COVID-19 – Providing medical care for Singaporeans at NCID; supporting our workforce with skills and jobs at the Lifelong Learning Institute; keeping learning going for our students at North Vista Secondary School; or sustaining our community spirit at Kampung Admiralty. We look forward to Singaporeans across the island, and also in far-flung lands, joining the Parade virtually and celebrating with one another. We will all share special moments like when the Red Lions land, the mobile column reaches our town, or the State Flag is flown past. We will all recite the Pledge and sing Majulah Singapura in our hearts together.
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Stories of everyday heroes
This NDP is also an opportunity for us to salute those on our frontline, fighting COVID-19.Many of them have gone way beyond the call of duty, and shown great generosity of spirit. Retired doctors and nurses volunteered to come back, donning PPE to serve on the front lines, in hospitals and migrant worker dormitories. Full-time national servicemen extended their terms to continue supporting COVID-19 operations. Public officers volunteered to be redeployed to organise and look after the migrant workers. Many Singaporeans stepped up to help others in need. Some went door to door distributing meals and groceries to the elderly and low-income households. Others refurbished donated laptops for needy students, for home-based learning. Thousands of public-spirited Singaporeans volunteered to be trained for swab operations. They served in the hot zones, including the dormitories and community care facilities. Migrant workers too played their part to support these operations. Their help was deeply appreciated by our SAF, Home Team and public officers.These selfless acts have made all the difference to our response to COVID-19.
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Bracing for economic difficulties ahead
We will need this unity and resilience more than ever. The crisis is far from over. Many countries brought COVID-19 under control and eased restrictions, only to see their cases rise sharply again. This can happen to us too, despite all our precautions. It will most likely take a year or two before a vaccine is widely available, and the threat of the virus is blunted. Until then, we have to maintain our vigilance and resolve, to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbours all safe.We also need to be resilient in the face of the severe economic downturn. Singaporeans are understandably anxious and worried. Business closures, retrenchments and unemployment are all likely to go up in the coming months.But this is not the first economic crisis we have experienced. Just in the last quarter century, we have seen the Asian Financial Crisis (1997-1998), the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks (2001), and the Global Financial Crisis (2007-2009). Each time the outlook was ominous, and we feared the worst, but each time we worked hard to secure our position, gritted our teeth, and came through together.I am confident we will get through this current crisis too, though it may take longer. All of us must do our part, but none of us will be alone. The government is actively helping people find new jobs and acquire new skills. We also have the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) and Self-employed person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) to ease the burden on employers and individuals. The Labour Movement is working with employers to create job training programmes and career pathways. It will also ensure that every worker is treated fairly and with dignity, especially when job losses cannot be avoided. Employers too must make every effort to keep their workers, and not drop them at the first sign of trouble. This will build loyalty, and encourage the employees to help their employers rebuild when conditions improve.Our experience fighting COVID-19, grim and hard as it has been, has brought us closer together. The shared ordeal will toughen a whole population, and bond us together as one united people. Just like how the Pioneer and Merdeka Generations were tempered by Separation and Independence, and economic crises in our early years as a nation.Let us brace ourselves for the trials ahead, so that many years from now, when our grandchildren celebrate National Day, they will look back on these times and say yes, this generation stood together, sacrificed for one another, and built Singapore for us.
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NS Square
Every National Day, we remind ourselves that Singapore is a nation whose story is worth celebrating, whose history is worth cherishing, and whose future is worth building.When we hold the National Day Parade at the Padang, or at the Float@Marina Bay, the audience can see the Marina Bay skyline in the background. Marina Bay used to be open sea, but we reclaimed the land around it, turned the ocean into a reservoir, and progressively built on the new land, to create an outstanding and vibrant downtown. Looking out across the Bay, you can immediately see how far Singapore has come, and imagine the possibility and promise that Singapore holds.Today, when National Service recruits complete their Basic Military Training (BMT), they gather their families and friends at the Float and hold their passing out parade there. It helps them to understand what they are defending, and why generations of national servicemen have been willing to serve and sacrifice, to defend this metropolis that we have built together, and also the society that created all this: Our families. Our friends. Our lives. Our future.Three years ago, I announced that we would rebuild the Float into a permanent space to commemorate National Service, and the central role that NS plays in Singapore, and that we would name this space, NS Square. The design contract has been awarded. This is how it will look like. The development will be aligned on a central axis, with The Promontory on the opposite side of the Bay. The platform will become a red dot, shining bright in our city. NS Square will be the central focus of our new downtown. We will build a gallery there to showcase our National Service story, and honour the contributions of national servicemen past and present. NS Square will also be a community space for everyone, young and old, to enjoy. And of course, we will continue to hold our National Day Parades there.
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Conclusion
This National Day, as we celebrate across the island, we will be saying the Pledge and singing Majulah Singapura in unison – not aloud as usual because of COVID- 19, but in our hearts, with more feeling than ever.We have dreams to realise, and goals to reach for. Let us show the world that whatever the challenges, Singaporeans will stay united, and prevail once more.I wish everyone a very happy National Day!