speakers' corner was established by the issuance of the public entertainments (speakers' corner) (exemption) order 2000, which exempted people wishing to speak in hong lim park from the need to apply for a licence under the public entertainments act. speakers had to be singapore citizens, as the government was concerned that the venue should not be used by foreigners "to pursue their own agenda whether in respect of their own domestic issues, or those of other countries, including singapore's". they also had to register their intention to speak with a police officer at the kreta ayer npp any time within 30 days before the public speaking, although there was no need to inform the police of the topic of the proposed speech. however, speakers were not permitted to deal with any matter which related either directly or indirectly to any religious belief or to religion generally, or which might cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different racial or religious groups in singapore.