Small transportation boats, known as bumboats, leave trails of light as they travel across Marina Bay past the skyline of Singapore in this photo taken in 2004. Singapore holds a Jubilee weekend from 7 to 10 August to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence. Fifty years ago, hundreds of small boats lined the Singapore river in the city centre. Today, most small boats are gone, except a handful of neon-lit tourist ferries. Maritime trade is still the backbone of the city-state but after decades of rapid growth Singapore, which at less than half the size of London is among the world’s most densely populated nations, is also a popular tourist destination and a thriving global financial hub. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters)

Vehicles travel on a bridge past the ArtScience Museum (L), Helix Bridge (lit in red) and the skyline of the central business district in Singapore July 29, 2015. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters)

A combination picture shows the view of the port of Singapore and a cable car during the opening of the Mount Faber to Sentosa cable car system (top) in this photo dated February 15, 1974 and the same location May 11, 2015. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters/National Archives of Singapore/Ministry of Information and the Arts)

Small boats know as bumboats dock outside shophouses along Clarke Quay in this photo taken in 1980 (top) and the same location May 6, 2015. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters/National Archives of Singapore/Ministry of Information and the Arts)

A car travels towards Malaysia's southern city of Johor Bahru on the Woodlands causeway in this photo taken in the 1950s and the same location May 25, 2015. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters/National Archives of Singapore/Ministry of Information and the Arts)

Spectators watch from behind the fence as cars race during the Malaysian Grand Prix at Thomson Road circuit in Singapore in this photo dated March 29, 1964 (top) and the Singapore F1 Grand Prix Night Race at the Marina Bay street circuit in Singapore September 22, 2013. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters/National Archives of Singapore/Ministry of Information and the Arts)

Labourers, mostly Teochew people, gather to listen to a storyteller on Read Bridge along the Singapore River in this photo dated January 2, 1960 (top) and the same location May 8, 2015. The area was popular with labourers who unloaded cargo from boats plying the river. Stories were told for a fee based on the duration of a burning joss stick. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters/National Archives of Singapore/Ministry of Information and the Arts)

A combination picture shows (top) a view of the mouth of the Singapore River and General Post Office (R) near reclamation works underway (C) in this photo dated October 28, 1976 and the same scene May 11, 2015. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters/National Archives of Singapore/Ministry of Information and the Arts)

A combination picture shows Miss Universe 1987 contestants posing for a group photo next to the Merlion statue, a tourist landmark, at the mouth of the Singapore River (top) and on July 29, 2015. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters/National Archives of Singapore/Ministry of Information and the Arts)

A combination picture shows small boats, known as bumboats, outside shophouses along Singapore River at Boat Quay area in this photo dated September 27, 1965 (top) and the same location May 11, 2015. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters/National Archives of Singapore/Ministry of Information and the Arts)

A combination picture shows people watching the Powerboat Grand Prix near the central business district along the Marina Bay in Singapore in a photo dated November 22, 1986 (top) and the same location July 25, 2015. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters/National Archives of Singapore/Ministry of Information and the Arts)