SINGAPORE - The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has designated an area outside Block 7, near the Bengawan Solo cake shop, for well-wishers to leave cards and flowers for former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Several Singaporeans and foreigners have been visiting SGH to leave bouquets and get-well cards for Mr Lee, 91, who is in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

A Singaporean man, who only wanted to be known as Mr Teo, arrived at SGH on Friday morning to drop off a card. He said he wanted Mr Lee to recover so he can "celebrate SG50 with us".

Ms Ge Wei, in her 40s, also brought a small bouquet of red carnations and said she wanted to show her respect for Mr Lee.

The China-born permanent resident, who has lived in Singapore for about five years, said: "Anyone who knows Singapore's history will know he's a great man... I'm here because I want to show my respect for him."

For the past few days, hospital staff have not been receiving gifts on Mr Lee's behalf. They have also had to take away some flowers left in the hospital's public areas, for security reasons and so as not to cause inconvenience to other patients.

Mr Lee remains "critically ill", said the Prime Minister's Office in a statement on Friday afternoon.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also thanked the public for their good wishes. He has been visiting Mr Lee, his father, daily over the last few days and is expected to visit again on Friday.

The elder Mr Lee was hospitalised on Feb 5 at SGH for severe pneumonia.