E.W. Barker
Singapore
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This is a simple Bill which seeks to amend section 33 of the Land Acquisition Act on the amount of compensation payable to owners of land compulsorily acquired under the Act.”
“For the five-year period from 1st July, 1981 to 30th June, 1986, the HDB demolished a total of 8,098 units. As the HDB's new accounting system was only implemented from 1st April, 1985, the Board does not have ready information on the value of flats demolished prior to 1st April, 1985. RELOCATION OF CREMATORIUMS 4.”
“The HDB did not allocate any MP's office to the previous PAP MPs for Anson and Potong Pasir constituencies. NUMBER OF H.D.B. UNITS DEMOLISHED 3.”
“I would not know. Why don't you ask them? I don't know. Sir, to put things in a nutshell, it is the legal profession amongst all the professions that help in the administration of Singapore. Doctors help to cure you of diseases.”
“I am not saying it's wrong. I am not telling you stories. I am relating. So they decided to take us on. When we went into Select Committee, the first day and the later part of the second day, there was confrontation between the Committee and the lawyers.”
“As the Member for Anson would know, the Minister for Law is not in charge of prosecutions or the conduct of any criminal proceedings in court, nor does he give any directives on these matters.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,152 lines we hold for E.W. Barker, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 19 of 44.
“Tomorrow, Sir. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn," -[Mr Barker]. Adjourned accordingly at Seventeen minutes to Four o'clock p.m. Appendix to Statement on Revision of Taxes on Non-essential Spending (Cols 0085-0088)”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I seek your permission to move the Adjournment. Mr Speaker: Yes. Debate to be resumed on what day?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent, and the general assent of hon. Members, to move a motion to enable Parliament to adjourn before 8.00 p.m. this evening, namely, at 4.15 p.m. or earlier, should you so decide?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I, on behalf of all the Members of this House, extend to you our congratulations on the occasion of your re-election as Speaker. It was my pleasure, Sir, in January, 1970, on your election to this high office for the first time, to extend to you the congratulations of the House. I stated then that you were the fourth person to hold this high office since the introduction of parliamentary government, and that you had broken what could have crystallised into a convention that the office of the Speaker should fall on the shoulders of those with a legal training. Over these last two years and ten months, you have ably demonstrated that legal qualifications are not a sine qua non for wearing the mantle of this office. The aplomb, dignity and mariner in which you have so ably discharged your responsibilities amply confirms you as the one most fitted to guide our proceedings. Sir, you will be presiding over deliberations of an enlarged Chamber of 65 Members, of whom no less than 11 will be taking their seats in this House for the first time. I have no doubt that you will give these new Members the same considerate guidance that you have shown to all of us in the past. You may be assured, Sir, that for our part, we will continue to give you all the co-operation necessary for the speedy despatch of parliamentary business.”
“Conceicao asked the Minister for Finance to what extent advantage has been taken of provisions whereby accelerated depreciation can be allowed for approved equipment used for research develpment and quality control.”
“The Jurong Town Corporation also proposes to reclaim a further 818.5 acres of the remaining foreshore and seabed off Tuas, Jurong, shown coloured purple and marked as Stage II reclamation on the same plan. This reclamation is expected to be completed by May, 1974, at an estimated total cost of $19.5 million. The fill required for this reclamation will be obtained by cutting down the hills in Jurong. On completion of this reclamation, the reclaimed land will be proclaimed as State land. Together with the adjoining State land shown coloured yellow on the plan, the reclaimed land will be alienated to the Corporation on terms and conditions to be agreed with the Land Office for development for industrial, housing, institutional and recreational purposes. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves - (a) the reclamation of approximately 155.8 acres of the foreshore and sea-bed off Tuas Jurong, shown coloured orage and marked as Stage I reclamation on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 3/72" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore; and (b) the reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and sea-bed off Tuans, Jurong, containing a total area of 818.5 acres as shown coloured purple and marked Stage II reclamation on the same plan. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [Mr E. W. Barker]. Adjourned accordingly at Thirty-four minutes past Four o'clock p.m. to a date to be fixed. WRITTEN ANSWER TO QUESTION DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCES FOR EQUIPMENT USED FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY CONTROL 1. Mr J. F.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name, as it appears on the Order Paper. * The motion reads as follows: That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves - (a) the reclamation of approximately 155.8 acres of the foreshore and sea-bed off Tuas, Jurong, shown coloured orange and marked as Stage I reclamation on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 3/72" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore; and (b) the reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and sea-bed off Tuas, Jurong, containing a total area of 818.5 acres as shown coloured purple and marked Stage II reclamation on the same plan. Sir, with the increasing demand for sea-front lands by marine and marine-oriented industries, the Jurong Town Corporation has, over the years, been progressively reclaiming the foreshore and seabed at Jurong. You will recall, Sir, that in 1963 this House approved the reclamation of some 214 acres of the foreshore and seabed from Sungei Jurong in the east to Selat Samulan in the west. This reclamation which was undertaken by the Economic Development Board, the predecessor of the Jurong Town Corporation, has since been completed and the reclaimed land allocated. In the process, the Board has in advertently extended the reclamation to cover the three areas, totalling approximately 155.8 acres, as shown coloured orange and marked as Stage I reclamation on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 3/72", a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of Members. To regularise the position, the covering approval of this House, under section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), is now sought in respect of this completed reclamation.”
“Their gross fixed assets are estimated at $35 million, with their contribution to Government revenue approximating $3 million per year. These industrial and commercial enterprises together employ about 8,610 workers. Their annual industrial production is estimated at $73 million. Because of the heavy costs for benefits not commensurate to the costs, the Government has decided not to construct a dam to convert Kallang Basin into a reservoir. Instead, a drawbridge will be built and is expected to be completed by about 1976. The owners of shipyards, slipways and industries in the Basin will be glad to know that they can continue and even expand their operations .at their present sites. They will be given the opportunity to make representations as to how this drawbridge will affect their operations, so that the minimum of hindrance is caused, whilst allowing a second East Coast highway to be built.”
“Sir, on hte 4th August, 1971, I stated in an oral answer to a question by the Member for Mount-batten on the future of the shipyards and slipways at Kallang that "It is likely that existing shipyards and slop-ways in hte Kallang Park Industrial Estate will have to be resited elsewhere in five to eight years' time" [Hansard, Vol. 31, cols. 196-7]. Subsequently a petition was received from 28 shipyards in the locality appealing for reconsideration. A new major traffic highway to link the City with the eastern part of the island is now under construction along the East Coast reclaimed land. This Expressway entails a crossing at the entrance to the Kallang Basin to link Tanjong Rhu with the City Centre. The Consultants, who carried out a feasibility study on the basis of economic considerations, the construction of a three-lane carriageways at an estimated cost of $19 million. A section of the bridge could be opened at specific times to allow for the passage of ships, thus enabling shipyards and industries situated there to continue operations. An alternative proposal to constuct a dam for the proposed crossing and to convert the Kallang Basin into a stoage reservoir cum scenic lake has also been investigated. It has been ascertained that the densely populated catchments of the Kallang and Geylang Rivers yield highly polluted water which is discharged into the Kallang Basin. Pre-treatment of the water would be neccessary before storage in hte proposed lake. To the costs fo this dam, pre-treatment and maintenance, must be added the costs of resettling the 28 shipyards, two electrial companies, one flour mill and 148 small establishments, like firewood and charcoal firms, timber yards and small boat builders.”
“These courses form part of their training. However, in view of the Member's comment, I will look further into these allegations. SUPREME COURT JUDGES (Revision of salaries) 7. Mr P. Selvadurai asked the Minister for Law and National Development if the time is now not ripe for the salaries of the Judges of the Supreme Court to be revised upwards to keep them in line with the salaries of Judges of the Supreme Court of Malaysia. Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the salaries of Judges as well as members of the legal service are related to the salary scales of the professional and administrative grades in the civil service. The salaries of the Judges in the Supreme Court will be revised in the overall revision of salary structures in the civil service, which is now under close examination by the Ministry of Finance. LICENSED CHIT FUND COMPANIES (Publication of names) 8. Mr Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Finance if he will, in the interest of chit fund subscribers in particular and the public in general, request the Commissioner of Chit Funds to publish at regular intervals the names of companies that have been granted licences, including temporary ones, under the Chit Funds Act,”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Housing and Development Board has two training schemes for its Estate Officers. Those with the Higher School Certificate undergo an in-service training programme before taking the external examinations of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (R. I. C. S.) to become professionally qualified and eligible for promotion to senior officers. Those with University degrees also undergo an in-service training programme in order to enable them to attain the professional qualification of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. These graduates are exempted from appearing for the first professional examination of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, under Stage I of the new town development, 15,000 flats for about 75,000 people will be built in Woodlands. A large commercial centre with shopping facilities, cinemas, cooked food centres and parking facilities for vehicles awaiting customs clearance will be developed near the Customs and Immigration check point at the Causeway. A post office, a maternity and child health centre, a creche, a Public Utilities Board collection centre, a commercial hall and an area office of the Housing and Development Board will also be provided. Woodlands New Town, to be developed by the Housing and Development Board over a period of about 15 years, will eventually cover an area of about 2,500 acres. Most of the residents in the satellite town will be employed in the industrial and other economic activities within and around the township. Residential development will follow the neighbourhood principle, similar to that in Queenstown and Toa Payoh. A market and cooked-food centre will be provided in the shopping centre of each neighbourhood. Sites for schools will be set aside for primary, secondary and vocational education. A few community centres will be built in each neighbourhood, together with sports and recreational facilities. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Training and educational facilities for Estate Officers) 6. Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board what training and educational facilities are afforded Estate Officers in order to equip them for improved performance as well as help them in their career development.”
“I am sorry, Sir, that I did not deal with that point. Just because there will be a little delay in redevelopment, it does not mean that the whole area will be neglected. As the Member knows, the area has not been neglected. As I pointed out earlier, two big roads have been built, one is the extension of Sims Avenue, and the other the Pan-Island Expressway right from Paya Lebar Road to Jalan Eunos, which will be completed in a month or two. Lights have been installed along these two roads. Jalan Ubi is being widened and improved. These are major roads, and therefore they are being attended to. They cost millions of dollars. There have been requests to repair minor roads within the area, but not all of them have been attended to because there are also other roads in other areas, and we have to strike a balance between Kampong Kembangan and Chua Chu Kang, or between Kampong Kembangan and Jurong, or between Kampong Kembangan and Sembawang. However, I can assure the Member that, subject to priorities, repairs to roads and building of drains within his constituency and within Geylang Serai will continue. 4.45 p.m. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, for the information of this House and the Minister for Law and National Development, Jalan Ubi, for which improvements have been made, is in the Kampong Ubi constituency, which is the constituency of the Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office. But that part of Jalan Ubi which is in my constituency has not been improved. Nevertheless, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“We cannot force any employer to employ whoever the Member would like to be employed. Of course, they will be given the opportunity to apply for such employment, and this is up to the employer. But the whole intention is to try and set up light industries within the area so that the people not only can live there, but can also find employment in the area. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Minister has stated, he himself does not know how long it will take to develop the area north of the Pan-Island Expressway. He has just stated that this area will be developed first. I want an assurance from the Minister that in the meantime the drains, roads, and the by-roads of this area be repaired by the U.R.S.C, before commencement of the development projects.”
“Sir, if we raise the rate of flats for rent to 40 per cent, there will be less to sell. I do not want to get into an argument with the Member about either financial or construction figures of the Housing Board. But the waiting list to buy has left the waiting list to rent very far behind. As for the survey, the answer "no" did not come from the survey but from the Housing Board. If I can deal with the questions raised by the Member for Kampong Kembangan, Geylang Serai is, I think, involved in this Alsagoff Estate. I cannot tell him exactly when development plans will start except to indicate that the area north of the Pan-Island Expressway will be developed first. The Member said that if we can find alternative accommodation for these 4,000 people stretched along the two roads, surely we can find accommodation for the others. The answer is yes. But it takes time. There were 4,000 along the two roads, but there are 100,000 in the whole estate. That is quite a big number. The Member also asked whether some of the residents affected will be allowed to go back. The answer is yes, but surely not all. It is difficult to evict everyone and then put them back. But I am sure some of them can go back if they love the place. As for compensation and resettlement rates, they will be entitled to the current rates. It makes no difference whether they come from Kembangan, Geylang Serai, Sembawang, or Jurong - everybody is paid the same rates. As for priority, of course, they will be given priority for Housing Board accommodation. If they are not given priority, then they are not resettled and there is no redevelopment. The Member for Kampong Kembangan also asked about priority for employment. I think that is difficult to give.”
“If these problems can be considered by the Minister for National Development, I can assure him the residents there will co-operate whole-heartedly with the Government.”
“Ariff(In Malay): Sir, I wish to assure the Minister for Law and National Development that the problem of resettlement will not be difficult. I believe that the Minister knows how the Housing and Development Board had resettled the families affected by the Pan-Island Expressway project. Likewise, Sir, if this area is redeveloped, I am sure the residents there will give their fullest co-operation to the Government. A little while ago, the Minister said that the first problem is resettlement and that development will take place in a few years' time. Sir, the problem which will arise if this development were to take place in a few years is that the residents there will continue to live under conditions where they will have bad roads and flooded drains, including the mosquito menace, if the U.R.S.C, cannot give prior consideration to repair the bad roads and drains. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development said just now that because these areas are affected by redevelopment, it is not wise to repair the by-roads in the area. If this area is not going to be developed, or it will take a long time to develop it, it means that the residents there will continue to experience the difficulties which they had experienced over the past years. In implementing this redevelopment, Sir, will the residents be given facilities and equal, if not more priority than the residents who are affected in the other areas, in matters such as compensation, choice of alternative accommodation offered by the Housing and Development Board, and whether they will be permitted to return to their old place it and when the Housing and Development Board flats are completed?”
“As for the Member for Sembawang, he asked certain questions, one of which is: where will these housing projects be? I mentioned a few. There are other projects all over Singapore - Woodlands, Toa Payoh, Queenstown, Farrer Road, Redhill, Telok Blangah are some of the few. He asked: will there be shopping centres and hawker centres? Certainly. But he complained that some of the rentals of shops are too high, and at the same time and in the same breath he said they wanted to buy. This is what I do not understand. If they cannot pay the rents, which they say are too high, how can they afford to buy? But on this question of wanting to buy shops, it is not the same as the home-ownership scheme for tenants who live in flats. The qualifications are different. Hence it is also difficult to sell. You do not have to be a citizen of Singapore to tender for a Housing and Development Board shop premises, but you have to be a citizen of Singapore if you want to buy a Housing Board flat to live in. So are we to extend this scheme to non-citizens too? If we do sell, we must obviously sell to everybody. We cannot pick and choose. That is just one reason. But the Housing Board has considered this for some time now and, after the Member's request last year, I am afraid the answer is still no. As for renting out - this is the third time I am saying this, probably the Member has not been in the House - I gave the assurance that 20 per cent of the new two-room and three-room flats will still be let out, and 80 per cent will be sold. But, of course, the one-room flats are the ones that are in demand, and most of them are being let out. I think there is only one per cent of one-room flats that have been sold. In other words, it is cheaper to rent them. Tuan Haji Mohd.”
“In respect of the two new roads which I have mentioned, there were 1,200 cases for resettlement, involving about 4,000 persons. On a rough estimate, there would be more than 15,000 cases of resettlement involving about 100,000 people for the whole area. They cannot be evicted or resettled until new homes are built. This is being done in housing estates in Kallang, Geylang East, Kampong Chai Chee, and the Bedok new town on the cut side between Changi Road and Upper East Coast Road. I assure the Member that steps will be taken to provide low-cost housing within the area itself together with light industrial facilities to cater for the needs of the residents. A large part of the estate lies in the way of the air route which aeroplanes take when departing or arriving at Paya Lebar Airport, and buildings along this stretch of land must necessarily be low. I would like to reassure the Member that Geylang Serai is very much in the Government's plans, but it will take many years to complete plans for its development. The area north of the Pan-Island Expressway will be developed first and later the area south, but the exact commencement date for the development will depend on when we can find alternative homes. But homes alone are not enough. People must not only be given new homes to move into but their capacity to earn a living from light industries, which could be profitably established in the area, is an important factor in rehabilitation and redevelopment. With the co-operation of the residents and the active support of the Member of Parliament for the area, I am confident that Geylang Serai can and will be turned into an attractive and well-planned area with healthier conditions for our citizens to live and work in. 4.30 p.m.”
“Sir, the sum of $180 million is provided in the 1972-73 Development Estimates under this subhead, "Loan to Housing and Development Board", for its programme for the year 1972-73. Government loans to the Board are determined on the basis of their own overall building programme. The target this year is 20,000 units of flats, and the loan is to meet the total financial needs for the year. As such, the loan is not specifically tied to any particular housing project. As far as the Alsagoff Estate is concerned, the Government will, of course, provide the necessary loans to the Housing and Development Board, but as I have pointed out before, any overall development of this low-lying area will first require major road and drainage improvement schemes. The Sims Avenue extension was completed last year. The Pan-Island Expressway from Paya Lebar Road to Jalan Eunos will be completed soon; I believe, in a month or two. Further, both Jalan Eunos and Jalan Ubi, as the Member for Kampong Kembangan is aware, are being widened and improved and brighter lights are being installed along these two roads. I think the Member appreciates that the necessary infrastructure has to be laid for pre-development of the whole area which also has to be taken into consideration extensions to the Paya Lebar Airport. As for acquisition, the land north of the Pan-Island Expressway was gazetted for acquisition on the 2nd February last year, and the land south of the Expressway on the 20th September last year. A survey of the population in the area has not been completed and possession of the land not yet taken, so that some projects by the U.R.S.C, may still need the consent of the trustees of the estate concerned. But the stumbling block to redevelopment is, of course, resettlement.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Development Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1972, to 31st March, 1973, and ask leave to sit again on Monday, 27th March, 1972.”
“Sir, though these bus shelters in Punggol are small, six of them were built last year. Six is a considerable number compared with that for Tanglin! I have always stated that we are open to request. If the Member for Punggol can justify his representation, we will certainly provide him with bus shelters, perhaps even bigger ones with seats thrown in.”
“Sir, in the outlying rural areas like Punggol, where bus commuters are fewer than in the urban area, standard rural bus shelters with a floor area of about 60 square feet are considered adequate. Seats are not provided for the shelter as they take up too much standing room. But where the needs are justified, bigger bus shelters are constructed, like those along Upper Serangoon Road in Punggol, which have been provided with seats. Altogether six new bus shelters along Punggol Road were constructed in 1971, in response to requests from the public and the Citizens' Consultative Committee. More bus shelters will be provided if these are requested for and found necessary. As for the Member for Toa Payoh, I do not know why a trailer is parked on the bus bay, but if he will let me know where this bus bay is, I will ask my officials to look into it. We can build bus bays, but we cannot force buses to stop within them. Nor can we prevent trailers from parking in bus bays until we get to know about it. As for second-hand equipment, perhaps anything second-hand is better than none. I hope the department did not pull them out of Punggol and put them in Toa Payoh. I agree with the Member for Toa Payoh that a new town like Toa Payoh needs new bus shelters. I promise that I will do my best not to renovate the old but to give him new bus shelters.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, action has already been taken in the light of the Member for Katong's representation to widen the footpath in front of the steps of the overhead bridge in question, and to make a slight realignment of the roadside kerbs. As the Member has pointed out, a 30-foot long railing has also been erected as a further safeguard. If the Member is still not satisfied, we will proceed further to meet his complaint. As for the Member for Mountbatten, investigations carried out have shown that very few pedestrians cross that portion of the road referred to by the Member. Besides traffic flow along Mountbatten Road is regulated by traffic light controls at Guillemard Circus and the junction of the Old Airport Road and Mountbatten Road, thereby facilitating pedestrians crossing the road. A pedestrian overhead bridge is, therefore, not necessary at this juncture. However, on completion of the National Stadium, which is what the Member is looking forward to, the Public Works Department will certainly review the situation and build an overhead bridge, if it is considered necessary. In my view, without even looking into the future, I am sure the Member is right in saying that an overhead bridge will be needed when the Stadium is completed. The provision of an underpass is, I am afraid, not feasible as the location in question is just by the side of a big canal. 6.45 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, to describe the extension in words. It is best shown by way of a plan which I do not have with me now, hut I am prepared to show it to him. Roughly extension, or a continuation of the present extension, from Sims Avenue towards Jalan Eunos, it would carry on parallel to Changi Road, and meet Changi Road somewhere near Kampong Chai Chee. At the moment, Sims Avenue is parallel to (ieylang Road. Part of it has been widened. We will be widening that part of Sims Avenue from Paya Lebar Road to Lorong 3; call it Phase II if you like. Phase III will again be an extension or a continuation of that road, i.e., Sims Avenue, towards Changi, and running parallel to the big road, Geylang Road, which at present is a double carriageway running past the old Garrick Theatre. That is the best that I can explain in words! If the Member is interested in knowing what lands will be affected by this extension, I suggest that he sees the plan for himself. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): Sir, I thank the Minister for his explanation, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Cheong Yuen Chee - (3) That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.”
“Yes, part of it. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): Sir, can the Minister explain what are the plans for the extension of Sims Avenue to Changi Road?”
“Ariff(In Malay): Sir, just now the Minister stated that the vote is for the payment of bills which have not been paid. Does this provision include the payment of compensation to the squatters who have been affected?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, funds provided under item 010 of subhead 201 are for the construction of that section of the Pan-Island Expressway from Paya Lebar Road to Jalan Eunos. Work on this project was delayed by the presence of squatters along the proposed alignment of the road. But to-date most of the squatters have been moved, and about 90 per cent of the project has been completed. The sum of $300,000 has been provided for 1972-73 merely to complete the project. There is the cost of compensation for resettling the remaining squatters, and the payment of some bills which have not yet been paid for work already done. It is not unusual that every year bills for work done could not meet the deadline for that financial year, and have to be met out of the funds for the following financial year. The other matter raised by the Member concerns the extension of Sims Avenue from Paya Lebar Road to Jalan Eunos to form part of a one-way system, comprising Geylang Road and Sims Avenue, in order to ease the heavy traffic along Geylang Road. This extension was completed in 1971. I think the Member will agree that it has done considerably to brighten life in that area. It has also eased the traffic problems and, all in all, it has been a tremendous success. This additional sum of $300,000 provided for the next financial year is to complete this one-way system. We will be widening that stretch of Sims Avenue from Paya Lebar Road to Lorong 3, Geylang Road, away from Changi Road. And we will also construct a link road between Sims Avenue and Kallang Road. Hence the provision of 5300,000. The Member will be interested to know that this one-way system will ultimately he extended beyond Jalan Eunos towards Changi Road. Tuan Haji Mohd.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Kampong Kembangan Citizens Consultative Committee did make a request for the erection of 12 STOP signs at road junctions in that area. Two of these signs have since been erected. There was a lack of funds in the last financial year, but we are getting more money this year. Like the Member for Kampong Kembangan, I myself feel that more STOP signs should be erected at road junctions in order to prevent nasty accidents. I would suggest that he press on with his representation, and I myself will see what I can do at my end. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): In view of the Minister's assurance, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 6.30 p.m. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 010 of subhead 201. Sir, in moving this amendment, may I range over my amendment* (6) which is related? * The amendment reads as follows: (6)That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 314.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the development of parks is currently under planning and design. It is expected to be implemented this year, but it will not be completed this year. The project includes the East Coast Park on the reclaimed land between Bedok and Tanjong Rhu, the Woodlands Park near the Causeway, Kampong Java park at the New Cemetery Road, the Central Park at Fort Canning Hill, Rochester Park, Tanah Merah Park, Pearl's Hill Park, Labrador Hill, Mount Faber Park extension, and a park in Sembawang. The Member for Sembawang is a lucky man today. He has his Sembawang Research Station extended. He is now going to have a park with an area of 35 acres at the 15th m.s. Sembawang Road, opposite the Sembawang School, and extending right to the sea. The Member for Sembawang will have a seaside park where not only his constituents but he himself can rest after a hard day's work.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Sembawang Research Station occupies an area of about 40 acres of land, and this is the area it has occupied since its establishment in 1959. Over the years the programme for research and experimental work has increased to such an extent that much of the land apportioned for use by the various sections of the Station has now been fully utilised. In order to meet the future demand for more land, as more research and experimental projects are undertaken, the Primary Production Department has acquired 50 acres of the adjoining rubber estate. The land acquired is located immediately south of the existing station. Action is now in hand to prepare and develop this additional land to meet the needs of some of the new projects to be carried out by the Research Station. In fact, the extra land will be used for experiments and research on horticulture, livestock production, and freshwater fish culture. Research on horticulture will include plant breeding, pest and disease control, soil studies and orchid and mushroom cultivation. Livestock production studies will include growth rate, feed conversion, housing and waste disposal of pigs and poultry. Freshwater fish culture work will comprise nutrition, spawning techniques, selection and hybridisation. Mr Teong Eng Siong(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his detailed answer to my question. All these plans will certainly contribute to the development of agriculture. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,648,700 for Head 73 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 74 - The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Yeow Chong - (1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 74 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, at the last Budget session the Member for Punggol inquired whether there were plans to develop the Kangkar fish market and what action was being taken. It was as a result of his representation that my Ministry took this matter up with the Ministry of Finance. As a result, the Ministry of Finance agreed to provide $100,000 for the project, which will be in two parts. First, there will be an extension to the existing jetty. The proposed extension is an L-shaped jetty to be added to the existing one, so that the facilities for boats and fishermen will be extended. Secondly, there will be a new fish market near the jetty comprising an open shed 120 feet x 60 feet occupying an area of about 7,200 square feet. This is about double the area of the existing market, Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for having made this provision. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“I will certainly make that recommendation. However, what I am more concerned with is not the fish merchants or vendors of fish, who have already been given space in the market, but for others who are even poorer and who have no space within that market and have to rent a little space from those who have places in the market. I understand that they are being held practically to blackmail, and it is my duty first to help these fish merchants or fishmongers without proper accommodation, rather than to build permanent buildings for those who have already been given accommodation and who are, in fact, making quite a bit of money by subletting little portions of space for the use of smaller fishmongers.”
“The Department did not undertake to construct permanent offices for the fish merchants. In fact, the Department is of the view that the private sector should erect their own facilities. So a number of commercial companies engaged in the catching and auctioning of fish have constructed their own offices as well as fish processing installations. The Department itself is prepared to recommend to the Jurong Town Corporation, which owns the land at the fishing port, to lease land to fish merchants who wish to construct their own permanent offices, or to lease a piece of land to the Fish Merchants Association for them to construct offices for their members.”
“Sir, there are altogether six supervisory officers and 12 subordinate staff on duty at the fish auction market. Each morning, during the auctioning period, their duties are to see that the fish merchants, auctioneers and retailers, conduct their business in an orderly manner and that the facilities of the auction market are properly made use of. These officers also patrol the market and its surroundings. Supervision-wise, there have, in fact, been a few instances where the fish merchants have complained to the Department that these officers have been too strict in the enforcement of rules and regulations at the auction market. Sir, the gates to the fishing port are manned by two security guards per shift. These guards are retired police officers, whose duties are to check on persons entering the fishing port area. However, as the number of people entering the gates is about 3,000 per night in about 500 vehicles, it is practically impossible to check every person entering the market as this would cause a long queue and much inconvenience. As for the site of the buildings, may I say at the outset that when this idea of transferring the fishermen or the fish merchants from Ellen borough Market and Clyde Terrace Market to Jurong was first thought of, there was, as the Member for Jurong has pointed Out, considerable opposition. There were protests to the M.P.s concerned. There were protests also to more senior and more powerful Ministers. But finally we managed to get them to shift. Within two months, they threw a tea party to which I was invited, which means that we were correct in getting them there. But to recapitulate, as for the buildings, the Primary Production Department has erected three blocks of temporary timber offices for the use of these fish merchants.”
“Sir, the Intensive Farm Improvement Scheme has been, in fact, in progress since 1968 and is now coming to its end-phase. Hence, the diminishing financial provision for it. But the two Members need not be concerned. When the project was first approved, there was a provision of about $220,000 for capital expenditure. The bulk of this provision has been utilised for land, buildings, furniture and equipment. The balance which has been revoted this year, and about which the Member for Sembawang enquires, will be used for the purpose of a few more pieces of equipment. Researches, which have been initiated, have been made towards improving the yield of our crops by the selection of good parent plants, through better fertilising practices, and through better control of pests and diseases. In fact, experiments have been carried out at the Sembawang Field Station and the demonstration farm at Lim Chu Kang. The results of these experiments are passed on and made known to the farmers through the extension service or training courses organised by the Department of Primary Production.”
“Sir, the weekly rest day on Mondays for butchers slaughtering pigs at the Central Abattoir in Jurong and the French Road Abattoir was introduced last year after representations were made to the Government by the Singapore Pork Merchants Association. But if all concerned feel that the rest day is not necessary, the existing arrangements can be reviewed. As for the price of pigs, I believe it is influenced by more important market factors than just having another working day for the butchers. As an indication of this, the total number of pigs slaughtered in both abattoirs has maintained its steady normal increase since the implementation of the rest day. My Ministry itself would prefer to have a 7-day week, but we cannot force people to work for seven days. A 7-day week means you get good fresh pork for seven days of the week. It is not a question of the farmers as against the butchers. But somehow the question of farmers and butchers went on to the abattoir. As for rural abattoirs, recent studies have shown that there is no immediate need for rural abattoirs. But it is not a lost hope or a lost cause. It is still very much in the mind of my Ministry, .but there are no immediate plans for their implementation.”
“Sir, Phase IV of the reclamation scheme from Bedok to Tanah Merah will cause some inconvenience to the people living along that part of the coast. With reclamation, inconvenience is unavoidable. However, every effort will be made by the Housing and Development Board to minimise the inconvenience and to prevent any hardships to those affected. In its experience in reclaiming land from Bedok to Tanjong Rhu, the Board has learned from its few mistakes, and I am sure they will be more careful with the second stretch. The Member will be pleased to learn that there is no proposal to acquire the land along the coast above the high-water mark. This reclamation will only be confined to the coastal foreshore. As for the danger of flooding, the major canals serving the area, namely, Bedok canal, Sungei Mata Ikan and Sungei Ayer Gemuroh, will be extended across the reclaimed land into the sea so that the existing stretch in the area will not be affected. During the progress of reclamation, the Board will also construct more drains to facilitate the flow of rain-water from the foreshore to the sea. As for the fishermen living along the coast, they will be able to retain the use of these canals as an access for their boats. From our experience in reclaiming the coast along the Siglap area, the fishermen are, in fact, now using the new foreshore for pitching their boats. All they have to do is to walk the additional distance of the reclaimed land in order to get to the sea. This takes about five minutes. I would urge the Member himself to let my Ministry know if there is any part of the reclamation work which leads to the inconvenience of the residents there or if any canals are blocked, thus causing floods.”
“Sir, a census taken last year revealed that there are about 70 workshops, engaged in motor repairing, located at Bukit Timah Road, Sembawang Road, Jalan Pandu and Jalan Pasar. Their operations have contributed quite a great deal to the problems of noise, air and water pollution. They have also contributed to traffic obstruction and, in some cases, have even caused accidents. It is, therefore, proposed to resite some of these workshops on a four-acre site off the 12th milestone Woodlands Road. After the acquisition of land and resettlement, the actual construction work will take about one and a half years. The Housing Board is also developing a centralised motor workshop complex at the Thomson Road industrial estate for the purpose of resettling motor workshops affected by public schemes. Initially, these two centralised workshop areas will be allocated to clearance cases only. But it is hoped eventually to resite all such shops, which now operate along main roads and in the Central area, to several centralised motor repair shops away from the City.”
“Sir, the Car Parks Division has proposals for the development of a centralised lorry park initially at Lorong 1, Geylang, to accommodate the lorries at present parked in season car parking places in the City centre. If this lorry park is inadequate, the development of another lorry park at Lorong Kebun Limau will be considered later. The Singapore Lorry Owners' Association feels that as there are 4,000 lorries in Singapore, the proposed parking sites will be insufficient, and they have asked for more sites at Newton, Redhill and Pasir Panjang. As for legislation, although it is proposed to amend the Motor Vehicles (Parking Places) Rules, 1959, in due course to prohibit the parking of heavy lorries (especially lorries with cranes) in any parking place in the City area throughout the day and night, it is not the intention to prevent lorries from parking in other places, such as private compounds, garages, Housing Board estates, or even the Jurong Town Corporation's industrial estates.”
“We will take over the Britannia Club and we will pay for it. I do not know whether our Army, Air Force and Navy will take over, but if they do, it means the public will be out.”
“Sir, the Singapore Government proposes to purchase, and to pay from this provision, certain properties belonging to the United Kingdom Department of Environment, and NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institute). They are housing estates in Braddell Rise/ Braddell Hill, Poulden Court at Seletar, Chia Keng II at Yio Chu Kang Road, Ministry of Transport godowns at Alexandra Road, and NAAFI properties - Britannia Club at Beach Road and Somerset House at Grange/Somerset Roads. These properties are for long-term development requirements of Government for public housing, industrial and recreational uses.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Utilities Board has already initiated plans to provide more and better facilities at the parks at MacRitchie and Seletar Reservoirs. The provision of $170,000 for development at MacRitchie Reservoir will be utilised for the construction of an additional car park and the development of a landscape area along Lornie Road to provide additional amenities, such as large lawns which would be suitable for family picnics and a play area for children. Simple shelters and benches will also be provided, and planting will be incorporated in this area. Although there is already a tea kiosk at the MacRitchie Reservoir, which provides refreshments to visitors, additional food stalls have also been constructed recently in the vicinity. The provision of more than $181,000 for development at Seletar will be utilised for the construction of a bandstand, fountains, ice-cream and refreshment kiosks, benches, an additional car park and toilets, augmenting the existing children's playground, rock garden, marsh garden, shelters and landscaping. The zoo at Seletar is being looked after by the Singapore Zoological Gardens, a Government-owned public limited company incorporated under the Companies Act. This zoo is expected to be opened to the public either at the end of this year or, at the latest, in early 1973. A sum of about $600,000 has already been spent by the Company in respect of salaries for staff and landscaping, buildings and staff quarters, and the building of animal enclosures, and installations. An additional sum of more than $3,300,000 has been committed to provide a car park and access road to the zoo entrance and construction of enclosures, administration block, and other buildings.”
“Sir, speaking as a lawyer, I would associate myself with the remarks of our learned Member. The delay has been caused again by resettlement problems as we experienced much difficulty in clearing the site. However, the Member will be pleased to know that the site has now been completely cleared, not only of its occupants but also of the existing buildings thereon. The tender for piling was accepted on the 6th of March this year. The piling contractor has taken possession of the site, and has commenced piling on the 22nd of March.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, all lights along the common corridors and stair-cases of Housing and Development Board flats are controlled by time switches. They are switched on automatically at sunset and are switched off automatically at sunrise. In order to provide some lights during the day for internal corridors, re-wiring on a substantial scale is required. This would be costly. However, the Board will consider providing some lights in some internal corridors which have very poor natural light. DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [1st Allotted Day]. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 2.32 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This purely formal Bill seeks to substitute in subsection (2) of section 10 of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Chapter 50) the year "1971" for the year "1967" so as to bring it in line with the amendment made last year by the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Act, 1971, and also to delete the reference to the first registers of electors in the said subsection, as that reference is no longer applicable. Clause 3 of the Bill effects a minor amendment to Form 1, which is the Writ of Election. This amendment would enable the Writ, which is at present required to be signed by the President at the top of the Form, to be signed by him at the same time at the end thereof as well. This would avoid the existing requirement for a separate reference to the Secretary to the Cabinet under section 34 of the Interpretation Act, which provides that the exercise of a power by the President may be signified under the hand of the Secretary to the Cabinet. In short, the amendment proposed at clause 3 would obviate the need for an unnecessary procedural step. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. VOLUNTARY STERILIZATION (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 6.16 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank my colleague, the Minister for Labour, for his support. At the Second Reading of the Controlled Premises (Special Provisions) Bill, I did inform Members that the formula set out in the Ordinance, for compensation of at least six to eight years' rent was not a magic formula,, and that we were experimenting with this formula in an Act which has been extended only to the Golden Shoe area in Telok Ayer. It was as a result of the experience of the Board that these amendments as contained in the Bill have been put before the House today, and I hope that, as a result, fairer compensation will be paid out to occupants of houses in the Golden Shoe area. It may well be that subsequent experience may even lead to further amendments. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 6.12 p.m.”
“The Tenants Compensation Board has also proposed an amendment to give the Board power to award compensation to any person (other than a tenant or subtenant) using or occupying any part of the controlled premises. Such occupiers have no protection or standing under the Control of Rent Act, upon which the Controlled Premises (Special Provisions) Act hinges. The adoption of this proposal, therefore, entails widening the scope of the parent Act in a way that was not envisaged when the Act was drafted. Although the concept does not lend itself to ready acceptability within the narrow confines of property law, the Board is convinced that social and economic considerations justify the adoption of this novel concept. The proposal has principally in contemplation occupiers who are stall-holders selling goods or refreshments to the public under an arrangement with the chief tenant. So long as it is enacted that any compensation that is payable to these occupiers comes out of the amount that is payable to the person who has derived benefit from the occupation, that is to say the chief tenant in most cases, the amendment can be justified on the wider social and economic grounds and will not, within these limits, do too much violence to the settled principles of property law. The amendment giving effect to this proposal would appear as a new section 9A in the Act. The other amendments in the Bill are of a consequential or formal nature and do not call for special comment. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 6.00 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The amendments proposed in this Bill are concerned principally with the compensatory provisions of the Controlled Premises (Special Provisions) Act. Section 7 (3) of the Act provides that the total amount of compensation to be awarded in a case where a tenant has sublet his premises must not exceed the amount of compensation that could be awarded in a case where a tenant has not so sublet his premises. In the working of this legislation since the Act came into force, the Tenants Compensation Board has found that this section is unduly restrictive in enabling the Board to award fair and reasonable compensation to tenants. The original philosophy behind this provision was that landlords should not be penalised by having to pay out more compensation where tenants had sublet parts of the controlled premises; for, after all, landlords had over the years derived no financial benefit themselves from the subletting. But the experience of the Board has shown that this approach has failed adequately to take into account the reality of existing economic and social conditions in Singapore. In order, therefore, for the Tenants Compensation Board to strike a fairer balance as between landlords and tenants in the award of compensation, it is proposed that section 7 (3) should be deleted from the Act. While the effect of the deletion will be that landlords may be liable under the law to pay out more compensation than might otherwise be the case, it will ensure that dispossessed tenants will receive sufficient compensation to enable them to set up new homes or businesses elsewhere.”
“The second provision is to the effect that the accused shall not, without the court's permission, adduce evidence in support of an alibi unless he gives notice of particulars of the alibi. This is to ensure that no last-minute defence of alibi is sprung upon the prosecution. Two fresh technical provisions relating to evidence contained in the Bill are set out in clause 4 and are explained at the end of the Explanatory Statement. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to conclude by making two points. First, the new procedure as contained in the Bill achieves the same object as the present parallel provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code in that the accused will be made aware of the case that he has to meet; and, secondly, there have been no serious criticisms in the United Kingdom as to the operation of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, on which our Bill is largely based. Indeed, the general consensus is one of approval. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. CONTROLLED PREMISES (SPECIAL PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 5.57 p.m.”