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.”
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“If the land is subject to rent control, it is very difficult and virtually impossible for the landowner to evict his tenant. In some cases, the tenant demands hundreds of thousands of dollars. Therefore, one of the factors is encumbered land which has to be unencumbered. The Government's offer to the private sector in respect of urban renewal sites includes many concessions. First, there is the easy repayment of the purchase price: 20 per cent down payment with the balance repayable over ten years without interest. This works out roughly at a saving of approximately 35 per cent of the land premium. Second, there is reduced property tax which is one-third the normal rate. The normal rate is 36 per cent. The property tax for the urban renewal sites is 12 per cent payable over 20 years. Therefore, many people buy them. There are a lot of purchasers willing to buy them. The owner pays only 12 per cent property tax for the next 20 years. The Housing Board flat-owners pay 23 per cent property tax now, after long communication and conferences with the Ministry of Finance. Previously, Queenstown flat-owners paid 23 per cent and Aljunied flat-owners paid 36 per cent. Now there is a flat rate. In any case, even Housing Board flat-owners pay more than the 12 per cent property tax in respect of the urban renewal sites. There are also other reasons. The land acquired is usually fragmented with small and narrow frontages which cannot be developed. These little pieces of land are collected by the Government and put together into one big complex and then sold. 3.45 p.m. Again, when Government sells land, it sells at "net", if I can use the phrase. `You do not have to set aside part of your property for drains, canals or roads. Everything is laid on. All you do is build on that land.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first may I thank the Member for River Valley for giving me an opportunity to explode a myth? This myth is the general misconception that Government acquires land cheaply and sells it at high prices. It is admitted that in the past year or so the Government has acquired quite a bit of land. Most of this acquisition has been made for purposes of defence. Our soldiers need training grounds, and, therefore, large tracts of land have been acquired. However, it is not true that we acquire land and pay the owner whatever we like. The Land Acquisition Act itself provides that land can be acquired for public purposes but at the market rates. The Government Valuer values the land, but that is not the end of the matter. The owner of the land acquired has his own valuer and, if he is dissatisfied, there are provisions by which he can ask for a hearing before the Appeals Board where the two valuers can set out their cases. They can give their reasons why the land should be $10 a square foot or $20 a square foot. A High Court judge sits on the Appeals Board and he decides the case accordingly. But to go back to the question of Government acquiring land cheaply and selling it dearly. One reason for this misconception perhaps is that no one likes his land to be acquired by Government. It does not matter whether it is acquired cheaply or dearly, he does not like it. However, we have to acquire land for public purposes. Perhaps people have this false impression because they are not aware of the following factors. The land which is bought by Government is usually encumbered. It costs a lot of money and it takes a lot of time to clear the land of these encumbrances. It is only the Government that can evict the squatter occupiers.”
“The fines are imposed by the magistrate in court. The magistrate hears the facts from the prosecutor and imposes what he considers a suitable fine. To discuss here whether a fine of $15 for someone earning $100 is good or bad seems somewhat irrelevant. Of course, I would agree that if I were drawing $100 a month I could not afford to pay a fine of $15, especially if it is quite frequent. But we are talking in general terms. I think our magistrates have enough common sense to listen to the facts and impose what they think is a proper and reasonable fine.”
“Jobs are easy to find, but I do not know what the Minister for Health has got to offer them.”
“- we will consider lowering the rents, provided, of course, it will not have repercussions in other centres making the same demand. However, if the business is not so good, I think common sense should tell them that they should change their business.”
“Sir, if I am not mistaken, the summonses do not come from the Ministry of National Development. The Member for Whampoa is sympathetic towards these people. So am I! The law has to be imposed, otherwise there will be chaos. He can philosophise, but I have to deal with realities. But if he can point his finger at a particular hawkers centre where the rents are too high, and is able to make a case out for the lowering of such rents -”
“- you are in. These are the differences, and it is difficult to play one against the other. But I can assure the Member that Government's policy is not to get rid of every hawker in Singapore. We have come to accept hawkers as part of the life of Singapore. In the past when hawkers were moved into shops in the Housing Board premises, they had to pay a high rent. As a result, the price of their food went up. Customers subsequently stopped coming, and then they went bankrupt. But they cater for a need. The Government realises this, and we will continue to build more and more hawker centres, so that they can hawk at very cheap rates, otherwise they go out of business. I am speaking generally, not only in respect of those built in Housing Board estates but those at Farrer Road, Newton Road, and the one at Orchard Road in front of the Cold Storage, which is the most popular in Singapore. They are doing a roaring business. There is another centre opposite the Singapore Polytechnic, which recently started business - a car park by day, and a hawkers centre by night. So once again may I assure the Member that we are not against hawkers. We have come to accept them as part of the life in Singapore. But we have to ensure that they sell food under sanitary conditions, so that when hon. Members eat at such places they will not get a stomachache or diarrhoea the next day.”
“We levelled the land, cemented the place, put up little stalls, and they are now paying rent at about $40 a month for a stall. If you sell cooked food, for which you pay a rent of about $1.50 a day, you are well in. On the other hand, if you merely sell sweets, for which you have to pay a rent of $1.50 a day, you might not make it. If you sell ice-water -- Mr Chua Sian Chin: You boom.”
“Sir, I think that is a good suggestion. In fact, the construction of smaller hawker centres at strategic sites is being considered by the Housing Board, because a hawker goes out of business if he is in some lonely outpost. As to the rentals charged, it can be looked at both ways. Some hawkers are making money hand and foot, but others are not. But we have to have one standard rate, otherwise they grumble. As for unlicensed hawkers, the Government is sympathetic. The Government's policy is not to get rid of hawkers in Singapore. But licensed hawkers complain about unlicensed hawkers. For instance, you build a market for foodstalls. You license the hawkers therein. And as some of them were unlicensed before, you give them a licence. But other hawkers come in, and sell across the road. So the licensed hawkers say, "What are you doing about that? We will go out of business." An example is the little row of stalls we built opposite the entrance to the Botanic Gardens. Previously all, or most of them, were unlicensed hawkers selling under insanitary conditions. We put up a permanent hawkers centre and rented out the stalls quite cheaply. They were given water and electricity, and they are doing good business. But now unlicensed hawkers come along. And you must have read in the papers about the police chasing an unlicensed hawker and, in running across the road, knocking down somebody's child. Well, this happens. Another example is the hawkers at the junction of Farrer Road, Dunearn Road and Bukit Timah Road, in Tanglin Constituency; and yet another one in Newton, in Cairnhill Constituency. These hawkers were all unauthorised or trespassing on someone else's land. They were not paying any rent, and were selling food in rather insanitary surroundings.”
“They do not tell you that their wives' mahjong friends are close by, too! No one likes to move, but unless we move them there will be no urban renewal. Do you want progress, or do you want stagnation? If you want progress, you have to evict them. So you compensate them, but they are not satisfied. You provide them with Housing Board flats, they are also not satisfied. They want a flat of their particular choice. They want the fifth floor, and they want a corner flat. And everybody wants that flat. We cannot satisfy everybody.”
“We catch up with the loopholes that exist in the system. Cross-checks are now being made with the Property Tax Division. If anyone who already owns property is caught making an application for a Housing Board flat, he will not only lose his flat, but he is liable to be prosecuted. As for the income of hawkers, why does the Member not ask the Minister for Finance how he checks on them? I do not think he has any means of checking on them. If the Member has any suggestions how we can check the income of these hawkers, we will be happy to consider and to implement them. These are the problems - there are loopholes. I can tell of another loophole. There are grouses that when you buy a Housing Board flat, it really does not belong to you. You cannot do this, and you cannot do that, as the Member for Toa Payoh has said. Fair enough. We have introduced a rule which says, "If you want to sell a fiat, go ahead and sell it, provided you sell it to someone who qualifies to buy that flat and he is already on the register." This has led to abuse. Mr X gets a flat today and sells it tomorrow at a handsome profit of $5,000. These are loopholes which we will plug. So the Housing Board is now considering imposing a limitation on the resale of Housing Board flats, and anyone who sells a flat will not be allowed to apply for another flat for the next five years. As for the planning of Telok Blangah, my instructions are that, except for the specific projects which I have mentioned, there should be no chopping and changing about. I think the Member for Telok Blangah will agree with me when I say that no one likes to shift on his own. And when he is evicted, he wants to come back. The usual excuses are that they have got used to the district, the school is nearby, and the market is nearby.”
“Sir, can the Member for Whampoa give me the courtesy of dealing with these two points first before I hear him? The Member for Telok Blangah grumbles about separate applications being made, or not being made, I am not sure.”
“Is that the fault of the Housing and Development Board?”
“Yes, we are short of labour. The building industry is short of labour. Hawking is one way of supplementing their income. It is hard work, of course, but there is plenty of money in it. Perhaps I should deal with the business of minor changes of awnings. In multi-storey housing, strict discipline must be maintained for the common good of the residents. You can have your minor repairs provided they are within the building, but if you put an awning on to the common corridor or to some other common area, then the neighbours grumble. If you want to put a gate or a grill, put it in your own house, but do not trespass on to the common area because if you do your neighbours grumble.”
“Three minutes. Perhaps I should assure the Member for Toa Payoh that I will look into his complaints. I do not think all his complaints are true. There is such a demand for Housing and Development Board flats and yet the Member says that the lifts are no good, the walls are cracking, there is dirt all over the place, the market is too close to the flats, the car parks are in the wrong place, and the playgrounds are in the wrong place. If all these are true, I do not know why everyone wants to go to Toa Payoh. I do not know why we had 32,000 applications by last year. Something must be wrong! In one breath the Member says that some of his poorer constituents who occupy one-room flats would like to supplement their income by being hawkers. In the next breath he says the hawkers make too much noise at night or in the market in the day. But there are difficulties. Everyone wants to be a hawker nowadays.”
“Even if it succeeds in this plan and builds 17,000 units, it is a far cry from the 32,922 applicants who registered for flats last year. The position is not hopeless. We have broken the back of the housing problem in Singapore, but the Member for Telok Blangah used a different word, "solve". By "solve" it means that we must be able to provide a flat to anyone who wants a flat. The position today is that the demand far exceeds the supply. The Member also grumbled about the hardships that his constituents are undergoing as a result of this planning for the new town in Telok Blangah. He says that it is a gigantic problem, so on his own admission it is not easy.”
“It is rather difficult in 10 minutes to deal with two dissatisfied Members of Parliament who have raised so many points. Perhaps I can deal with them in turn. The Member for Telok Blangah seeks clarification of the Housing and Development Board policy and questions the long wait of one and a half to two years before one gets a Housing and Development Board flat, either as a tenant or as a purchaser. It is admitted that the waiting period for allocation of flats is at least one and a half to two years, sometimes even longer. It was different in the 1960s when the demand for housing, either from resettlement or other cases, was about equal to the number of Housing and Development Board flats built. The position today is entirely different and I put this down to the extensive concessions granted by the Government early last year, especially the availability of the Central Provident Fund monies. Previously one had to wait until one reached 55 years before drawing that money. Now everybody is rushing to use his Central Provident Fund money, and hence the desire to purchase Housing and Development Board flats. Last year alone the Board received 12,324 applications for rent and 20,598 applications from purchasers desiring to buy flats, making an unprecedented total of 32,922 applications in one single year. At the start of 1970 there was already a backlog. And we had to deal with another 33,000 applications. Last year the Board built a little less 1han 14,000 units. It cannot build 28,000 units within one year. That is not all. It is difficult enough building 14,000 units, but there are plans to increase this to about 20,000 units annually by 1975. This year the Board hopes to build about 17,000 units.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, do I have just 10 minutes?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1971, to 31st March, 1972, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“This is a token vote of $10. But it does not mean that all we need is one office boy. Hence the token vote. We cannot pay $10 for one office boy. That is not enough. We need much more money.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, you will have noticed that a new feature in this House - whether desirable or undesirable I do not know - is the increasing interest shown by some Members in toilet attendants and toilet conditions. May 1 say at this stage that I am not in charge of the courts. There are two toilets in the Supreme Court building, one on the first floor and the other on the ground floor. These two toilets are used not only by litigants but also by numerous witnesses to cases in court and by members of the public. It is, therefore, difficult to prevent these persons from dirtying the toilets, short of employing a full-time attendant. But even an attendant will be of little use unless be follows these persons into, the toilets. I understand that the present cleaning contractor cleans these toilets twice daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Arrangements have since been made to have the toilets cleaned three times a day. I hope that satisfies the Member for Potong Pasir.”
“Private housing estates. 4.00 p.m. I think Members' complaints, in general, are that there is not enough grass and greenery. Ten years ago we were not looking for parks and trees and playgrounds: we were then looking for houses. Now that the houses have come, the demand for amenities has increased. Members of Parliament now move around in cars, whereas before they moved around on bicycles! But they should not blame the Parks and Trees Division for any lack of amenities in Housing Board estates. Blame the Housing and Development Board if they like, but let me say that a special effort has been mounted in Toa Payoh to plant more and more trees and shrubs. In fact, quite a bit of ground has been reserved for a park. There are some concrete floors laid between various blocks of flats, and these will be broken up and trees planted, as in the case of recreation parks where cars are parked. I think that in the course of this year Toa Payoh will be a better place to live in. To sum up, Sir, my Ministry is aware of the problems brought up by both Members. We are aware of our mistakes, and we hope to correct them. We will do our best to satisfy the demands of Members and their constituents.”
“If I can deal with the Member for Punggol who has suddenly become interested in Housing and Development Board flats -”
“They have had to be pulled out, otherwise the retaining wall would come down. But these are mistakes which have been made and instructions have been given that there should be closer supervision of the work done. Most of the work is done by contractors. One of the contracts is to plant a tree on both sides of the road every 50 yards. Unless properly supervised, all they do is to measure 50 yards, dig a hole, fill it with fertilizer and then plant a tree in it. They do not care whether the spot at which they plant is next to a lamppost, a fire hydrant or under another tree! The net result was that we finally had to issue a series of do's and don'ts. "Do plant trees along unshaded areas." "Don't plant trees under lamp-post or under other trees." I think these mistakes will continue to be made, and perhaps other mistakes will have to be corrected. They have even planted trees along a rubber estate where the rubber trees are already in a row and are properly shaded! When I queried them, I was told that this was a nursery. Coming to the roundabouts, the one at Braddell Circus was planted with small trees and shrubs more than three years ago. At that time it was known that the roundabout would have to disappear, and traffic lights to control the left traffic lanes instituted. But instead of waiting three years and leaving the roundabout with just grass, it was decided to plant. Now that the roundabout has been converted into a traffic light junction, the shrubs and trees, wherever they can be recovered, have been planted elsewhere. As for the roundabout at Shenton Way, Shenton Way is an important place. Important people pass there. Instead of leaving it bare, we decided to plant, even if it was for a short while.”
“Training of 200 gardeners $120,000 Purchase of four portable fountains for use at the Botanic Gardens $ 12,000 Landscaping and planting of shrubs, flowers and tress in open spaces, side-tables and traffic islands $250,000 Development of wooded areas $ 40,000 Construction of timber screens at various places $160,000 Whilst the Member for Telok Blangah complimented the Parks and Trees Division, he cautioned that we should not forget the maintenance. The answer is that we have not. Instructions have been given not to plant unless we can maintain. We would rather have no shrubs and flowers than have half-dead wilting shrubs. In fact, fleets of lorries with water go out when there is a dry spell. They do watering in most places, sometimes at least twice a day. As for planting along road sides, monsoon drains and sometimes along foot-paths, some mistakes have been made. I need not go into details, but whenever these are made they are rectified. For instance, along Orchard Road. As everyone knows, the angsana trees were planted too close to one another, but they were purposely planted that way to accelerate the programme of planting in making Singapore greener for January 197l. As a net result, Orchard Road looked much greener during that month. But the trees were not wasted. As soon as they grow too big, they will be pulled out and planted in other places. Mistakes have been made. Where you have a nice foot-path, the next day you find angsana trees in the middle of it. I myself have had cause to complain. Some of these trees have been pulled out, others left alone to take root in order that they may be planted elsewhere. Sometimes ridiculous mistakes have been made. For example, trees planted next to a flat, or next to a retaining wall.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I first give the details of the projects for which this extra money was needed. An amount of $450,000 was provided in the previous estimate. In early 1970, what is called the "Garden City Action Committee" was established in the Ministry of Law and National Development to plan and co-ordinate a programme of work to spruce up Singapore, the immediate objective being to make Singapore more beautiful for the Heads of State Conference which was held here last January. A substantial number of projects were planned. This amount of money was found to be insufficient. Hence a supplementary provision of $914,900. The break-down is as follows: Development of park outside the Istana $118,000 Improvement to the Esplanade Parka at Connaught Drive $ 60,000 Improvement and extension to the food stalls at Elizabeth Walk $101,000 Bukit Timah Christian Cemetery-exhumation of graves and reinterment to convert the cemetery into a park $160,000 Some work in connection with the sun-dial garden at Botanic Gardens $ 50,000 Development of open spaces at Dunearn-Whitley Roads, Adam Road, Dunearn Road and in front of the Orchard Road Market $ 65,000 Aviary at Katong Park $ 10,000 Pagoda at River Valley Road $ 20,000 Nursery at Ulu Pandan $ 50,000 Nursery at Sembawang $ 67,000 Plant Sales Center at Floral Mile $ 6,000 Purcahse fo four pick-ups and two tankers $ 63,000 I am sure the Member for Telok Blangah has not failed to get his maintenance.”
“Sir, I cannot speak for either the Minister for Health or the Minister of Defence, but I am sure they will take into consideration the Member's suggestion. Speaking for myself, my Ministry will take his suggestion into consideration.”
“I have no further information for Members, but I understand that the Member for Katong is a member of the National Safety First Council!”
“I am glad to hear from the Member for Katong that he has been reassured by what has been happening in the Ministry of Defence. But now that Singapore has taken over control of the military establishments, vehicles of the Army come into the fold of the Attorney-General's Chambers in regard to expenditure on accidents. I have mentioned just now that it is the Attorney-General who acts as paymaster in respect of these claims. The number of accidents for the financial year 1970-71 was 875 as compared with 618 for the previous financial year. So there has definitely been an increase. The break-down of these 875 accidents is interesting: Ministry of Defence 605 Public Health Division 111 Ministry of Health 30 Public Works Department 19 Prisons Department 16 Police (in which the Member of Katong is interested) 16 Postmaster-General 11 Social Welfare Department 4 Primary Production Department 5 Prime Minister's Office 4 I can go on, but the rest do not exceed half a dozen accidents - Car Parks, Chief Surveyor's Department, or even the Fire Brigade which had two accidents. All in all, there were 875 accidents. I am not saying that the Ministry of Defence drivers are careless, but the figures are there. As the British pull out, we have to have more and more vehicles, more and more drivers; and therefore more and more accidents occur. Hence, we are asking for this supplementary vote. Of the number of persons involved in these 875 accidents, 10 were killed and 119 injured. Of these 875 claims, 224 were successfully settled out of court. A total of 615 cases, including 15 police cases, were unsuccessful, involving a total sum of $88,475.24. The police cases cost $7,584.54. A total of 36 cases, involving claims amounting to about $35,000, are still pending.”
“In the 1970 - 71 financial year, the sum of $20,000 provided has clearly proved inadequate, and another $70,000 is needed to meet expenditure of $88,475.24. To compare other years, in 1967, $13,200 was incurred; in 1968, $19,360. 3.00 p.m. In 1969 - 70 549,739.75 - nearly $50,000 - but still not near $90,000. For the financial year 1971 - 72, two Members have pointed out that only $25,000 has been approved. I would like to inform them that we have asked for much more, but that is all we have been given, so that in the coming year they will have to hear me again. The number of vehicles in Singapore is increasing every year; so also are the traffic jams. In consequence, the number of accidents has increased; so has the number of accidents involving Government vehicles. The Member for Katong is not satisfied with the assurance I gave him last year. He seems to be more satisfied with what has been done in the Ministry of Defence. Am I correct?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first, let me put the record right. The Ministry of Law or the Ministry of National Development is not in charge of all Government drivers or all Government vehicles. It is when a Government vehicle is involved in an accident and there is a claim for damage that the Attorney-General steps in as the lawyer representing the Government. So whilst I agree with the Members that perhaps the standard of driving of Government vehicles can be improved, what the Attorney-General can do to help is to see that circulars are sent round. These circulars have been sent round. Drivers of Government vehicles have also been educated on road safety and have been instructed to be more careful in their driving. As for prosecution, there is provision for the Permanent Secretary of the respective Ministry to consider, on the advice of the Attorney-General, whether disciplinary action is called for against the driver of the Government vehicle involved in an accident. It is, however, the function of the Police to determine whether the driver has committed a traffic offence. Where the Attorney- General is satisfied that the accident is due to the negligence or recklessness of the driver, he will instruct the Police to prosecute the driver concerned. There may, however, be instances where prosecution is not justified but other instructions have been contravened, in which case disciplinary action is instituted by the Permanent Secretary concerned on the advice of the Attorney- General. Members will agree that the expenditure that would be involved in any accident under this vote is not easily predictable. The greater the number of accidents involved, the larger will be the amount of expenditure.”
“Sir, about 269 motor workshops and garages which are affected by the public projects in various parts of the city will be resettled in this estate. In addition, about 500 three-room improved flats, 32 shops with living quarters, and about five eating houses will be built. I understand that the Registrar of Vehicles is also constructing a vehicle testing centre within the estate. CHIT FUND COMPANY ACTIVITIES (Publication of Research Division's findings) 5. Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Finance if he is now in a position to publish the findings of the Research Division of his Ministry into the activities of chit fund companies, and whether he now feels that the subject merits legislation and, if not, why not. The Minister of State for Finance (Mr Tang See Chim) (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not intended to publish the results of the study made by my Ministry. Chit fund legislation in countries such as Ceylon, India and Taiwan is being examined with a view to similar legislation being introduced here to control the activities and operations of chit fund companies. No new chit fund companies are being allowed to be incorporated for the time being.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Shin Min Public School will not be affected by the proposed development in the Sin Ming Road area where about 42 acres of land are being developed by the Housing and Development Board into an industrial estate for the resettlement of motor workshops and garages.”
“Sir, in all, these two projects will provide about 200 one-room improved type of flats, about 78 three-room flats, about 20 shops with living accommodation, and about 80 lock-up shops, and one hawker centre providing about 35 eating shops. RAYMAN MARKET (Smaller stalls and resiting of stallholders) 5. Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Health (a) whether he considers the unilateral action of the Hawkers Branch of his Ministry in reducing the sizes of the stalls at the Rayman Market and charging the same rental justified, in view of the fact that stallholders at the Market have been and are suffering loss of business ever since their customers who used to stay at Jalan Kebun Limau were evicted; and (b) when and where those stall-holders will be re-sited after the Market is demolished and if he will ensure that suitable alternative stalls be found for all the stallholders concerned as a proof of his Ministry's concern in looking after the livelihood of its licensees in the Market.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the sites for the former sheep and cattle abattoirs at Jalan Besar are being redeveloped under the urban renewal programme for the relocation of families, businesses and hawkers affected by development schemes in the locality. On the former sheep abattoir site, a 16-storey block of fiats, with a podium comprising three rows of eating stalls and shops, will be built. This project will be similar to the People's Park Complex which has proved to be a success. Tenders for the construction of this project will be called some time this year. As regards the site for the cattle abattoir, a similar project planned, but this site will only developed when the Ministry of hands over vacant possession Urban Renewal Department. Mr Yeo Toon Chia (Kampong Kapor): Sir, can the Minister tell us how many units will be built in this project?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Upper Thomson Road Housing Board complex will be completed by the end of this year. All the shopkeepers and hawkers affected by the road-widening scheme at Upper Thomson Road will be allocated shop-houses and stalls in the complex. Most of the residents affected by the scheme will be offered alternative accommodation at Toa Payoh because only a very small number of flats - in fact, 24 -will be built. It is not the practice of the Housing and Development Board to allocate hawker stalls to hawkers on a constituency basis, and only hawkers who are physically affected by the road-widening scheme will be given preference. SITE OF FORMER JALAN BESAR ABATTOIR (Construction of flats or shopping and hawker centre) 4. Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Law and National Development if his Ministry has any plans to utilise the site of the former abattoir at Jalan Besar for the construction of multi-storey residential flats or a shopping and hawker centre so as to provide better amenities for the residents of that area.”
“Sir, with the general assent of the House, I beg to move, In page 2, line 9, to leave out "arrangement" and insert "agreement". Sir, one would not speak of an arrangement between the Superintendent of Car Parks and the owner occupier of a private car park. I think the word "arrangement" would more properly describe the relationship between a man and his mistress. So with the consent of the House, I would prefer to insert the word "agreement" there in place of the word "arrangement".”
“Among the main amendments is the inclusion in clause 7 of provisions to enable the Minister to make rules in respect of the levy of surcharges and penalties for non-payment of parking charges and to provide for a maximum fine of $250 for any contravention of the rules. 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. [Mr N. Govindasamy in the Chair] 7.53 p.m. Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 3 -”
“Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The law, as it stands, only provides for the establishment of public parking places and does not empower the appropriate authority, in this case, the Car Parks Division of the Ministry of National Development, to exercise any control over car parks managed under private ownership. More and more private car parks are being established; two large such parks came into operation recently - one at Collyer Quay with about 600 parking lots and the other at the People's Park Complex at New Bridge Road with about 500 parking lots. With the increase in the number and size of such car parks, it is desirable that proper control be exercised over their operations. Clause 7 of the Bill therefore seeks to re-enact section 6 of the Ordinance so as to empower the Minister to make rules for the control, regulation and supervision by registration of private car parks. It is also proposed to empower the Superintendent of Car Parks to enter into agreements to take over the control and management of private car parks upon requests being made by the owners. Enquiries have, in fact, been received by the Division from some developers concerning the taking over and management of their private car parks. It is, therefore, proposed to add a new section 3A to the Ordinance to enable the Minister to authorise the use as a parking place of any private land or premises with respect to which an agreement has been made between the Superintendent of Car Parks and the owner or occupier thereof for the use of such land or premises as a parking place. This is provided for in clause 3. Other amendments to the Ordinance have been incorporated in the Bill to make the administration of parking places more effective.”
“Secondly, the Bill provides for the service of a notice on the occupier of any land adjoining or abutting or near to a designated public road requiring him to clear the land of weeds or overgrown grass or to plant such trees and plants as are specified in the notice. This provision again does not extend to the occupier of every land but can only apply to the occupiers of those lands which are adjacent or near to such public roads as the Minister may designate. The provision is considered necessary in order to strengthen the hand of the authorities in the task of preserving and enhancing the amenities of lands which are close to our main highways. Provision is made for an occupier on whom a notice has been served to appeal to the Minister. However, non-compliance with a notice does not attract any penal sanction, but instead the Superintendent of Trees and Plants, who is to be appointed under the Bill, is empowered to take the necessary measures to comply with the terms of the notice and to recover the costs and expenses of such measures from the occupier. It will, however, be an offence for any person wilfully to damage or remove any tree or plant which has been planted pursuant to any notice. It can be seen, therefore, that the Bill does not interfere unreasonably with the right of the individual to regulate his own house or garden, and Members may be assured that the provisions of the Bill will be administered reasonably, having regard to the interests of the community as well as the individual. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 7.37 p.m.”
“Mr Govindasamy, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The provisions of the Bill now before this House are in accordance with the Government policy of beautifying Singapore and making it into a Garden City. The objects of the Bill are twofold. Firstly, the Bill seeks to restrict the felling and cutting of any tree with a girth exceeding five feet when measured two feet from the ground. However, this restriction is not as wide as may be imagined, as it generally applies only to a tree growing on vacant or relatively undeveloped land. Although the Minister is given the power to designate other lands to which the restriction may apply, this power will be used only in exceptional circumstances. It is certainly not the general intention that the owner of a private dwelling house should be prohibited from cutting or felling a tree growing in his private garden. It should be noted that three conditions must be satisfied before the restriction as to felling or cutting can apply: (1) The tree must be more than five feet in girth. (2) The tree must be growing on vacant land as defined in the Bill or otherwise on any land designated by the Minister by order published in the Gazette. (3) The felling or cutting of the tree does not fall within the two specified exceptions, that is to say, the prevention of imminent danger or compliance with any statutory obligation. Having regard to these conditions, the restriction is in effect quite narrow in scope and is really directed against private developers from indiscriminately destroying the large trees growing on undeveloped land. It may be added that even if the restriction applies to a particular tree, permission can be granted to fell or cut it where there are satisfactory reasons for doing so.”
“Mr Govindasamy, Sir, as there about 35 minutes more before we come to the Moment of Interruption, there are several items remaining on the Order Paper, and as Backbenchers seem to be in good spirits in making several contributions, I beg to move, That the proceedings on the remaining items of business set down on the Order Paper for today be exempted at today's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That the proceedings on the remaining items of business set down on the Order Paper for today be exempted at today's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. MUTUAL BENEFIT ORGANISATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 7.26 p.m.”
“Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Health (a) how many granite quarry workers died from (i) silicosis; (ii) silico-tuberculosis; and (iii) other pulmonary diseases during the last ten years; (b) how many granite quarry workers are now suffering from these occupational diseases, and whether they are receiving treatment at Government hospitals; and (c) what steps his Ministry will take to acquaint medical practitioners that silicosis is an industrial disease notifiable under section 58 of the Factories Ordinance.”
“Sir, it is correct that under the existing water supply regulations some owners or tenants of Housing and Development Board flats are required to pay water-meter rent whilst others are not. This has been the practice since October 1959. If the water-meter installed in any service connection is the one and only controlling meter, no meter rent is charged. However, where there are two meters installed in series in the service of any consumer, the second meter is then called a sub-meter for which a rent of $1 per month is payable. Under the existing water supply regulations, these sub-meters may be installed in high rise buildings, both Housing and Development Board and private buildings and also where consumers request sub-metering to ensure separately water supplying different sections of their service. The reason why not all Housing and Development Board residents pay sub-meter rent is that those residents who live on the lower floors of blocks of flats get their water supply direct from the Public Utilities Board mains. The supply to these flats does not go through the bulk meter and the roof tanks. And meters installed for these individual flats are therefore not sub-meters. Hence no rental is charged. However, I can assure the Member that the entire question of imposition of sub-meter rent is now under review by the Public Utilities Board with a view to abolishing the charge for sub-meters in the case of high rise buildings. The legal and administrative implications are being studied before a final decision is made and implemented. GRANITE QUARRY WORKERS (Occupational diseases) 10.”
“Mr Speaker. Sir,I beg to move, That Parliament do now adjourn. Question proposed. RESETTLEMENT PROBLEMS”
“Sir, this development necessitates the prior reclamation of portions of the foreshore, the existing river, Sungei Selarang, and other swampy areas which are subject to tidal influence as shown coloured pink and yellow respectively on the plan totalling about 205 acres in area. The reclamation cost of about $1,300,000 will be borne by the Jurong Town Corporation which is undertaking this work as agent of the Government. The hilly parts within the proposed development lay-out will provide sufficient fill for this reclamation which is expected to be completed in about a year's time. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of those portions of the fore-shore and tidal swamps at Loyang containing a total area of approximately 205 acres as shown coloured pink and yellow respectively on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2 / 1970" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. 6.18 p.m. ADJOURNMENT TO A DATE TO BE FIXED (Motion) Resolved, "That at its rising this day Parliament do stand adjourned to a date to be fixed." -[Mr Barker]. ADJOURNMENT MOTION”
“Mr Speaker, Sir,I beg to move the motion standing in my name, namely, That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of those portions of the fore-shore and tidal swamps at Loyang containing a total area of approximately 205 acres as shown coloured pink and yellow respectively on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/1970" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. Sir, the Jurong Town Corporation proposes to develop the area shown edged in black on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/1970". A copy of this plan is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of Members. The proposed development is a Marine Industrial Estate to provide bases for oil exploration and drilling concerns and other allied industries which are both labour and capital intensive. Loyang is considered eminently suitable by these concerns for their South China Sea operations, whilst additional bases to be established at Jurong will cater for their operations elsewhere in the region. The area affected by the proposed development, totalling about 467 acres, comprises state lands. War Department lands, private lands and parts of the foreshore. Arrangements are being made to transfer the War Department lands to the Singapore Government to enable them to he alienated to the Jurong Town Corporation together with the state lands. The private lands, lots 291 and 292, will be acquired for the proposed development.”
“At paragraph 27 of Appendix 1to the Committee's Report is a new Standing Order setting out the procedure for a Vote of Credit for which provision had been made in an amendment to the Constitution in 1968. Sir, before I conclude, 1 would like to refer to the proposed amendment relating to a debate on the Motion for the Adjournment. At present if the adjournment is moved at 8.00 p.m., the Adjournment Debate can go on to 8.30 p.m., that is to say, for 30 minutes. However, if the adjournment is moved at, say, 7.00 p.m., the debate can go on till 8.30 p.m., i.e., for l½ hours. It is felt that 30 minutes should be sufficient time for such debate. If the proposed amendment to Standing Order 1 (8) (b) as recommended in Appendix I to the Committee's Report' is accepted, a uniform maximum of 30 minutes will be available for a debate on the Motion for the Adjournment. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament resolves that the amendments set out in Appendix I to the Report of the Standing Orders Committee as contained in Paper Parl. 4 of 1970 be and are hereby made to the Standing Orders of Parliament. RECLAMATION (LOYANG) 6.13 p.m.”
“It is, therefore, necessary for the procedure for either course to be written into our Standing Orders and the procedure recommended by the Standing Orders Committee is set out in the proposed new Standing Order at paragraph 20 of Appendix I to the Report. Sir, on financial procedure a recommendation has been made to increase the number of allotted days for the consideration of the Main Estimates in the Committee of Supply from three days as at present to five days. This should keep some Members happy. In the previous two Budget sessions the number of allotted days for the discussion of the Main Estimates was, by resolution, increased to five. And on both occasions all the five days were taken up. There is justification, therefore, for this increase. With regard to the Development Estimates, the Committee has also recommended that the number of allotted days for the Committee of Supply be increased from one to two. Mr Speaker. Sir, you will recollect that at the last Budget session a good number of amendments to the Estimates tabled by Members were not reached by want of time. The Committee, therefore, gave some thought to this and has suggested that the time limit for speeches in the Committee of Supply be reduced from the present 15 minutes to 10 minutes at any one time. The number of times a Member may speak on any question, of course, remains unlimited, it is hoped that this will enable more Members to have an opportunity to speak and raise matters relating to the Estimates and other matters considered in the Committee of Supply. I might add that in the Australian House of `Representatives a Member is allowed two periods each not exceeding 10 minutes on each question in Committee; a total of 20 minutes.”
“Sir, I beg to move the motion standing in my name, namely, That this Parliament resolves that the amendments set out in Appendix I to the Report of the Standing Orders Committee as contained in Paper Parl. 4 of 1970 be and are hereby made to the Standing Orders of Parliament. Sir, at the sitting of Parliament on the 27th January this year, a resolution was passed empowering the Standing Orders Committee of this House to consider and report on any amendments to the Standing Orders of Parliament which the Committee may deem necessary. I am glad to state that the Committee has submitted its Report to this House and has recommended that the amendments set out in Appendix 1 thereto be made to the present Standing Orders of Parliament. Sir, one of the principal amendments recommended concerns the procedure for dealing with a Bill which may be adversely reported upon by the Presidential Council. Article 81K of the Constitution, which came into operation early this year, provides with some exceptions for Bills which have been passed by this House to be sent to the Presidential Council for their opinion as to whether or not any and, if so, which provision of the Bill would, if enacted, be a differentiating measure or otherwise inconsistent with the funda mental liberties of the subject. Where the Council submits an adverse report on a Bill, there are two courses which may be taken if the enactment of the Bill is to be pursued. Parliament may amend the Bill after which the Bill in its amended form will be resubmitted to the Council; or Parliament may, by an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of Parliament, pass a resolution for the presentation of the Bill to the President for his assent.”