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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“The agreement of this House is therefore sought to delete from the Schedule to the Ordinance the three items set out in Part I of the Schedule to the motion now before this House, and to embody in the Schedule to the Ordinance the items shown in Part II of the Schedule to the motion whereupon the obsolete title "Superintending Pharmaceutical Chemist" will be replaced by the current title "Chief Pharmacist", and the title "Deputy Chief Chemist" by the title "Deputy Chief Chemist and Deputy Chief Inspector of Dangerous Materials". The passing of this motion will mean that wherever in any written law or in any document of whatsoever nature these old titles appear, the new titles will be read instead of the old. This method has been utilised over the years to take legislative cognisance of nomenclatural changes in titles or names of offices that have in fact already taken place. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, pursuant to section 3 of the Depar4nental Titles (Alteration) Ordinance (Chapter 55), resolves that the Schedule to the said Ordinance be amended by the deletion under the headings of "Old Title or Name of Office" and "New Title or Name of Office" respectively of the items shown in Part I of the following Schedule, and by the addition under the headings of "Old Title or Name of Office" and "New THE SCHEDULE. Part I. Old Title or name of Office New Title or Name of Office Superintending Pharmacutical Chief Chemist. Chemist Municipal Analyst Chief Chemist and Chief Inspector of Dangerous and Hazardous Materials. Deputy Chief Chemist Deputy Chief Chemist and Deputy Inspector of Dangerous Drugs. Part II.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name on the Order Paper. *The motion reads as follows: `That this Parliament, pursuant to section 3 of the Departmental Titles (Alteration) Ordinance (Chapter 55), resolves that the Schedule to the said Ordinance be amended by the deletion under the headings of "Old Title or Name of Office" and "New Title or Name of Office" respectively of the items shown in Part I of the following Schedule, and by the addition under the headings of "Old Title or Name of Office" and ~`New Title or Name of Office" respectively of the items shown in Part II of the said Schedule:- THE SCHEDULE. Part I. Old Title or name of Office New Title or Name of Office Superintending Pharmacutical Chief Chemist. Chemist Municipal Analyst Chief Chemist and Chief Inspector of Dangerous and Hazardous Materials. Deputy Chief Chemist Deputy Chief Chemist and Deputy Inspector of Dangerous Drugs. Part II. Superintending Pharmaceutical Chief Pharmacist Chemist Deputy Chief Chemist Deputy Chief Chemist and Deputy Chief Inspector of Dangerous Materials.' Sir, the Departmental Titles (Alteration) Ordinance, (Chapter 55 of the Revised Edition), provides in section 2 for the substitution of new departmental titles or names of offices for titles or names that have been rendered obsolete, and in section 3 for the amendment of the Schedule to that Ordinance by resolution of Parliament for the purpose of giving legislative effect to changes in such titles or names.”
“The Bill, which has also received the consideration of the legal profession, will provide for more efficient administration in the lower courts. A central Registry to deal with all administrative work will also be set up. The new system will further enable our District Judges and Magistrates to acquire a more varied experience, affording them opportunities to gain a rounded and more comprehensive training. The structure of our system of administration of justice is such that officers appointed to the judicial and legal service may be called upon to serve in capacities that would require them to assume the role of prosecutor, legal adviser to Government1 as well as that of Magistrate or District Judge, according to the exigencies of the service. An officer would, therefore, be given the same rounded experience both in the criminal as well as in the civil fields of law, whether he is a District Judge or Magistrate, in the Attorney-General's Chambers, the Official Assignee's Department or the Legal Aid Bureau. The Bill also affords our subordinate courts greater powers to commit for contempt of court. Provisions relating to this are set out in no uncertain terms so that those administering the law will have adequate powers and authority to maintain at all times the dignity of the Courts. 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. DEPARTMENTAL TITLES 3.23 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Bill now before this House was drafted on the recommendation of the Chief Justice in consultation with the Attorney-General. The Bill fuses the jurisdictions of the lower courts in respect of civil and criminal matters. It provides, inter alia, for both civil and criminal jurisdictions to be exercised not only by District Courts but also by Magistrates' Courts. We shall thus no longer have the separation between Civil District Courts and Criminal District Courts as hitherto. The civil jurisdiction of the District Court will also be raised to $5,000 with powers to award equitable remedies like an injunction or specific performance. This will effectively off-load a considerable amount of work that has previously been dealt with in the High Court. The jurisdiction of the Civil District Court is now $2,000, and the court has no power to grant equitable remedies. Any claim for more than $2,000 or an action praying for equitable remedies must be instituted in the High Court. Care, however, has been taken to ensure that this increase in jurisdiction will not deny a litigant the right to pursue his own claim without the aid of counsel. The Civil District Court has always been regarded as "a poor man's court" where he can pursue his claim with the aid of officials of the Court. With the increase in jurisdiction, provisions have necessarily been made for the making of new rules of procedure that would assist both counsel and the Court in arriving at a fair and proper decision. Today, Magistrates' Courts deal solely with criminal matters. The Bill provides for Magistrates to hear civil cases where the claim or the value of the subject matter in dispute does not exceed $1,000.”
“Clauses 3 and 4 of the Bill are concerned with sections 285 and 286 of the Code. Originally, those sections ensured that the Privy Council's jurisdiction to hear criminal appeals was not affected by provisions such as section 284, and that the Privy Council's decisions would be given effect in Singapore. Since becoming independent, Singapore has made arrangements with the United Kingdom and passed the necessary legislation to secure the continuance of appeals to the Privy Council, to regulate them and to make the determination of appeals effective. Those laws are the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1966, the Judicial Committee Act, 1966, and the Judicial Committee (Amendment) Act, 1967. The present terms of sections 285 and 286 refer to the law concerning appeals as it was before the passing of those Acts, and the effect of this Bill is to make them conform with those Acts. 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. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [Mr Barker]. Adjourned accordingly at Seven minutes past Four o'clock p.m. to a date to be fixed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The intention of the Bill is to amend a number of provisions in the Criminal Procedure Code regulating Coroners' proceedings and concerning appeals in criminal matters to the Privy Council. The provisions in Chapter XXX of the Code require a Coroner to investigate the cause of death where a person dies or a dead body is found in certain circumstances, and ascertain whether any person is criminally concerned in the cause of death. The Code regulates the manner in which an investigation is to be carried out. In the formal part of his investigation, a Coroner sits either alone or with a jury of three to five persons. The proceeding is called an inquest or an inquiry, according to whether the Coroner sits with or without a jury. If the death occurs in a prison or under suspicious circumstances in an institution, the Coroner investigating it has until now been required to sit with a jury, but in most cases he has a discretion and sits alone. Where he finds that a crime has been committed, he may issue a warrant for the arrest of the person whom he thinks should be charged, but he makes no determination of that person's guilt. Hon. Members will recall that the recent Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act, 1969, repealed those parts of the Code requiring that persons charged before the High Court with certain offences be tried by jury. The present Bill seeks likewise to remove juries from Coroners' proceedings. In doing so, it will bring these proceedings into line with trials in the criminal courts. The repeal of those provisions of the Code requiring or referring to Coroners' juries and the necessary consequential and formal amendments are contained in clauses 2 and 5 to 25 of the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, In page 5, line 1, to leave out from "preparing" to the end of line 3 and insert "documents in any matter relating to trade marks.". Sir, this amendment is being moved on the suggestion of a trade mark agent. Trade mark agents, when applying for registration of trade marks, prepare quite a few documents. The purpose of this amendment is to make it clear that, whilst doing this kind of work, they can prepare any type of documents, including statutory declarations or statements of claim. Amendment agreed to.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, In page 4, to leave out lines 25 to 33 inclusive and insert -"(i) any accountant drawing or preparing documents in the exercise of his profession;". Sir, this amendment is being moved in accordance with the wishes of accountants in Singapore. It sets out more clearly what an accountant can do and cannot do. Amendment agreed to.”
“When this Bill becomes law, this requirement would be dispensed with where the taxation of the bill is agreed to by the parties. The opportunity has also been taken to provide in this Bill certain amendments that would incorporate recent developments in the rules and practice governing the relationship between solicitors and clients in England. Thus we have adapted to suit local conditions here certain of the rules relating to moneys in clients' accounts. The provisions in the Bill effecting these amendments will permit a solicitor to place moneys belonging to a client in a deposit account with a bank so as to earn interest. Such interest will then be apportioned to the solicitor's client except, of course, where the task of allocating such interest earned is rendered impractical or well-nigh impossible on account of either the smallness of the sums involved or where the portions of such moneys cannot easily be defined or traced. Then there are other provisions in clauses 28 and 31 which would enlarge the powers of the Disciplinary Committee of the Bar Council. These enlarged powers would enable the Council to take whatever steps they think proper against members of the profession who have been found to have committed breaches of professional conduct. These then are the main changes that will be brought about by this Bill. They have in common one main object, and that is, a more efficient administration of the Act. 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. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 3.52 p.m. Clauses 1 to 9 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Bill now before this House has been introduced as a result of requests made from time to time by the Singapore Advocates and Solicitors Society and from the experience gained in the administration thereof since its coming into operation in 1967. After due consideration, the Government has decided to introduce these amendments in order to remove such doubts as to the practical applicability of the sections of the Act that are now being amended or because, as the law now stands, these sections in the Act have been found to be too restrictive. Hon. Members will find in this Bill provisions amending not only such technical portions of the Bill relating to annual certificates and provisions regulating the admission of Queen's Counsel from England and elsewhere in the Commonwealth, but also such important and substantive provisions defining the scope or type of work for which advocates and solicitors would have almost exclusive rights. The proposals for amendment to sections 37 and 38 of the Legal Profession Act, 1966, that define the limits of such exclusive rights have come from accountants and trade mark agents as well as from the General Council of the Bar itself. These amendments, it is hoped, will now resolve the doubts the professions might have had regarding the extent of such exclusive rights given to advocates and solicitors. There are further new provisions in the Bill which have been designed to facilitate the supervision of bills of costs submitted by advocates and solicitors. Up till now an order of court would be necessary before a bill can be taxed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court.”
“The P.W.D. knows best and has already taken precautionary measures. HAWKERS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES (Control measures) 2. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Health what measures he proposes to take for the control of hawkers at work sites of building projects”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Works Department is conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances which caused the collapse of the concrete beams during the erection of the flyover under construction at Thomson Road. As a result of the beams collapsing and causing the death of a hawker, the police are making investigations and in due course there will be a coroner's inquiry into the cause of death.”
“No, we are not getting rid of septic tanks. Obviously, the Member for Punggol cannot take "No" for an answer. But I cannot say "Yes" if the P.W.D. is not as yet ready to move into Punggol.”
“Sir, the area approved for provision of sewerage facilities in the Serangoon sewerage scheme is approximately 1,300 acres bounded by Upper Serangoon Road, Yio Chu Kang Road, Braddell Road, Sungei Kallang and Serangoon Gardens Estate, which means that Punggol is out. There is no immediate plan to serve the Punggol area because of its low density of population. But I have said before in this House that the object of the Government in the long-term is to provide sewerage facilities throughout the island as far as is possible. The day will come when we will reach Punggol.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid I cannot help the Member further, unless I visit the place with him. But there are big drains, monsoon drains, into which water from houses flow. There are plenty of these drains in Tanglin. I do not know the details of the cause of the complaint, and I think it would be pointless carrying on this debate here. The only thing for me to do would be to visit the place with the Member and see whether he or the Public Works Department or the developer is right. 7.00 p.m.”
“If the Member is speaking of the development of the Hai Sing estate, as the Member himself has put it, the matter has been settled. If I have to repeat myself, water flows downhill and not uphill. Sometimes with the permission of adjoining landowners, drains are built But where a housing estate is built and, as a result of the bad drainage system, the water flows into and floods someone else's land, he has a good cause of action in law. If he cannot obtain sufficient satisfaction from the drainage engineer of the Public Works Department or from the developer, my advice to him would be to bring an action in court for damages, for trespass and nuisance.”
“As to complaints against private developers, any private developer who constructs or builds a housing estate must have his plans approved by the Chief Building Surveyor. Many Members have complained of delays in the plans. One reason why it takes a little time is that the plans have to go to various departments - the Ministry of Health, the Fire Brigade and, in the context of what the Member for Punggol seeks, the Drainage Department of the Public Works Department. So any, developer must have had his plans approved, including plans for his drainage. So if water flows into someone else's land, the appropriate remedy is a complaint to the Drainage Department of the P.W.D. Alternatively, an action at law in our courts.”
“Firstly, may I correct a misapprehension which the Member for Changi appears to be under when he refers to the Bukit Timah scheme on which we are spending a total of $2,330,700 for the first phase, the misapprehension being that the richer people live in Bukit Timah and under that heading he includes a few Ministers who are not rich. But there are many kampongs in Bukit Timah, and when the Bukit Timah canal floods, the rich people are all right because they have two houses - one in Tanglin and the other in Changi - and they move to Changi. But it is the poor people who are affected and it is these people that we have to rescue. Hence, this big canal scheme diverting waters of the upper Bukit Timah Canal to Ulu Pandan. As I have said before in this House, work is in progress and it is anticipated that this scheme will be completed by the end of this year. It will not eliminate flooding in Bukit Timah, but it will alleviate flooding along Bukit Timah. There is no provision for Changi, and unless my experts are wrong, there is no need to provide for Changi. Changi had a bad flood on the 10th December, 1969, but that was because a bund built as part of a drainage system to hold water broke and, as a result, the water flowed down a valley causing floods. As for Punggol, no provision has also been made because flooding in Punggol is really very minor. There is nothing serious - occasional minor floods in certain lands at the 8th m.s., Punggol Road, owing to the very low-lying nature of the land. You have the Serangoon River and the swamps around it. Occasionally flooding in such low-lying areas is, I am afraid unavoidable.”
“Mr Speaker, the programme for 1970-71 for the construction of bus shelters is now under study. The need for more bus shelters in Punggol will be investigated in consultation with the Registrar of Vehicles, the Omnibus Services Licensing Authority, and the P.W.D. At the moment, I cannot promise the Member more bus shelters. All I can say is that any application from Punggol will be given every consideration.”
“I am sorry for not answering all the Member's questions. He asked so many questions that I am afraid I forgot to answer some of them. The Member can rest assured that most of the occupants will not have to move until we have alternative accommodation for them. The complex I referred to is a complex which is to be built on a piece of land near the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Work has begun and most of the complex should be ready by the end of this year; but this is an estimate.”
“My second question is: when will the resettlement of the affected residents and shopkeepers take place? Will it be before or after the completion of this housing complex at Thomson Road?”
“Sir, the Member can rest assured that I pay particular attention to his remarks. I always do! The Sembawang Road to City System is divided into two sections: (1) a proposed improvement of the road from 10 m.s to 13 m.s. The project costs about $560,000. (2) The proposed improvement and widening of Upper Thomson Road - from Braddell Circus to the 6½ m.s. Upper Thomson Road. The project costs $800,000. In view of the increasing industrial expansion in Sembawang, proposals are under consideration to make Sembawang Road into a major dual carriageway to serve the future development in that area. A census is now being taken of the number of families that will be affected, and a preliminary estimate is that about 476 families may be affected, of whom about 100 are shopkeepers. How do we resettle them and where will we resettle them? How? With the help of the Member for Sembawang. Where? We are building a housing estate complex along Thomson Road where we hope to rehouse persons occupying houses along the road, whether residents or shopkeepers. At the moment, the housing complex is not ready. Perhaps in two years' time, when the complex is ready, we may be able to house all, if not most, of the Member's evicted constituents in this housing complex. When the time comes, I will need the help of the Member for Sembawang. Mr Teong Eng Siong(In Mandarin): Sir, of course, if the Minister's request is reasonable, I will lend my full support. But I would like to raise two further questions. The Minister seems to have omitted answering my question: when will this project start? The Minister has also mentioned the housing complex at Thomson Road, and I think the Member for Thomson will be interested in this.”
“Mr Speaker. Sir, the whole transport system in Singapore is at present being studied by a team of United Nations consultants and our local counterparts at the State and City Planning Department. There is no plan for a coastal road right round the island. All I can offer the Member is a plan for a new coastal road linking the east coast to the city. This is the only positive proposal under active consideration.”
“Sir, we would be happy to take more on if we could take more on. But the facilities are limited - one training vessel - and hence only 30 have been taken per course. The course is for three months only. But if that is the way we carry on, all the 400 who applied will have to wait a few years before they get in. I do not know the exact details, but I will look into the suggestion of the Member to see whether more courses can be conducted or more trainees will be allowed to attend per course.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Member has pointed out, the hydroponics scheme is new to Singapore. But the Member can see from the amount of money which has been provided that more is needed. Facilities for carrying out the projects are being organised, equipment is being purchased, and more staff is being recruited. Hence the bigger vote. I am not very optimistic that we can help the farmers very soon, but it is estimated that within two years, after results of certain findings are made available for dissemination to the farming community, and if the Department is satisfied that the information released would enable the farmers to operate hydroponics on a profitable commercial basis, then hydroponics will have come to stay with us. I am afraid that at the moment it is still very much in the experimental stage.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the data collected under farm licensing will be used to ascertain the existing state of agriculture in Singapore and to assess future potential and development, thus enabling the Government to plan for agricultural policy on the basis of the kind and amount of services needed by the farming community. Unless we know how many and what type of farmers there are, we will not be able to know what sort or what amount of help they would need. It may be possible that, with adequate information available, even farmers may be advised to plan their production targets in relation not only to domestic needs but also to the export market demand for agricultural produce. This was only recently the subject of a question from the Member to me in this House. As for the agricultural survey, there has been no delay. At the moment, we are ready to go on but we are awaiting approval from the Ministry of Finance. In all, 20,357 farm licences were issued for the year 1969. A report on farm licensing, giving various details based on information provided by the farmers, has been prepared and, if any Members are interested, I can easily send them a copy of the report.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government proposes to carry out a pilot scheme on factory farming, that is to say, to rear animals in confined spaces and, if possible, in multi-storey livestock houses. The objective of the scheme is to intensify the use of land and increase production per unit area in view of the shortage of agricultural land in Singapore. Under the scheme, it is proposed to rear poultry, pigs and goats in multi-storey livestock houses and to assess the technical as well as the economic feasibilities of such a project. The factory farming pilot scheme is, therefore, at present only in its initial stages. It is a plan awaiting the approval of the Government.”
“The intensive farm improvement scheme has been implemented in the last two years in the Sembawang Research Station with the object of developing intensive farming techniques and finding solutions to some problems related to this form of farming, in particular pest and disease control. The construction of laboratory facilities has been completed, technical personnel have been recruited, and the project is just getting off the ground with the assistance of horticulturists from New Zealand under the Colombo Plan.”
“Sir, the Member for Punggol practically took the words out of my mouth! Government's thinking on the need for rural abattoirs has not changed. But Government's thinking on who should run these abattoirs has changed. In view of our experience at the Jurong Abattoir, we are thinking of letting private enterprise run even the Jurong Abattoir - in other words, a statutory board or a public company and we are inviting the private sector to come in. We do not want just the civil servants to run the abattoir if it is converted into a public company. As far as rural abattoirs are concerned, no provision is made this year for the simple reason that Government, by itself, does not intend to build abattoirs in the rural areas. That does not mean to say that we have abandoned the idea of building abattoirs in the rural areas. But as the Member for Punggol has put it, we think that the abattoir could be run better if it was built by private enterprise.”
“No fees are charged. But if a farmer, after having learnt the techniques, wants his chickens to grow faster, then he must spend money.”
“The unit does not charge the farmers. It teaches them the methods and the techniques.”
“I am sorry. Broiler production is processed to rear large numbers of poultry for poultry meat. Poultry reared under this intensive production system reaches marketing weight in nine to ten weeks instead of the usual three to four months. In other words, the chickens grow faster. This pilot project has been successful and the information and techniques gained have been disseminated to the farmers. Nowadays, many farmers have already started, to produce broilers and the Poultry Section in the Sembawang Research Station is continuing its investigations to improve the techniques and to solve any problems that may arise. The unit is not very big and it consists of a dozen or so employees.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, like the Member for Jurong, the Member for Sembawang has always asked the Primary Production Department to help farmers more and more. This is one way in which the Department is positively helping farmers. Sir, a pilot project of broiler production has been carried out in the Sembawang Research Station in Sembawang in the last two years.”
“Sir, the Member has made a good point. There is no special reason for this. But the urban renewal programme was started as a development project. We are discussing the Development Estimates and, therefore, all items of expenditure, including Personal Emoluments, Other Charges Annually Recurrent, together with other items of development expenditure such as Land Acquisition and Resettlement, were lumped together for budgetary convenience. That is all. But the Member has made a point that it should be elsewhere.”
“We are not going into urban renewal for profit, but neither can we afford to lose on it. The object of urban renewal is to renew the town, otherwise we will have old houses and dilapidated buildings - and eyesores. 6.00 p.m. Some of our houses were built 50 or 60 years ago for those times. They are falling apart now. I have not come here to speak about control of rent. But one major factor which has prevented development in this city is the fact that we have the Control of Rent Ordinance, and because of this, landlords cannot obtain possession of their property from tenants. Hence the experimental scheme under the Control of Rent (Special Provisions) Act. We have demarcated about 80 acres in the centre of the city for redevelopment. Without that amending Act, no development can take place. And it would be for the Government to evict everybody and sell the property. We do not lose money. In fact, we make money. But the money we make is used to provide better housing for the poorer sections of the population.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with the successful completion of two urban redevelopment pilot schemes - Precinct North One and Precinct South One - the additional section of the urban area which has been divided into a number of precincts, collectively termed as "Other Precincts", will now be implemented. Some of these areas have already been acquired for redevelopment, and even private developers and landowners will be encouraged to redevelop in accordance with guide plans prepared by the Urban Renewal Department. Any urban renewal scheme needs a lot of money. If the Government acquires land, it has to pay for it. Land in the city is expensive. After having paid money for the land to the owners, Government has also to compensate the occupiers - tenants, sub-tenants, licensees, and sometimes trespassers. All this takes a lot of time and, in the final result, a lot of money.”
“Sir, the earthworks for the reclamation of about 1,000 acres of land from Bedok to the Singapore Swimming Club under Phase One of the East Coast reclamation scheme was completed in January this year. However, work on the drainage system has yet to be done. Under Phase Two, about another 125 acres will be reclaimed from the Singapore Swimming Club to the end of Tanjong Rhu. About 30 of the 125 acres have so far been reclaimed. It is hoped to complete the second phase of the reclamation by the end of the year. The reclaimed land is earmarked for housing, tourist projects, commercial shopping centres, light industries and parks for recreational purposes. It will have a five-mile long beach and a marineland complex which is being planned by the Primary Production Department. As to how long before the land can be used, we will have to wait. This really depends on what particular use the land will be put to. As for the marineland complex, if we are ready we can go ahead tomorrow. If buildings are to be put on, we will have to wait a little time for the earth to settle. And if piling is needed, piling will have to be done.”
“Sir, only $10 has been provided and it is a token vote. Studies are being made and further studies will have to be made with regard to the proposed car park. The object, if it is feasible, is to construct a car park under the Padang. Cars will go in from both sides of the road so that you can carry on with your National Day parade, football games, hockey, cricket and tennis on the Padang. The Padang has become a part of Singapore. It has been a part of Singapore for so long that I think our planners would be mad if we did anything else with it; but I have been told that they can build a car park underneath the Padang without affecting the grass and we will have to wait and see whether or not their plans are feasible. Hence the token vote.”
“The estate is ideally situated and can house many visiting foreign experts advising Government and statutory boards and other agencies of Government. These foreign experts are at present housed either in hotels or in quarters provided by Government and statutory boards, and they are housed in quarters which are large colonial type bungalows in areas which can be more intensively developed or better utilised. If we can find no use for Chip Bee Estate, we can let it out quite easily. 5.45 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Chip Bee Gardens is an estate along North Buona Vista Road and Holland Road, near Holland Village. It comprises terrace houses and shophouses with flats above. In 1963 the United Kingdom Services Authorities obtained permission from the Singapore Government to negotiate with the developers for a lease of a portion of this property when built, with the option to purchase it if the owners declined to lease. The estate was developed by the owners, the United Development and Finance Co. Ltd., under the terms of agreement between the company and the Services Lands Board, as a housing estate for Service families. However, before formal conveyance and transfer of this property to the Services Lands Board was completed, the pull-out was announced. The Service authorities then considered reverting to a hiring agreement which would have left the property in the legal ownership of the United Development and Finance Co. Ltd. Following discussions, the Singapore Government decided to enter into financial arrangements with the Service authorities, so that the transaction could be completed and the estate transferred to the Singapore Government. Provision has accordingly been made for acquisition of this property at a cost of $6,770,000. The total cost to the British Exchequer, if the transaction had been completed, would have been about $l5½ million. Under the present arrangements, for a payment of $6,770,000 the transaction would be completed and the property would vest in the Singapore Government. Service families would be allowed to continue in occupation of the premises till the end of 1971 at the latest. If the Member wants to know what use could be made of these premises, there are a number of possible uses.”
“Sir, if plans for moving the University of Singapore to Kent Ridge are implemented, then the Polytechnic may move to the present site of the University. When the University moves, we must find a use for the present building and grounds. In my view, the present University site would be the best site for the Polytechnic.”
“I am afraid I cannot speak for the Fire Brigade. If there is a fire hazard, the Fire Brigade will ask them to move out. There have been cases of residential premises being used as warehouses. Depending on the type of goods stored, the vicinity and the particular circumstances temporary approval has been granted in many cases. 3.30 p.m.”
“No, I am afraid it will take some time before we reach the Naval Base.”
“The Member for Jurong made remarks about providing a swill chute in flats to get rid of the swill. The problem of collecting swill led to some difficulties some time ago, but the matter has been satisfactorily resolved by the appointment of registered farmers as swill collectors. I understand that the collection of swill is done by means of proper containers and under controlled conditions. As for planting flowers, substantial numbers of flower troughs have been provided in Housing and Development Board estates for landscaping and beautifying. The tenants are also encouraged to keep potted plants to make their flats more pleasant, so long as the potte4 plants do not fall down to the flat below. I believe the Member for Sembawang wanted to know where we are going to build more flats. The answer is in several places in Singapore - Queenstown, Toa Payoh, Telok Blangah and even on both sides of Farrer Road. Mr Teong Eng Siong: The Naval Base?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if I may first deal with the queries of the Member for Mountbatten. Up to the 31st December of last year, 174 stores and warehouses had been cleared or demolished to make way for urban renewal. It has not been possible to provide alternative accommodation as the Housing and Development Board has not up to date built any store or warehouse for resettlement purposes. However, most of those evicted have found their own accommodation. The Member will be interested to know that the State and City Planning Office has conducted a survey of stores and warehouses to gather data for the proposal to develop a warehouse complex at Pasir Panjang. The Port of Singapore Authority is also making investigations into the possibility of constructing warehouses within their property. If implemented, store and warehouse clearance cases can be offered alternative accommodation at the proposed complex. The Member also asked how far work has progressed. The answer is that the survey has just been completed and work has not started. If I may deal with the Member for Sembawang and the Member for Jurong. Somehow the questions they asked me now should have been directed at me yesterday. Anyhow, I will deal with them. The Member for Sembawang complains of discourtesy - silver coins not being received. Silver coins are valid tender and they should be received. If the Member knows of any particular case, he should give the particulars so that the matter can be investigated. As for cleanliness, it is agreed that the standard of cleanliness could be further improved. The Board is now exploring the possibility of establishing block and floor representatives to improve the management and to bring about a higher standard of cleanliness in the Housing and Development Board estates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the need for a new building to house our subordinate courts, i.e., the Criminal District and Magistrates' Courts, the Traffic Courts and the Civil District Courts, have been felt since 1963. However, for one reason or another, it was not possible to implement the proposal until now, when opportunity has been taken, with the proposed redevelopment of the areas adjoining and surrounding the existing Criminal District and Magistrates' Courts in South Bridge Road under the urban renewal scheme, to provide a site approximately 92,000 square feet in area for this new building opposite the present Ministry of Labour within the area bounded by Park Road, Pearl's Hill Road, Havelock Road and New Market Road. The new building will be a 14-storey one designed to cope with the needs of the next 50 years. It will have a floor area of about 200,000 square feet, of which a little more than half will be air-conditioned. Besides 25 court rooms, there will be chambers, ante-chambers, witness rooms and a big general office. The building, which is estimated to cost $6½ million - and this excludes furniture and equipment is expected to be completed within a period of three years. It is hoped to be able to commence construction work in July this year. The provision of $750,000 now provided under Head 10, subhead 101, item 001, is required to meet the cost of initial work for the foundation, piling and likewise. In fact, the sum has received the approval of Treasury.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there are nine watchmen. They are there not only to watch the people but also to protect the orchids and the plants. Sometimes people are held up in the Botanic Gardens, but the main job of the watchmen is not to watch the people. As for a charge we have been considering whether or not to impose a charge, even though a nominal one, to get the message across that everything is not free in Singapore. At this stage we have decided not to impose a charge. It is one place which one can still visit free, and I hope it will remain like that for some time.”
“I am sorry, Sir, I got lost in the garden city! The Member for Changi refers to newspapers in the Botanic Gardens, a fact which seems to have upset him. We have our litter laws, but it is not easy to catch people throwing rubbish. The Botanic Gardens is now open at night, and when people go there, you do not expect them to sit on the wet grass. So there is no harm in people sitting on newspapers. They forget, of course, to bring the newspapers back with them. But we have gardeners in the Botanic Gardens to clear the mess the next morning. I hope the Member for Changi's real objection is not against the newspapers but the people who use them. I am sure he will agree with me that we need more open spaces in Singapore, like the Botanic Gardens, MacRitchie Reservoir and Seletar Reservoir, where not only the old but also the young can get away from the city, hold hands if they like, and make love if they like.”
“With the co-operation of all Members of this House, I am sure we can make Singapore a greener and cleaner city within a space of a few months.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Katong has made many valid points. I agree with him that the Botanic Gardens is under-staffed. I have asked the Chairman of the Public Service Commission to advertise locally and abroad for more expert horticulturists and silviculturists. With more qualified men on the staff, it will be possible for lectures to be delivered even to members of the Citizens' Consultative Committees, because I feel that it is only with mass participation that we can achieve our object of making Singapore a garden city. I am afraid that at the moment it is not possible for them to deliver lectures. They have their hands full. But I would ask Members of Parliament to ask their Citizens' Consultative Committees to go round their constituencies and find out the barren places which are the best spots where perhaps trees or even plants and hedges could be grown. We could make this combined effort, and funds from the Urban and Rural Services Committee can be used for this project. But when the trees, hedges or plants have been planted, it will be beyond the means or the present capacity of the Botanic Gardens or the Trees and Parks Division to maintain them in good condition. I think Members will agree with me that it is no use planting if your plants are half-dead or half-baked. 6.00 p.m. What I have in mind is planting done by the Trees and Parks Division but maintenance by members of the public. In other words, the Citizens' Consultative Committees should get together and choose places for planting, and when the plants have been grown, the maintenance will be completely done by members of the constituency in which case they will not only maintain the plants but also protect them.”