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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“Sir, it is obvious from the number of Members who have spoken that this Bill has aroused great interest. Most have spoken in favour of the Bill but have criticised various clauses. I do not propose to deal with all criticisms today. The Bill is going to Select Committee. In Select Committee, we will not only receive the views of Members of this House but, what is even more important, the written representations of the public. And if landlords or tenants wish to appear before the Committee, they will be most welcome. But perhaps I can here deal with some of the salient points raised by hon. Members. One or two Members are not very conversant with the provisions of the Control of Rent Ordinance. These are, I am afraid, rather complicated provisions and even some lawyers do not understand them. Many hon. Members were concerned with the position of the sub-tenant or the sub-sub-tenant. Under the Control of Rent Ordinance, the landlord of the premises is the landlord of the principal tenant. But the principal tenant is the landlord of the sub-tenant. And the sub-tenant is the landlord of the sub-sub-tenant, and so on. But, of course, there are persons who are, in legal terminology, trespassers and some are merely licensees. I will not bother hon. Members with the legal definitions of who is a tenant and who is a licensee. Our problem here has been to find a quick method of evicting tenants, sub-tenants, sub-sub-tenants, licensees and trespassers by paying those who deserve compensation a reasonable compensation and allowing the landlord to rebuild as quickly as possible. In law, the trespasser is in a very weak position. He trespasses. He should not be there. Why should he be paid? A licensee, on reasonable notice, must vacate.”
“The Tenants' Compensation Board's order for recovery of possession of controlled premises and an award of compensation will be final and conclusive and will also be enforceable against unauthorised persons on the premises; but the interests of tenants and sub-tenants are protected by a provision which imposes a duty on the Board to advise all interested parties of the proceedings before the Board, enabling them thus to be heard before the Board prior to the granting of an order for the possession of controlled premises. Should a landlord fail to compensate or fail to complete development within the period laid down in the Bill, the Government may compulsorily acquire the controlled premises. The Explanatory Statment to the Bill outlines in a general way the various provisions of the Bill. I commend this Bill to Members as a useful measure that should contribute to the planning and development of the city area and at the same time have the long-term effect of adding to its aesthetic attractions. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 4.20 p.m.”
“To assist the Board in arriving at a fair and just assessment of compensation, the Bill lays down as guide lines minimum limits of compensation to be awarded which will vary according to the nature of the user of the controlled premises, that is to say, whether commercial or residential. It is considered that the formula that has been adopted offers a satisfactory approach in this matter. It is not claimed to be a perfect formula that will provide a ready answer to all the situations that the Board will be confronted with. If there is such a formula, we have been unable to devise it. The merit of the formula that has been adopted in clause 7 of the Bill is that, apart from its simplicity, it does confer upon the Board a great deal of flexibility in its determinations. Only experience gained in the working of this proposed legislation will show whether the formula adopted will assist the Board in carrying out the main objective of the Bill which is, as I have said, the promotion and encouragement of development in the private sector in certain designated areas in our Republic. Mr Speaker, Sir, may I state at this stage that any alternative proposals to the Select Committee on the compensation provisions as well as on any other provisions in this Bill, will be welcomed and will receive very careful consideration.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as the law now stands, there are serious setbacks in the way of private investors who genuinely want to promote development in Singapore, and the Bill now before this House is designed to encourage and promote development in the private sector by enabling landlords of premises, which are at present protected and controlled by 'the Control of Rent Ordinance, to recover possession of these controlled premises for development purposes on payment of a reasonable compensation to the tenants. As it is the intention to refer this Bill to Select Committee in order that full benefit of public views, particularly on the compensation rates proposed, can be obtained, I shall merely touch on certain salient features of the Bill. The Bill provides, inter alia, for the Minister to designate certain areas in Singapore that are earmarked for development. A landlord of controlled premises in a designated area may apply to a Board, called the "Tenants' Compensation Board", for an order to recover possession of his controlled premises. The Board, before granting the application, is required to satisfy itself that the landlord has a genuine intention as well as the financial means to develop the area, that this plan for development has been approved by a public officer appointed by the Minister for the purpose, and that he would compensate dispossessed tenants and sub-tenants. If the Board grants the application, the landlord would have to give his tenants at least three months' notice to quit.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, Sir, those who were Members of the last Parliament will recall that this Bill, which is being re-introduced, was read for the First Time on 25th January this year, but lapsed on prorogation of Parliament. Mr Speaker, Sir, as a consequence of the success of our housing programme in re-housing over 400,000 people in modern housing estates, many of the older areas of the city have become available for redevelopment. In fact, redevelopment of these areas has been proceeding satisfactorily. The Government, however, considers it important that there should be maximum private participation in our urban redevelopment programme. To this end, private development tax concessions have been approved for development projects in some 20 designated areas in the city. These provide for exemption of property tax on vacant land during the period of construction and reduction of assessment rates from 36 per cent to 12 per cent over a period of 20 years on completion of a project. Tax concessions by themselves will not, however, bring about development if the landlord or the owner of the land is unable to obtain vacant possession from his tenants where such tenants take advantage of the protection against eviction afforded to them under the Control of Rent Ordinance to demand exhorbitant sums as a price for surrendering vacant possession to the landlord. In some instances, the landlords have refused to pay such excessive sums as a premium, as it were, for the development of their sites and, as a result, development has been unduly hampered and delayed in some areas which are ripe for redevelopment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first I would like to thank the Member for Joo Chiat and the Member for Sembawang for their support. They have asked one question, "Why three years for the Vice-President and four years for the President?" Why not? It does not follow that because you appoint the President for four years you must appoint a Vice-President for four years. After all, the Vice-President is second to the President. The Member for Sembawang wants to know when the Vice-President will be appointed. All I can say here is, "Very soon." But assuming we appoint the Vice-President tomorrow, surely we cannot appoint him for four years. I think that should answer the two Members' question as to how long the Vice-President should hold office. Our President was appointed in December last for a period of four years. A few months have passed. We cannot appoint a Vice-President starting from tomorrow for another four years. Hence three years, which we think should be a suitable period. 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. FINANCIAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 4.05 p.m.”
“It is to enable persons who would now by reason of this technical definition "office of profit" to be appointed to public offices abroad at the country's various Missions, that it has been decided to bring about this change with the introduction of this amendment to Article 91. Persons who would otherwise be debarred from such appointments abroad would thus be enabled to serve the public and the nation both within the Republic and elsewhere. Article 91 of the Constitution, when drafted, did not have in mind the status of Singapore as an independent nation, but rather as a component State within the Federation of Malaysia. One can really say, therefore, that the present amendment to Article 91 is necessary as a natural consequence of Singapore having become an independent Republic. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Second Reading of this Bill. Question proposed. 3.56 p.m.”
“Further, it is purely to enable the Government a freer hand in authorising expenditure - expenditure that can be regarded as required for unusual circumstances and to meet exigencies that we may be faced with during the crucial years ahead of us and which may be in excess of the annual Supply law - that it has been thought necessary to introduce this amendment. These enlarged powers would only be used on the occasions which require the appropriation of amounts over and above normal expenditure that are sometimes of such magnitude or of such indefinite character as would be extremely complex and therefore difficult to explain without technical knowledge and which may at any rate prove undesirable in the public interest to disclose in detail. Nevertheless, as it is and has always been the law that expenditure should be approved by Parliament, the amendment would still require the Government of the day to authorise such expenditure. While clause (6) of Article 86 of the Constitution removes such fetters as may appear superfluous in such exigencies as I have referred to, the canons of prudence and careful husbandry will not be abandoned as the normal procedures will still have to be observed. Lastly, Sir, clause 4 of this Bill seeks to amend the definition of the term "office of profit", as defined in Article 91 (1) of the Constitution. This article has again been found to be restrictive to such an extent as to prohibit one who is employed in the public service full-time, from holding appointment at any of the Missions Singapore maintains in countries abroad.”
“Another amendment to the Constitution, purely a financial one, seeks to amend Article 86 of the Constitution which, as it now stands, requires the Government to introduce a Supply or a Supplementary Supply Bill in Parliament before appropriating funds from the Consolidated Fund, save in regard to such sums as are by law already charged to the Consolidated Fund. Furthermore, under the present constitutional provisions relating to financial expenditure, as it now stands, the Minister for Finance would be required to authorise, subject to the prior approval of the Cabinet, expenditure from the Consolidated Fund or other Government funds as he may consider essential for the continuance of the public services. There is also a further limitation on the expenditure so authorised for any service to the effect that the expenditure so authorised must not exceed one-quarter of the amount voted for that particular service in the Supply law for the preceding year. Hon. Members will agree that such restrictions may at times prove too restrictive and indeed work to the disadvantage of the Government of the day in certain circumstances, as, for example, where an unusual emergency arises which necessitates spending of an exceptionally large amount of money. In order therefore to remove these fetters, the Government now seeks the approval of the House to this proposed amendment to Article 86. I would like to point out that the proposed amendment is not an exceptional provision as it follows the financial practice in many countries, the United Kingdom and India amongst them.”
“In this regard, his qualifications are to be similar to those conditions set out in the Constitution regarding the office of President. The term of office for the Vice-President, however, would only be for a maximum of three years. He may, of course, as in the case of the President, resign his office and there is a further provision in the Bill for the removal of the Vice-President from office by Parliament. The Vice-President is also enabled by this new amendment in the Constitution to exercise all such duties and functions as may be delegated to him by the President, who, of course, would be required to act in accordance with the wishes of the Government of the day. The Vice-President would further assist the President in the exercise of such duties and functions as any constitutional Head of State in a modern democracy would be required to perform. One important provision which I would like to emphasise is that this Bill would also enable the Cabinet to empower the Vice-President to exercise all the functions of the President, as an alternative to appointing a person to exercise such functions of the President and thus act as Head of State. I hope that hon. Members will agree with me when I say that the need for the creation of the office of Vice-President is obvious enough, if only to relieve the President of some of his manifold duties. The Vice-President, under the provisions of the Constitution, need not necessarily be appointed full-time, although there is no prohibition for a full-time appointment to be made. The Government, however, envisages the situation where whoever is appointed Vice-President should also be allowed to carry on whatever functions or work he may have been performing before his appointment as such.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, Sir, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill now before the House seeks to introduce certain changes in the Constitution. The first of these is the provision of a new Article 1A empowering this House to elect a Vice-President of the Republic of Singapore. The need for the creation of a Vice-Presidency has been felt for some time now - in fact, ever since Singapore became an independent Republic. Consequential upon Singapore becoming an independent Republic, the duties that have devolved upon the President as Head of State have increased, as hon. Members know full well. The occasions which have necessitated the actual participation of the President himself in purely ceremonial functions have also increased. Furthermore, each time the President leaves the Republic, an Acting Head of State has to he appointed in order to carry on his duties. The Government has for some time in the past considered this matter and has reached the conclusion that it would be advantageous that a Vice-President be appointed who could not only assist the President but also act as Head of State during his absence. As with the Head of State, so also in regard to the Vice-President, the proper method of appointment should be by election in this Chamber, so that Parliament may exercise its choice in regard to whoever may be so appointed to perform the functions of the President of the Republic. Hence this new Article which will enable the House to elect such a person. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Vice-President, as hon. Members will see in the Bill, must first possess certain qualifications in order to be eligible for election.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of National Development has given careful consideration to this matter and I have recently directed that, instead of an annual payment of $12, there should be just one payment of $12 for a temporary permit fee. This decision will come into force by way of a Gazette Notification. Mr Ng Kah Ting: Do the temporary permit fees cover temporary dwelling houses?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there are sub-collection centres at Rayman Market off Balestier Road, the old Kallang airport, Seng Poh Road Market, Joo Chiat Road Cleansing Depot, the Princess Estate Market (Queenstown), Queen's Crescent Market (Queensway), the Commonwealth Crescent Market, Serangoon District Office, Bukit Panjang District Office, Lim Tua Tow Road Market, and the junction of Aljunied and Geylang Roads at the electric showroom there. The mobile collection centres stop for collection at the junction of Jalan Eunos and Jalan Kuda, at the junction of Cheong Chin Nam Road and Chun Tin Road, the Sembawang Post Office, the Bedok Post Office and the Housing Estate at Pesiaran Keliling. Three more were added in 1968 - the Selegie House Car Park, the junction of Pasir Panjang Road and South Buona Vista Road and the junction of Thong Aik and Sembawang Roads. REDUCTION OF TEMPORARY PERMIT FEES FOR TEMPORARY STRUCTURES 4. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he will consider reducing the Temporary Permit fees for temporary structures like chicken-coops and pig-sties from the present $12 per annum to $2 per annum.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Board is continuously looking into the question of setting up more collection centres to facilitate payments by consumers. This includes the review of the present sub-collection facilities with a view to improving service to the public. In 1967, there were 11 sub-collection centres and five mobile collecting centres. In 1968, these were increased to 12 and 7 respectively.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Utilities Board does not consider that the service provided by the existing sub-collection centre at the Lim Tua Tow Road Market is inadequate. This sub-collection centre was set up by the Board to serve 24.877 consumers residing around that area. Payments are made at the sub-collection centre on eight working days per month following the despatch of the consolidated bills to the consumers in that area. The past experience has been that out of the eight days, the Board normally receives very few payments on the first two days of the opening and the last day. Over the past four months, only an average of about 4,440 or 19 per cent of the consumers have availed themselves of this service. It appears that neither extension of the number of working days for this sub-collection centre or the setting up of additional centres in the surrounding areas seems necessary at this stage.”
“I do not know what the Member for Jurong had in mind when he raised this question. Singapore, being a small island, has easy communication between the rural areas and the markets in the city, and the producers in the rural areas know the prevailing market prices of agricultural produce in the city. Moreover, the number of buyers or collectors of agricultural produce is large and compete very keenly among themselves. Under these circumstances, it is not as easy for the middlemen to exploit the producers as in a situation where there are only very few collectors of agricultural produce in remote, isolated rural districts. If a producer is not satisfied with the prices, it is not beyond his ability to send his agricultural produce to the market and sell it himself. This, in fact, is happening in Singapore. The producers may also form themselves into co-operatives or associations to deal with their marketing problems. But, first of all, there must be co-operation among the producers themselves. They must take the initiative and my Ministry will be very happy to help any group of people who is willing to help themselves. 4.00 p.m.”
“I do not know from where the Member for Jurong got his idea that the new abattoir is inefficient even before it is put into full operation. Basically, it is simply a question of whether we are prepared to accept new ideas and adopt new technology, or can we afford to stick to out-of-date practices and stagnate? It is natural that when a new system is being operated and new machinery is being used, teething troubles are inevitable. Like the running-in of a new car, a little time is required to get used to the steering wheel or the new gadget on the dashboard. The seat must be adjusted or a screw tightened. We welcome constructive suggestions and are prepared to discuss with anybody any real problem and genuine grievances so that together we can work out solutions to the satisfaction of all concerned. Some Members have raised the question of safeguarding our fishermen against piracy. This is not a unique problem for Singapore. Piracy frequently occurs in the waters of other countries. I have no doubt that the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are doing what they can to deal with this problem to protect Singapore's interest. Apart from the fact that there is less fish to be caught in near shore waters around Singapore, small fishing craft operating in these waters are easy prey for pirates. My Ministry is working towards the development of bigger and faster fishing vessels which could go further out to sea to fish in international waters. The question of prices for agricultural produce really depends on supply and demand. There are different and complex forces operating in a free market. It would be unwise for the Government to interfere in a free marketing system unless there is evidence of dumping.”
“There are three old abattoirs in Singapore; the sheep abattoir and cattle abattoir in Jalan Besar and a pig abattoir in French Road. In these abattoirs there has been a great deal of malpractice and corruption. The hygienic standards as well as the slaughtering method are not acceptable to many countries. Consequently, our canned meat and processed meat cannot be exported. The new abattoir was constructed with the objectives of improving the slaughtering facilities, raising the hygienic standards and eliminating corruption and malpractices so that Singapore meat can be exported to other countries. However, many butchers do not like it. Voices have been raised, complaints have been made and rumours have been spread about the new abattoir. Unfortunately, some misinformed persons, including the Member for Jurong, take up their cause without first examining the issues involved. The Member for Jurong complained that the new abattoir was not suitable for Singapore and that the rate of slaughter is much slower than that of the old abattoir. I wonder if he has visited the new abattoir and the old one to see for himself the different working conditions! He is well advised to pay a visit to these places if he has not already done so. In the first place, the design and construction of the new abattoir, which cost $5.8 million, are based on modern technology and up-to-date concept. The same type of abattoir has been in use in Europe, the U.S.A., Russia, Japan and China. Secondly, while the sheep and cattle sections of the new abattoir are now operating smoothly, the pig section has not been started. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 3.52 p.m. The machinery has been undergoing testing and newly-recruited workers are undergoing training.”
“A Regional Fisheries Research Department under the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre to explore fishing grounds in this region and a Fishing Port at Jurong to stimulate fisheries development are in the process of being established. We will improve the Van Kleef Aquarium and will carry out training and research in aquarium fish so that we can encourage increased production of tropical and aquarium fish for export to oversea countries. We are looking into financial loan schemes for agriculture and fisheries projects and examining various incentives to attract participation of private capital in these fields. We have been trying to bring the producers and exporters of agricultural produce together so that supply to oversea markets can be maintained, quality can be guaranteed and prices can be competitive. We have constructed a modern Abattoir and Animal Quarantine Station at Jurong so that livestock is not only sold on-the-hoof to neighbouring countries, but can also be exported to markets further afield after canning or processing. We are making a feasibility study of the different forms of factory farming and the adoption of flatted farms for livestock production in order to achieve the maximum economy of land use in Singapore. New measures and new methods always involve changes, and changes are not universally liked by people, particularly those with vested interest. We have encountered considerable resistance from fish merchants against the Jurong Fish Market. After more than a year of effort in persuasion, explanation and discussion, the fish merchants have now finally agreed to move to Jurong. Similarly, there is considerable resistance against the new abattoir.”
“Secondly, we shall introduce new methods and scientific techniques in intensive agriculture and fisheries, including the development of agricultural and fisheries processing industries. We will also carry out research in these fields. With advanced and modern techniques of production, our farmers and fishermen should produce more efficiently and turn out agricultural produce of a high quality. This will enable us to compete effectively in markets outside Singapore. Thirdly, we shall induce capital investment into the agriculture and fisheries sectors so that agriculture and fisheries in Singapore can be gradually transformed from their present-day subsistence form of farming and fishing, into economically viable and profitable enterprises. Fourthly, we shall develop and cultivate oversea markets for our agricultural and fisheries products to increase our export earnings. To achieve these aims, a number of projects have already been implemented and others are being planned. Among the projects recently implemented, a $9 million Pig and Poultry Research and. Training Institute in Sembawang with United Nations assistance is being established and a Fishing Training School costing $8 million, also with United Nations assistance, is being built. We have constructed a Veterinary Laboratory costing $250,000 to improve animal health and to produce vaccines for preventive inoculation in order to minimise losses from livestock diseases. We are implementing an intensive farm improvement scheme to encourage orchid production for export and to investigate into the production of other horticultural products.”
“It is not my intention to indulge in enumerating the achievements of the department, but it is well known to the farming communities, and I have no doubt also to Members of Parliament from rural constituencies, that the Primary Production Department has established in recent years 11 agricultural stations and centres in the rural areas to provide services such as poultry inoculation, treatment of livestock, ploughing service, sale of veterinary drugs, insecticides and fertilisers, stud-boar service and artificial insemination of pigs, distribution of improved breeds of piglings and chicks to farmers, plant protection service, training of farm youths, conducting talks with groups of farmers in their villages, publication of a monthly Primary Production Bulletin and booklets and pamphlets to disseminate information, etc. With the change of circumstances since Singapore became independent, our aim is to further intensify and diversify agricultural development within the limited land areas which are at our disposal as well as to develop rapidly off-shore and deep-sea fishing. The development of the agriculture and fisheries sectors is necessary to generate employment for the large numbers of young people coming into the employment market each year to supplement the Government's effort in providing jobs through industrialisation. Such development is also necessary for the economic well-being of Singapore. Our effort in agriculture and fisheries development will be in four directions. Firstly, we shall provide training for our youths in intensive agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries to equip them with the skill in these fields of economic activities.”
“I am happy that they are concerned with the work of the Primary Production Department as the department is responsible for agriculture and fisheries development and provides services to farmers and fishermen in the rural areas. The Member for Punggol, in referring to that part of the President's Speech concerning the continued provision of services and advice to farmers in order to increase production and to reduce cost, stated that he would like to know how this was to be done. But he immediately followed this question by enumerating a number of measures which, in effect, answered his own question! Some criticism have also been made by Members against the Primary Production Department. While there is still much work to be done, there is always room for improvement. The record of work since the inception of the department in 1960 and the services it provides to the farming communities as well as the role it plays in helping the farmers to solve their problems are familiar to many people. [Mr Yeoh Ghim Seng temporarily in the Chair] 3.38 p.m.”
“This is indeed heartening because more time will be available for us to plan for a better city to cater for the future. The State and City Planning Committee, which has been set up with the assistance of the United Nations Special Fund will be looking into this long-term problem of city planning and will probably come up with some solutions for better land use and development control and for more realistic planning concepts for the development of the future of our city. It is also entrusted with the responsibility of doing studies, surveys and projections which will provide for comprehensive development of our traffic and communications network to ensure that we will be able to keep abreast of our traffic problems. As the city has been built up over the last 150 years and some areas would not be so easily amenable to drastic change, the need for some form of mass transportation to enable a large number of workers to get to town as quickly and economically as possible cannot be over-looked. This will mean expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars on a system of either surface railways, mono-rails or underground railways or some form of rapid transportation to shuttle large numbers of people from the places of their residence to their places of work. Sir, all these are problems that we will have to face and study in greater detail in the years to come. 3.36 p.m. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law and National Development (National Development Division) (Mr Ho Cheng Choon)(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, my Minister has asked me to speak on the services rendered by my Ministry. A number of question on Primary Production services have been raised, particularly by Members of Parliament from rural constituencies.”
“But one only has to look into the records of the Resettlement Department to see how many families have been resettled satisfactorily. In the majority to resettlement cases, there has been best improvement in their standards of accommodation, whilst many have found new jobs and benefited from the changed surroundings. These are sufficient evidence and indications for us to conclude that the minor inconvenience that is caused, far from being something that should cause us concern, would rather in the long term be recognised as the change that brought about the improvement in the livelihood of the families who have previously been used to living in the slums. Mr Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I will deal with comprehensive city planning. Notwithstanding all the housing, reclamation, urban renewal and public work projects that I have mentioned, the Government must think further ahead in terms of the more efficient use of our very limited land resources, of the greater efficiency of our public roads network, and of the more economical utilisation of our scarce financial resources. To achieve all these, a better and more flexible comprehensive planning concept must be devised which can result in the creation of a city with all the amenities one would expect of a highly civilised centre with more efficient control of private development to provide the necessary improvements and extensions to cater for a population of three to four million before the end of the century. I say three to four million advisedly, because even now the population projection provided in the early 1960s when the rate of increase was above four per cent is being lowered to near 2.3 per cent. Hence, instead of having a population of four million in 1990, we may probably only reach 3¼ million.”
“Another seven extension or conversion projects are also being actively pursued which on completion will produce another 1,500 rooms. Mr Speaker, Sir, I now go on to the Public Works Department. Over the last few years, there has been considerable activity in the construction of public roads, drainage and sewerage extensions. All these are necessary to keep pace with other construction and development. Not only will existing roads be widen and road junctions or intersections grade separated, multi-level traffic interchanges and flyovers be provided, but there will also be new highways to be constructed to ensure a smoother flow of traffic. Sewage works will be carried out to provide modern sanitation to many suburban areas. Flood alleviation schemes will be implemented to relieve some of the worst areas of the island from being flooded every time a heavy shower coincides with a high tide. Here again hon. Members will appreciate that in all these public works which entail land acquisition, resettlement, squatter clearance, the digging up of roads and considerable amount of earth- works, much inconvenience to the public and disruption of traffic must be caused. It is expected that many people will express their grievances. There will be many complaints and so will may of those affected by resettlement grumble about the inadequacy of our compensation schemes. These are but the normal difficulties any public authority will have to face in a period of very rapid construction and development. It will be too much to expect that no person will be dissatisfied when hundreds of families are required to move away from places where they have been living for many many years.”
“No development charge for rezoning or change of use will be levied in any approved hotel project. But in order to ensure that genuine development commences at an early date and to discourage the speculative type of development, the Government will require the payment of a refundable deposit in respect of every hotel application. The progress of every hotel project will be reviewed every six months so that if the construction work is in compliance with the conditions in the planning approval, then the deposit will be completely refunded at the end of 12 months. My Ministry hopes that the private sector will take full advantage of this new procedure during the next three years in order to enable the present hotel shortage to be overcome. Hon. Members will be interested to know that as at 30th, April, 1968, there were 23 tourist class hotels with 1,694 rooms in Singapore. Planning approval has been granted for the development of 28 other hotel projects involving either new construction, alterations or amendments to existing buildings. All these approvals, if implemented, will result in a further 6,000 rooms or more, but some of them are clearly speculative in nature and the developers perhaps have no intention whatsoever of implementing the projects. But with the new procedures that have been introduced, speculation will be drastically reduced and in the next few years or so, it is hoped that Singapore will be able to meet the demands of all tourists for better class hotels. Of the 28 projects approved, only four new hotels (the Mandarin, the Hilton and Ming Court in Orchard Road and the Lion City Hotel in Tanjong Katong) are under construction and on their completion will add a further 1,431 rooms to meet tourist demands.”
“Some 200 acres of land can be reclaimed from this portion of the sea using earth from the Telok Blangah and Siglap areas. The difficulty here is that the conveyor-belt system cannot be used because the route cuts into the road network of the city. Conventional methods may have to be adopted, which means the process will be slow and much inconvenience will result. The engineers and technical staff of the Housing Board are looking into various alternatives to carry out this project which will cost about $20 million. One solution that has been suggested is to work only at nights when the roads will not be so heavy with traffic. Another alternative is to use boats and barges, but this will result in double handling and higher costs. Whatever the difficulties, it is necessary to implement this project, if more land is to be reclaimed and the proposed coastal highway is to be completed as soon as possible. With regard to the participation of the private sector in our urban renewal efforts, I am happy to say that the sites along the "Golden Mile", which met with little response when the first 14 sites were made available by public tender in the middle of 1967, have now aroused the interest of various developers and hoteliers. In line with this policy, my Ministry has drawn up special procedures to expedite the granting of planning approval and to waive development charges in respect of good class tourist hotels. Briefly, the new procedure involves the elimination of the cumbersome and unwieldy process of rezoning. For the next three years whilst this new procedure is in operation, special consideration will be given to applications for the development of good class tourist hotels.”
“The Government would very much like to see this type of thinking permeating into the private sector so that, instead of thinking in terms of redeveloping just two or three shophouses, private investors would join forces and go into much bigger shopping complexes within the city. These are the portents for the future and it is hoped that with the co-operation of the private sector, we will eventually be able, not only to change the skyline of Singapore, but also to improve pedestrian shopping amenities and, in the process, change the older areas of the city by replacing the existing two- and three-row houses and shophouses with high rise prestige buildings incorporating all the facilities expected for the central area of a modern city. Mr Speaker, Sir, if I may go back to the East Coast reclamation, Members may be interested to know that the work of reclaiming land from the sea from Bedok to the Singapore Swimming Club will be completed in the middle of next year. The progress has been very satisfactory and the work is well in advance of schedule. The amount of earth washed away by the sea has also been less than expected. The second stage will be the reclamation from the Singapore Swimming Club right up to the end of Tanjong Rhu. This will mean the transportation by conveyor-belt of some three million cubic yards of earth. This additional work is expected to take five or six months, so that by the end of 1969, the whole stretch of the shore from Bedok to the end of Tanjong Rhu will be reclaimed. Much investigation work has also been done with regard to the next phase of the reclamation work which involves the filling up of the sea along Nicoll Highway and the Esplanade.”
“In the design of public housing, the Housing and Development Board has been investigating and experimenting with new forms of tower blocks which would provide a new appearance and better privacy for the tenants. If costs permit, these tower blocks will have the ground floor free for the recreation of tenants and their children. The first of these new blocks of housing accommodation will be constructed in the next few months and will be ready for occupation or sale in 1969. Mr Speaker, Sir, I now come to urban renewal. On this subject, the Government has already completed the first blocks of urban renewal flats in Crawford N. 1 and Outram Road S. 1 areas. The construction of urban renewal projects will go on with greater vigour. New projects will be carried out within the centre of the city which will indicate to the private sector the line of thinking that has been adopted by the Government in its urban renewal policy. These new projects will involve a departure from the traditional way of building row houses or shophouses with 16 to 20 feet frontage. The thinking is to concentrate on heavy investment on properly planned and comprehensive development for the construction of shopping complexes with literally hundreds of arcaded shops under one roof, with pedestrian malls for easier shopping, and with easy parking facilities at basement or ground level. This will improve the amenities in the city centre, provide much more pleasant surroundings for pedestrians, greater manoeuvrability for traffic, and increase parking facilities for motorists.”
“Members that in the process of land acquisition, squatter clearance, resettlement, earth-works, road works and other civil construction work, certain inconvenience and disturbance must be caused to a certain number of people. But bearing in mind that hundreds and thousands of people are likely to benefit from these operations, it is perhaps a very low price to pay, but even so the Housing and Development Board has been instructed to exercise every care and consideration and, wherever possible, to cause the minimum of inconvenience to our people. The East Coast reclamation project is one case in point. Members may recall that the Government could have decided with some savings to adopt the conventional method of earth moving which would result in hundreds of lorries shuttling up and down carrying full loads of earth some of which would spill over on to our roads, at the same time, stirring up considerable dust nuisance, causing traffic congestion and frustration, not to mention creating a noise nuisance to disturb the population for many years. Instead, the Government decided on the most sophisticated method of earth moving, involving huge bucket-wheel excavators and more than six miles of conveyor belts to excavate and transport the earth noiselessly, with little dust nuisance, traffic congestion or other inconvenience being caused. Yet, in spite of all these efforts, because the programmes have to be completed according to a rigid time schedule and the work has to go on a three-shift basis, there have been some complaints by residents around the Bedok area that the bucket-wheel excavators were disturbing them from their sleep, even though such excavators made less noise than ordinary bulldozers.”
“In line with Government's policy to make Singapore the cleanest and the greenest city in Southeast Asia, there is every need for increased efforts to beautify the many housing estates by tasteful landscaping and the better planting of trees, shrubs and flowers in the open areas. The experience gained in designing and planning the earlier housing estates will contribute towards the improvement of layouts of new housing estates, and our architects and planners will take into consideration the fact that notwithstanding low-cost housing our tenants will eventually be owning more and more cars. Thus traffic circulation is of importance and generous provisions may have to be made in the new towns for community activities, children's playgrounds and other recreational amenities. The Housing and Development Board does not think in terms of its immediate programme which is well in hand. In addition to providing the planning, supervision, construction and management and the maintenance of existing and new housing estates, it must do the spade work and investigations for the next two 5-year periods. For instance, the Board is now planning the lay-out, land acquisition and clearance for the new housing estates to be built in Telok Blangah in 1970 to 1975 and also looking into the development of new towns likely to be constructed after 1975. All this planning and investigation will be in addition to its present work in constructing public housing in Jurong. Toa Payoh, Queenstown, Tiong Bahru, Alexandra, Kallang Basin, St. Michael's Estate, MacPherson and other areas. In planning and executing projects of this magnitude, it is necessary for me to remind hon.”
“Owners of all flats dealt under this Act should, therefore, benefit from its provisions. Easements which would necessarily be created for flats and the transfer or lease of flats such as easements of support or shelter and protection and easement for passage of water, drainage and other services are spelt out in the Act. This will leave no doubt in the minds of the owners of flats of their rights. Under the provisions of the Act, the purchaser may be granted a freehold title to a flat and not only a leasehold title as under the common law. Proposed mortgages would also be in a far better position with special provisions being set out in cases where sub-divided buildings are damaged or destroyed. It is hoped that longer-term loans will be available to intending purchasers of flats. Thus indirectly flat ownership is being encouraged. Mr Speaker, Sir, I will now turn to the Ministry of National Development which is, as Members know, mainly concerned with housing. Sir, the Housing and Development Board has had considerable success in implementing the public housing policy of the Government. Yet far from resting on its laurels, the Board has been looking into various ways and means of improving the amenities in existing housing estates and the layout, design and construction of new housing estates. For one thing, with the success of the home ownership scheme, the demand is for better types of housing though still at low cost to be designed for sale to those of our citizens wishing to own their homes.”
“One of the Commissioners of the Appeals Board has since retired and consideration is being given to the possibility of appointing a permanent Commissioner with the requisite status of a High Court Judge. This will, of course, be dependent on a number of factors, not least of all the availability of a suitable person with the requisite qualification and know-how. It is desirable also to consider steps which will alleviate the position caused by the recent and the pending retirement of High Court Judges. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Land Titles Strata Act of 1967 was first introduced in its Bill form in 1966. The Act mainly deals with the issue of certificates of titles to flats, the management and maintenance of such flats and common services relating thereto by a Management Corporation of which all the flat owners are members. This Act was passed in 1967 and brought into operation today. It requires every housing developer of any new development of flats to lodge in a strata title plan showing the location of the sub-divided building comprising the flats sold or to be sold to the members of the public, and also the approximate dimensions of each flat and the common property, including the staircases and passages and any ground or floor space. The share units which each owner of the flat is entitled to must be also shown on such plan. Each owner of the flat will under the Act be entitled to a share in the land on which the sub-divided building comprising the flats is erected proportionate to his share unit. There has been no provision under the common law for the vesting of titles in the land should the sub-divided building become seriously damaged or demolished. There are provisions in the Act governing damaged or destroyed subdivided buildings.”
“This number covered objections going back to acquisitions carried out in 1953 and to accumulations from 1964 arising from the suspension imposed on the Collector precluding him from referring appeals to the High Court under the provisions of the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Ordinance. 1964, which came into force on the 11th June, 1964. After the coming into operation of the Land Acquisition Act, a total of 97 old appeals were brought forward for disposal. The Appeals Board was formally constituted and two Judges of the High Court were appointed Commissioners of Appeals on 17th June, 1967, and on the same date, 12 persons were appointed members of the panel as provided for under Part III of the Act. Since its constitution, five appeal cases were dealt with by it. Of this number, the Board in four cases awarded against the Collector, requiring the payment of a sum of about half a million dollars by way of supplementary awards. The Board awarded against the appellant in one case. Three cases were withdrawn and six were settled out of Court since the coming into force of the new Act. Some 22 cases are likely to be settled out of Court. Sir, a tremendous amount of research and work is involved in the proper preparation of an appeal case for presentation to the Appeals Board. Delays may occur when, in the midst of such preparatory work, appellants make overtures for settlement out of Court, or the Collector, on completion of an appeal case, considers that the difference is so marginal that the appellant may wish to consider settlement out of Court. It is proposed to introduce certain amendments to the Act with a view to incorporating into it certain provisions of the former legislation relating to the recovery of costs.”
“I then told the House in a Ministerial statement that the Government had accepted the Report in principle and would be introducing a draft Constitution embodying most of the recommendations of the Commission, save in regard to one or two matters such as the creation of the Ombudsman, the idea behind the creation of which would be fully subscribed to but which we, however, regard as somewhat premature. This important epoch-making charter will be introduced in the course of the next few months and certainly at the very latest by the end of this year. In order that the views of as wide a section of the people of Singapore as possible may be canvassed, the Draft Constitution will be sent to Select Committee. In the making of our Constitution, it is indeed the desire of the Government to ensure that the people of Singapore should be given every opportunity to air their views so that it may be said that the people have given unto themselves these guiding principles of social justice and equality amongst men. Mr Speaker, Sir, I now propose to deal with other departments of the Ministry of Law - the Land Office and the Registry of Deeds. The Land Acquisition Act was passed by the previous Parliament on the 26th of October, 1966, and came into operation on the 17th of June last year. The major innovation in the Act is that an appeal by a person aggrieved by an award of the Collector of Land Revenue, which previously used to lie to the High Court, now lies to the Appeals Board consisting of a Commissioner of Appeals, or a Deputy Commissioner of Appeals, either sitting alone or with two assessors, depending on the quantum of the award appealed against. Before this Act came into operation, a total of 261 appeals or objections had been lodged and were awaiting disposal.”
“Caught up with the more momentous changes which had to be brought about and which had claimed priority over other changes, our courts have been left to carry on within the legal framework that had been laid down when we were part of the Federation of Malaysia - hence the existence of procedures and terms that now would appear somewhat anachronistic. The existence of the Federal Court in Singapore is a clear example. Though in practice the Federal Court, which is the Court of Appeal in Singapore, is presided over by the Chief Justice with two other Judges of the High Court in Singapore, and the practice since we seceded from the Federation of Malaysia has been that only Singapore Judges sit in the Federal Court in Singapore, the strict legal basis from which the Court draws its jurisdiction and powers is still the Federal Courts of Judicature Act. Steps, however, are now being taken to correct this anomalous situation in the law. Right at this moment, a change in the system of the courts is being thought out and legislation is being prepared. Members will be interested to know that a Bill will soon be introduced to provide for a Court of Appeal in place of the Federal Court so that strict law may accord with practice. Hon. Members may or should remember that towards the end of 1966 the Report of the Constitutional Commission headed by the Chief Justice was presented to this House.”
“Consequent upon our becoming independent, no less than 25 Acts of Parliament were passed during the remaining months of 1965. In 1966, a total of 57 Acts were passed and in 1967 another 43 Acts were passed. Many of these Acts were far-reaching in their effects upon the life and economy of the nation. Little wonder that members of the legal profession themselves found it hard to keep abreast with these changes, some of which were necessitated by the very change in our constitutional progress towards independence. In order to make this task easier for the profession and for those charged with the responsibility of administering the law, the Attorney-General's Chambers reprinted some of the more important Ordinances which had been subject to such amendment. No less than some 30 of our laws have been thus brought up to date, including the State Constitution itself. At about the same time, a Law Revision Commission was appointed, charged with the task of rewriting the laws and bringing them up to date. As you know, Sir, the last time die laws of Singapore were subject to such a revision was some 15 years ago; the task then took no less than five years to complete. Special mention may perhaps be made to the Legal Profession Act which now sets out the basis of legal education and of admission to the Bar in Singapore. The disciplinary control of members of the profession had been left almost entirely to the Society of Advocates and Solicitors. Even this Act has been subject to amendments and will be in the course of this year subject to further amendments at the request of members of the Bar.”
“In some cases, the extension of these laws by the Central Government in relation to Singapore had reversed the Singapore Government's policies, as, for example, the Public Authorities Protection Ordinance of the Federation of Malaya. Singapore had, before it joined Malaysia, removed from its statute books a similar Ordinance giving the public authorities the privileged position of being protected from civil litigation for acts of negligence if these suits were not brought within the period of one year of the cause of action arising. Accordingly, when we separated as an independent Republic from the rest of Malaysia, this Ordinance had likewise to be removed in order that we could return to the status quo. In December 1965, the Republic of Singapore Independence Act was passed with retroactive operation to the 9th August of that year. Singapore then became a Republic with effect from the 9th day of August, 1965. But we had perforce to continue with the Singapore Constitution set out in the Order in Council dated the 16th September, 1963, a Constitution drafted and meant for the State of Singapore as a component part of the larger Federation. The Constitution as it then was had obvious lacunae. Accordingly, all these provisions dealing with such subjects as had been exclusively assigned to the Federal Legislature that had to be adopted with such amendments that were incompatible with Singapore as an independent Republic had to be so amended as to accord with the constitutional changes that had come to pass. The Independence Act of 1965, as hon. Members know, accordingly adopted as part of our Constitution the whole of the Federal Constitution, save in regard to those matters which had been provided for in the original State Constitution.”
“The Attorney-General's Chambers (or the State Advocate-General's Chambers as it then was) had been hard put to keeping abreast with the changes of these laws, especially in certain instances where copies of the Federal Ordinances that had been extended to Singapore in place of existing Singapore legislation had not been made available even to departments of state that were concerned with the administration of these Ordinances. Such was the state of the laws that when banishment proceedings were taken under the Federation Banishment Ordinance which, except for one or two procedural requirements, were exactly the same as the Singapore Ordinance, the first of these cases actually resulted in the banishee succeeding on a writ of habeas corpus. The police, not having copies of the Federation Ordinance, had proceeded under the repealed provisions of the Singapore Ordinance and, in doing so, had failed to comply with certain peremptory procedural requirements that were in the Federation Ordinance but were not in the State legislation. Then, as if to add to the confusion, on the 9th August, 1965, came the separation of Singapore from the rest of Malaysia. Although the Separation Agreement had provided for the continuation of laws then existing until such time when they were changed by Parliament in Singapore, this only added to the difficulties which both the legal profession and those concerned with the administration of justice in Singapore were already faced with. The work of unscrambling laws that had been extended to Singapore by the Central Government then began. We had then in 1965, as we do have now, such portions of the Federal laws that had been extended to Singapore existing side by side with Singapore statutes that had been left undisturbed.”
“But we have new schemes and we have had new schemes to increase the water supply. Members may be interested to know that when water rationing had to be imposed in the year 1963, Singapore only con sumed about 65 million gallons a day. Today the consumption has increased by more than 35 million gallons per day. Sir, I propose to speak both on the Ministry of Law and National Development. As far as the Ministry of Law is concerned, I shall start first with the laws of Singapore and give the House a short resume of events as they might help in setting out the present position. Prior to 1963, Singapore had its own Constitution, and laws made up of Ordinances passed by the Legislature, such parts of the English Common Law and certain English Statutes that were made applicable to Singapore before we joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. Whilst we were part of the Federation, on account of the distribution of legislative subjects between the Central and the State Legislatures, certain existing laws that came within the purview of the Central Government were repealed and at the same time laws were extended in the name of "uniformity" to Singapore even in regard to matters where the ipsissima verba of the legislation was in no way different, as evidenced in the Trustees Ordinance, or where the substance was identical, as in the Internal Security Act. There was a spate of subsidiary legislation made by the Central Government and extended to Singapore, some of which were again substituted for those which were already in existence.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, at the start of my speech. I would like to invite the attention of all hon. Members to a Government Gazette Subsidiary Legislation Supplement published on the 10th of May and numbered 35 of 1968. At pages 285 to 296 thereof are set out the responsibilities of the Prime Minister and other Ministers. The only change in the Ministry of National Development is in respect of the Registry of Co-operative Societies which has been transferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs. Money Lenders and Pawnbrokers have also been transferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs. They were previously with the Ministry of Law. Companies and the Registry of Business Names have also left Law for the Ministry of Finance. But the major change, as far as the Ministry of Law is concerned, is the transfer of the Port Authority to the Ministry of Communications, as it is felt that the Port and the Department of Marine should appropriately come under the same Ministry. The problems of the reorganisation of the Dockyard and the containerisation complex at the Eastern Lagoon are now put on the lap of the Minister for Communications. The Public Utilities Board, which was formerly under the Ministry of the Deputy Prime Minister, is now back in the Ministry of Law, and questions in this House with regard to gas, water and electricity should now be directed to me. However, I am happy to be able to report that frequent blackouts are a thing of the past in Singapore and that it is unlikely that we will have water rationing in the near future. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is significant that the consumption of water in Singapore has now exceeded the 100-million gallon mark. We are consuming over 100 million gallons of water a day.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of hon. Members to move a motion for the suspension of Standing Orders to enable Parliament to adjourn earlier than eight o'clock tonight, namely, at six o'clock.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of hon. Members to move a motion for the suspension of Standing Orders to enable Parliament to adjourn earlier than eight o'clock tonight, namely, at seven o'clock?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members to move a motion to suspend Standing Orders and to adjourn Parliament earlier than eight o'clock tonight, namely, at half-past six?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of hon. Members to move a motion to suspend Standing Orders to enable Parliament to adjourn earlier than eight o'clock tonight, namely, at a quarter to seven?”
“There are very few instances where land-owners have objected to existing tracks being repaired by the Government. Whether a private road has been used for more than 20 years or not is not so easy to establish, as the residents try to make out. However, even if it is established that the road has been used by the residents for more than 20 years, it does not confer title to the land but gives only a right of way, a right to pass to and fro over the road, which still cannot be repaired by Government unless the consent of the land-owners concerned is obtained, if the owners persistently refuse to give such permission and if the Government is satisfied that the making up of these private roads is justifiable, then the proposals could be considered under the provisions of the Local Government Integration Ordinance. The Director of Public Works is empowered under certain sections of this Ordinance to make up streets and to repair them, and to tecover the cost from the owners of frontages.”
“Member is referring to that portion of Jalan Pasar Sembawang near the market opposite Chong Pang Road. A proposal to make up this portion of the road to kampong road standard at a cost of $4,000 to be paid by the Government was not supported by the Urban and Rural Services Committee when it met on 19th July, 1967. Instead, the U.R.S.C, recommended that the Director of the Public Works Department should consider making up this portion of the road under section 19 of the Local Government Integration Ordinance and charge the cost to the frontagers. The Projects Committee at its meeting of 7th August, 1967, accepted and approved the recommendation of the U.R.S.C, and duly notified the Director of the Public Works Department of this decision. Investigation by the P.W.D, showed that there are shophouses along both sides of this portion of the road which has a width varying from 25 feet to 33 feet. This width is less than the minimum of 36 feet required for any street when it is made up under section 19. As the road can only be widened if some of the existing structures are demolished, notices under section 19 have not been issued. However, it is intended to repair the road under section 22 of the Local Government Integration Ordinance. But the P.W.D, has a long waiting list of private streets to be so repaired, and Jalan Pasar Sembawang will have to wait its turn. It is expected that work can be carried out towards the end of the year.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry is aware of, and has kept under surveillance, the operations of the sawmill referred to by the Member for Aljunied. It considers that these operations have in no way influenced or contributed towards the flooding of the Potong Pasir and Toa Payoh areas. These areas are susceptible to floods as they are low-lying. In some parts south of the sawmill there are swamps which are subject to tidal influences. These factors and the recent heavy continuous rains have contributed to the floods in Potong Pasir and Toa Payoh. Government has expended over the last four years $325,000 for drainage and flood alleviation works in the Kallang River area. The swamps are being filled up, and in the development scheme affecting the basin, work is continuing on the dredging, widening and diversion of the Kallang River south of Serangoon Road. Provision for another $300,000 will be made to continue these improvements. The sawmill site is affected by these improvement works. In consequence, the land on which it is located was compulsorily acquired and possession taken in September 1967. The sawmill has since been under notice to vacate the site. When the dredging, widening and diversion of the Kallang River is completed, the incidence of flooding will he considerably reduced. CONSTRUCTION OF JALAN PASAR SEMBAWANG (Commencement of work) 11. Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Law and National Development when work will commence on the construction of Jalan Pasar Sembawang, approved by the Urban and Rural Services Committee on 8th July, 1967. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Mr Ho Cheng Choon) (for the Minister for Law and National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, I take it that the hon.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, seven pensioners are now re-employed in the Public Works Department. Short particulars are as follows. Three were employed in Singapore House at Fraser's Hill. The period of employment was from 2nd January, 1965, to 30th June, 1968. A fourth was re-employed as a temporary technical assistant, civil engineering, from 30th January, 1965, to 31st December, 1968. The fifth was reemployed as a temporary technical assistant, civil engineering, from 29th April, 1967, to 28th April, 1968. The sixth as a temporary technician, civil engineering, from 28th July, 1965, to 31st December, 1967, and the seventh as a temporary technician, also civil engineering, from 27th September, 1965, to the 30th June, 1968. FLOODING IN POTONG PASIR AND TOA PAYOH (Preventive action against sawmill) 10. Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Minister for Law and National Development (a) whether he is aware of the feeling of the people around Potong Pasir and Toa Payoh that flooding in the area can be reduced if action is taken against a sawmill to prevent it dumping sawdust into the canal along Serangoon Road near the Fire Station; (b) what action has been taken so far in this connection and the results; and (c) what further action will be taken.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, between 1st January, 1965, and 1st December, 1967, 46 technicians of the Public Works Department resigned. An officer resigning from the public service need not give any reasons. In most of these 46 cases, reasons for their resignations were not given. However, the majority of the 46 were recruited on a temporary basis and the main reason for their leaving the service may have been to obtain permanent employment elsewhere. A few resigned for more lucrative jobs outside the public service. RE-EMPLOYED PENSIONERS IN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (Particulars) 9. Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Minister for Law and National Development the number of pensioners now re-employed in the Public Works Department and the period for which each has been re-employed.”