Lim Hng Kiang
Singapore
“The company has made commitments to recycle the ash, and as for renewable energy, the gasification project is not an energy project, it is not a generation company (genco). It is to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide or, essentially, carbon. Because as feedstock to the petrochemical sector, you need more C and more H2.”
“The Government will continue to recover the IIA awarded if the company fails any conditions or breaches the legislative amendments. I would like to highlight that there are no errant cases in the last five years for IIA and the current amendments are, therefore, not reactionary in nature, but are being made for legislative clarity.”
“In addition, the IIA scheme will be extended till 31 December 2022. Clauses 10 to 13 give legislative effect to this change. The remaining legislative changes arising from our periodic review of the income tax system are either administrative or technical in nature.”
“Data on household and individual savings rates by income groups are not available. However, data on the aggregate level of household financial assets can be obtained from the Household Sector balance sheet compiled by the Department of Statistics.”
“The aggregate level of financial assets owned by Singapore’s household sector6 in each of the past five years is provided in Table 1 below. Data on the amount of financial assets owned by households and individuals in the different income percentiles is not available.”
“The Second Review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Second CECA Review) is ongoing. The review is taking some time as both countries have our respective interests to work through, such as in the area of labour mobility. Our agencies regularly engage Indian counterparts to work through issues collaboratively.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,677 lines we hold for Lim Hng Kiang, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 45 of 54.
“Sir, HDB is aware that in the resale market, the current market practice is for purchasers to pay cash upfront to the sellers. This is not a very healthy practice and HDB would take steps to try and reduce the prevalence of such a practice. However, granting higher loans does not help the purchaser if cash upfront is a market practice. With regard to the Buy-Back Scheme, so far we have about 2,800 applicants for the 3-room flats. HDB has plans to buy back 1,500 3-room flats in the first year of its operation. HDB is looking at ways to increase the number of 3-room flats that it can purchase under the Buy-Back Scheme so that those who apply for these flats can get their flats earlier. With regard to the ballooning repayment scheme, this is available for low income purchasers, but not to people with more than $1,000 per month income. GOVERNMENT POLICY (Debate by Singaporeans on merits) 8. Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon asked the Prime Minister, with reference to the letters written by his Press Secretary published in the local press recently, whether the Government encourages Singaporeans to actively debate the merits of Government policy.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB provides mortgage loan financing to resale flat buyers of up to 80% of the market value or 80% of the declared resale value, whichever is lower. The interest rate on the loans, pegged at 0.1% above the CPF rate, is much lower than the housing loan rates charged by banks. For low-income families whose monthly household incomes do not exceed $1,000 per month, HDB provides an even higher quantum of mortgage loan, of up to 95% of the market value or declared resale value, whichever is lower. In addition, those who purchase resale flats to live with their parents in older estates are eligible for a $30,000 grant under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme, if they are first-time purchasers buying an HDB resale flat in the same new town or within 2 kilometres of where their parents are staying. The grant is credited into their CPF accounts for the reduction of the principal sum of their mortgage loan. As HDB already subsidizes those who buy resale flats to stay close to their parents both through its generous loan terms and through the CPF Housing Grant Scheme, my Ministry does not see the need for an additional subsidy in the form of higher housing loans.”
“If the Member files a Question, I will give him the statistics on illegal parking.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB parking wardens are deployed all over the island to catch illegal parking.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as with many of my colleagues on the Frontbench, we take Questions very seriously from Members. So when we receive a Question like this, I have to ask HDB what is the situation on the ground because Potong Pasir was not involved in the revision of car parking charges in the 23 precincts. So obviously something must be amiss in Potong Pasir that prompted Mr Chiam to raise the Question. So I asked them to check and they told me that there was in fact rampant illegal parking in Potong Pasir. I told them that, as Mr Chiam is very keen to remove illegal parking, we should provide a higher level of service. So the parking wardens will continue to go down and provide this level of service for Potong Pasir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I leave this to the operational people on the ground. They will deploy the required number of parking wardens to eradicate illegal parking in Potong Pasir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, when I received the Question for Oral Answer, I felt that Mr Chiam probably had a problem in Potong Pasir. So I asked HDB to gather information on the ground. As a result, in the last three days they have deployed extra parking wardens to ensure better safety and less illegal parking in Potong Pasir. That is the reason why we have got 600 parking offences. I assure the Member that this exercise will continue and we will eradicate illegal parking in Potong Pasir.”
“Sir, I have asked HDB to enquire from the Neighbourhood Police Post in Potong Pasir whether there was indeed a higher incidence of crime in Potong Pasir or not. I am afraid that I have not got the data. But from the overall macro-data that I have received, the rate of crimes in car parks in Singapore is in fact very low. On the average, two crimes of theft from and theft of cars are committed per car park per year. So with that kind of low crime rate, there is no need to deploy special security guards for the car parks. But, knowing Mr Chiam's concern, I assure him that HDB will deploy extra parking wardens in Potong Pasir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with your indulgence, I will read out the list. There are altogether 11 car parks in Potong Pasir grouped under two groups. HDB calls them Group 17 and Group 12. Group 17 is in Potong Pasir Central and Group 12 is in Toa Payoh Estate. In Potong Pasir, a total of 147 parking offences were issued on 21st January, 140 on 22nd January and 149 on 23rd January. In Toa Payoh, 52 parking offences were issued on 21st January, 52 on 22nd January and 61 on 23rd January.”
“When a road pavement is resurfaced, its level is raised slightly. The existing manholes have to be surfaced over to obtain a safe and flat pavement surface for traffic. If the manholes are not surfaced over, there will be localised depressions. The positions of the manholes are marked after the road is resurfaced. The services departments will later remove the asphalt over these manholes and then raise the level of these manhole covers to be flush with the new road pavement. UNLICENSED CHILDCARE CENTRES 12. Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Acting Minister for Community Development if he will give the number of unlicensed child care centres that have been brought to his attention for the years 1991 to 1993 and what possible steps can be instituted to check the operation of unlicensed child care centres.”
“Sir, I will take the opportunity to check out what Mr Chiam has said. But my understanding is that under the Land Titles (Strata) Act, an upgrading is passed if not more than 25% object to it and that 25% is based on the strata values, which means all the owners of the estate. Similarly, for the HUDC Housing Estates Act, we are making the amendment that not more than 25% object to it and that means all the owners of the housing estate. 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 Lim Hng Kiang]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. The Leader of the House (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, before I move the adjournment, may I remind Members that when they address another Member or the Minister, they should use the correct pronoun and not the word "you", because the word "you" refers to the Speaker. Just use "he" or "the Minister". ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Adjourned accordingly at Four minutes past Three o'clock pm to a date to be fixed. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES 1. Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) if he will give an update on the work of the Japan-Singapore partnership programme; (b) what percentage of the Gross Domestic Product goes to the programme annually; (c) what other Overseas Development Assistance Programme does Singapore participate in; and (d) what percentage of the GDP goes towards ODA.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in case Mr Chiam fails to recollect, we had the HUDC Housing Estates Act in the early 1970s before we had the Land Titles (Strata) Act. In the HUDC Housing Estates Act, it is stipulated that you can only have an upgrading or improvement proposal if not more than 10% object to it. That was very stringent. When we had the Land Titles (Strata) Act, we amended this to 25% following the experience of many countries. So in the private condominiums in the private housing estates under the Land Titles (Strata) Act, an upgrading proposal can be passed if the owners of not more than 25% of the total share value, ie, the number of flats, cast their votes against it. So this amendment before the House today is to bring the HUDC Housing Estates Act in line with the provisions of the Land Titles (Strata) Act. The number of votes is based on the number of occupiers in the estate and not on the number who attended the meeting.”
“The Phases I and II estates were built since the mid-1970s. With the aging of these estates, many owners aspire to improve and upgrade their estates, both to enhance the value of their flats and to provide facilities which are usually available in private condominiums, such as swimming pools, sport amenities and clubhouses. However, under the HUDC Housing Estates Act, a proposal to upgrade or improve the estate can only be passed, as a special resolution, if not more than 10% of the flat owners in the housing estate concerned cast their votes against it. The 10% stipulated for passage of upgrading proposals is unnecessarily stringent. It limits unduly the aspirations of the Phases I and II HUDC flat owners to upgrade their estates. In comparison, for private estates under the Land Titles (Strata) Act, an upgrading proposal can be passed if owners of not more than 25% of the total share value cast their votes against it. This Bill amends the HUDC Housing Estates Act so that an upgrading proposal can be passed if not more than 25% of the flat owners vote against it. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Mr Chiam does exaggerate. Trees do not grow overnight. Even the Angsana trees took us a long time to grow. If not for the foresight of the Government in insisting that trees be planted from the early 1960s, we will not have the green environment that we have today. So all trees of mature girth should be preserved, whether they are hardwood or softwood. 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 Lim Hng Kiang]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. HUDC HOUSING ESTATES (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. The Acting Minister for National Development (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This Bill seeks to amend the HUDC Housing Estates Act to facilitate upgrading of HUDC housing estates. There are 20 HUDC estates, built in four phases. The first two phases (Phases I and II), comprising eight estates, were sold by HUDC Private Limited under the HUDC Housing Estates Act. The last two phases (Phases III and IV), comprising 12 estates, were sold by HDB under the Housing and Development Act. HDB has stopped building HUDC flats since 1986. This Bill applies only to the Phases I and II estates. Phases III and IV estates are governed by the Housing and Development Act. In most respects, the Phases I and II estates are similar to private estates. Unlike HDB flats, there are no minimum occupation periods, subletting of entire flats is allowed and single persons and foreigners are allowed to buy them. Management bodies are set up by the flat owners to manage their estates.”
“If you raise a Question, both oral and written, we will provide the answer and the criteria. 1.23 pm BILLS INTRODUCED ARCHITECTS (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Architects Act (Chapter 12 of the 1992 Revised Edition)", presented by the Acting Minister for National Development (Mr Lim Hng Kiang); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Professional Engineers Act (Chapter 253 of the 1992 Revised Edition)", presented by Mr Lim Hng Kiang; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY (NO. 2) BILL Order for Second and Third Readings read.”
“PWD has assessed that this footpath is not used so frequently as to meet its criteria and, therefore, it is not recommended that it be built.”
“I said that if it qualifies, it would have been built.”
“Obviously, if it qualifies, then it would have been built.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not have the number of pedestrians moving per hour that PWD uses for its determination on the construction of footpaths. But as I explained in this House before, PWD has certain criteria before it builds a footpath and other criteria before it builds a covered footpath. There are two reasons for building footpaths. Firstly, if there is a big demand based on the criteria used by PWD, and, secondly, if we assess that the land would not be used for a long time, it is worthwhile to put in public money to construct a footpath. If the development is to take place very soon, then by the time you constructed a footpath, you have got to dig it up and redevelop it a few years later. That would be a waste of public funds.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we do not enforce different standards. We do not want to have encumbrances on State land, whether it is a temporary footpath or a permanent footpath. Because later on, the State land will have to be put up for sale, there will be redevelopment, and the footpath will be removed. In some cases, we do allow footpaths to be built because they serve a very large number of people and we assess that the development will not take place for a very long time. Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, the Minister says that a footpath will be built if there is a large number of people using it. What does the Minister mean by a "large number"? Assuming that the footpath in Yishun qualifies in terms of the number of people using it, would he be willing to construct a footpath there?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there are temporary or permanent footpaths built in both PAP and non-PAP wards.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, when I said that the Government has no plans to construct a concrete footpath, it means both temporary and permanent footpaths.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the footpath proposed by Mr Cheo would be on a parcel of State land reserved for future development. As such, the Government has no plans to construct a concrete footpath on this site.”
“Let me explain again. In the Serangoon and Hougang areas, the number of applicants to the number of flats is now almost 10:1. And to enable the new households to be successful by the fifth attempt and the upgraders by the ninth attempt, we have to put a certain supply of flats for sale each time. If we had not put up these three blocks, then the new households would still not get their flats on the fifth attempt and the upgraders would not get theirs on the ninth attempt. They would apply subsequently in October and that would be their sixth attempt and tenth attempt respectively. They would be very high in the queue and they have got these three blocks. So instead of waiting for them to re-apply in October and give them these three blocks, HDB took the management decision to put these three blocks for sale and allocate them to the people on the queue earlier. CONCRETE FOOTPATH FROM YISHUN MEDICAL CENTRE TO YISHUN CENTRAL 1 (Construction) 15. Mr Cheo Chai Chen asked the Acting Minister for National Development if he will consider constructing a temporary concrete footpath from Yishun Medical Centre to Yishun Central 1 in the open space opposite Block 647 of Yishun Central.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, under the Booking System, it was HDB's practice to schedule building contracts for tender before they were advertised for offer in the quarterly booking exercises. As the tender for the three blocks of Executive flats at Serangoon Avenue 2 was scheduled for October 1994, it was therefore not advertised for offer in the Second Quarter booking exercise held in April 1994. During the April 1994 exercise, however, there was an overwhelming demand for flats in Serangoon. HDB therefore had to advance the three blocks of Executive flats in Serangoon for balloting in the April 1994 exercise, even though tender has not been closed for these three blocks, in order to ensure that new households would be successful in booking a flat by their fifth attempt, and upgraders by their ninth attempt.”
“HDB has been inspecting its blocks since 1991 after the introduction of the Building Control Act, and all the blocks have been safe. We are accelerating the inspection and we will know the results as inspections are under way. Let me assure him that all the blocks are safe. HDB EXECUTIVE FLATS AT SERANGOON AVENUE 2 (Inclusion in balloting exercise) 14. Mr Goh Choon Kang asked the Acting Minister for National Development why three blocks of Housing and Development Board executive flats being built at Serangoon Avenue 2 were included in the balloting exercise for the second quarter of 1994 though they were not advertised in the newspapers.”
“HDB has an on-going programme of inspecting all its blocks regularly once every 10 years. In view of this, HDB is putting more resources to also conduct more inspections. Mr Chiam See Tong: Can the Minister tell us, in view of this incident and that he has stepped up inspection, what is the result of the inspection so far?”
“First of all, all the other columns have been inspected by HDB. As our press statement indicated earlier towards the end of last month, all the columns have been assessed to have a safety factor of at least 1.8, that means, all the columns in this block have a safety factor of at least 1.8. In this particular column which cracked, HDB put in the steel reinforcement. When you put in the steel reinforcement, and the encasement of concrete around it, you need a certain cover, and therefore it ends up six times.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I mentioned just now, under the Building Control Act, all residential buildings must be inspected at least once every 10 years. HDB has done so. In addition, HDB's structural engineers go round the flats all the time, especially if there are complaints about cracks or problems of defect. So HDB has a systematic programme to inspect all its buildings. Let me also stress the point I made earlier. The buildings are designed in such a way that even if one column has cracked due to the poor grade of concrete in that column, the rest of the columns will be able to take the load. It is designed to take up to three times. So there is plenty of redundancy, a very high safety factor.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB has a very stringent system of building inspections, done both by the Town Councils as well as by the structural teams in HDB. All HDB flats are inspected once every 10 years, as required under the law. In addition, if there are any cracks on load-bearing structures, HDB will immediately investigate. Our experience so far is that our buildings are built according to specifications and they are safe. In this particular case, the poor quality of the concrete could be due, as I said, to the mixing of the concrete when it was being constructed. Mr Low Thia Khiang: Sir, does the HDB have an existing system of inspection of flats, especially structural loads, during a certain year to ensure safety or detection of possible concrete failure?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we are also a bit perplexed as to how that could happen, because HDB constructs millions of columns and this is one column that has failed. HDB has in place a very strict quality control system of examining the quality of the concrete before it is set in situ, especially for load-bearing columns. So we assess that this is a very isolated case. Out of the millions of columns we built, this is the only column that has cracked. We are not sure how it happened. It was probably due to poor workmanship at the point where the column was being cast.”
“All the materials and all the designs in HDB flats are built according to the building code. So the quality of concrete was stipulated according to the building code.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the root cause of the crack was the poor quality of the concrete in that particular column. As my Ministry has earlier announced, the column has since been repaired and reinforced to six times its design strength. HDB has also confirmed that the remaining columns in Block 538 are all structurally sound, and that the building as a whole can carry three times the normal load it is designed to bear. I assure the public that this incident was an isolated case, and that all HDB buildings are structurally sound. HDB buildings are designed in such a way that even if one column is damaged, the overall stability of the building will not be affected, as the load on that column will be spread to the other columns. Mr Low Thia Khiang: Sir, did the HDB specify the grade of concrete that should be used for the structure?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the total fines and composition collected for parking offences by HDB and URA for the year 1993 and the year 1994 (from January to October) were $49.2 million and $39.4 million respectively. FEEDER SERVICES (Provision by private mini-bus operators) 9. Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Communications whether he will permit private mini-bus operators to provide feeder services within new towns and along other routes not served by current bus companies.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB flats are sold on 99-year leases, so as to allow the sites to be re-developed in the future to meet the prevailing needs, and to allow new designs and technology to be implemented. The lease period is long enough to see through at least the first two generations of families occupying the flats. In fact, the remaining lease periods of the oldest HDB flats are still about 71 years. Those who buy their flats from others should know the expiry date of the flats' leases; the price they pay for the lease takes into account the remaining lease period. Under the lease contract, HDB would not need to pay lessees any compensation when their leases expire. PARKING OFFENCES (Amount of fines and compositions collected) 8. Mr Ling How Doong asked the Acting Minister for National Development what is the total amount of fines and compositions collected by the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Housing and Development Board for parking offences for 1993 and from January to October 1994.”
“It is up to the CCCs to decide which projects within their constituencies they should support.”
“With this increase in income ceilings, we do not expect a big increase in the number of applications. So we do not expect a significant change in the waiting period. COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS COMMITTEE 2. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Acting Minister for National Development (a) what is the total amount of funds which have been disbursed by the Government for projects by the Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC) and how much of the said funds have been released to Opposition-controlled Town Councils for such projects; (b) why the CIPC comprises only PAP Members of Parliament and if non-politicians will be included in the Committee; and (c) if there are any guidelines for the Citizens' Consultative Committees on how to process applications in support of a CIPC project. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Mr Matthias Yao Chih) (for the Acting Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the total amount of funds which has been disbursed by the Government for Community Improvement Projects Committee projects since the inception of the scheme in April 1990 is $51.2 million. We do not have records on CIPC funds released to Opposition-controlled Town Councils as the funds are allocated to the Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs) and not to the Town Councils. The CIPC comprises Advisers to the CCCs. The nine Advisers on the Committee happen to be PAP MPs. As the system works well at the moment, there is no need to change the composition of the CIPC. General guidelines have been provided to CCCs on how to request for funding support for their projects. However, the guidelines do not specify which projects the CCCs should submit.”
“Sir, as I have already explained, the present ceilings cater for 92% of all Singapore households. With the higher ceiling, 94% are now eligible. Two extra percent will not significantly increase the application rate. Today, we are supplying 34,000 new flats. We are not inclined to supply more because that would stretch the resources of the construction industry and may have unexpected results on the quality of the flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we started this programme only in October with the ceiling set at $1,000. With that ceiling, we have approximately 2,800 applicants for such flats. I think we should try and meet the demand of these 2,800 applicants first before we raise the ceiling further.”
“Sir, the Member for Changi is referring to car park B22 which is located between Block 83 Bedok North Road and Anglican High School. This car park serves the residents of Blocks 82 and 83 Bedok North Road. Converting some of the car parking lots into heavy vehicle parking lots for lorries and buses is not advisable as the noise and fumes generated by the heavy vehicles will affect the residents, especially those living in Block 83. Moreover, there are already 28 lorry and bus parking lots in the adjoining car park at B23. A further increase in the number of lorry and bus parking lots in the area is likely to congest the car parks and roads and affect the amenities of the residents. There are a total of 1,614 heavy vehicle parking lots in Bedok estate and its surrounding areas. These are managed by HDB, URA and a private operator. Another 1,170 heavy vehicles lots are expected to be ready for use between 1995 and 1997 in Bedok, Tampines and Pasir Ris. These should be sufficient to meet the demand for lorry parking. COMPETITIVE SALARIES FOR COMPETENT AND HONEST GOVERNMENT (Motion) Order read for Resumption of Debate on Question [31st October 1994], "That this House endorses Paper Cmd. 13 of 1994 on "Competitive Salaries for Competent and Honest Government" as the basis for setting salaries of Ministers and senior public officers.". - [Prime Minister]. Question again proposed. 1.27 pm”
“Sir, the lighted footpath was constructed by the Changi Citizens' Consultative Committee with funding from the Community Improvement Projects Committee. There are no immediate plans to develop the site, therefore a covered walkway cannot be integrated in the development. CAR PARKING LOTS BETWEEN BLOCKS 82 AND 83, BEDOK NORTH ROAD AND ANGLICAN HIGH SCHOOL (Conversion into parking lots for lorries and school buses) 12. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Acting Minister for National Development whether some of the car parking lots located between Blocks 82 and 83 at Bedok North Road and Anglican High School will be converted into parking lots for lorries and school buses.”
“Sir, Blocks 22 to 25, Sin Ming Road are between 20 and 21 years old. They therefore qualify for the Main Upgrading Programme. However, in view of the limited resources in the construction industry, and the huge stock of old flats to be upgraded, HDB has to implement the Main Upgrading Programme in stages. So far, four batches, comprising a total of 22 precincts, have been identified for upgrading under the steady phase of the Main Upgrading Programme. HDB will take the Member's inputs into consideration when it evaluates subsequent precincts to be upgraded under this Programme. FOOTPATH LINKING BUS STOP AT NEW UPPER CHANGI ROAD AND BLOCK 74, BEDOK NORTH ROAD (Construction of covered walkway) 11. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Acting Minister for National Development whether a covered walkway will be constructed for the footpath which links the bus stop at New Upper Changi Road and Block 74 at Bedok North Road.”
“I think the main objective of the upgrading programme to Singaporeans is that at the end of the upgrading, the flat is better for them to live in and they get a better value flat. Indeed, they do. All those flats which have been upgraded have provided Singaporeans with a newer flat, better amenities, better facilities, bigger space for those who have opted for the space-adding item. The value of their flat has gone up tremendously. So that is the real benefit to Singaporeans. Whether they expect to see the life of the flat being extended, that is not the primary concern. BUS SERVICES FROM TAMPINES TO CHANGI AIRPORT 9. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Communications whether he will request the Singapore Bus Service (1978) Ltd to operate bus services from Tampines to Changi Airport via Simei Estate and vice versa now that the junction at Simei Avenue/Simei Street 3 has been opened to traffic going in and out of Simei Estate.”
“The basic structural life of a building is determined at its construction, ie, the foundation, the pillars, the load bearing walls, etc. That has not changed even after upgrading. In the upgrading process, what we are doing is that we are changing the inside of the flat, the pipes, the sewerage, the drainage. We add another space-adding item to the block, which is a standalone, and is on a separate foundation. So the structural integrity of the block and its life are not extended by the upgrading. It remains the same, more than 100 years. That is the designed life of a concrete structure.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as my predecessor, Mr Dhanabalan, told this House in 1989, experience has shown that most buildings reach the end of their economic life, and are redeveloped, well before the end of their 99-year lease period. This is a desirable process, which ensures that land is utilised efficiently, and allows for the timely renewal of Singapore. The extension of the leases of HDB flats beyond 99 years, even if they have been upgraded, might hinder the future redevelopment and renewal of Singapore. The leases of HDB flats will thus not be extended after they have been upgraded.”
“The Acting Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Sir, my Ministry works closely with other Government agencies and voluntary welfare organisations to provide support services to juvenile offenders and their families. These include residential care, counselling, organised after-school activities and outreach programmes. The programmes provided by my Ministry include supervision of probationers and rehabilitation programmes in institutions. The probationers' families are always involved in the rehabilitation effort. Workshops and training and counselling sessions are also conducted for the juvenile delinquents as well as to provide support to their parents. My Ministry also organises programmes to educate the public on parenting skills and on the need for parents to transmit desirable values to their children. Sir, the problem of juvenile delinquency is multi-faceted in nature. Its solution requires the concerted efforts not only of the Government, but also of the community and, in particular, the family. Hence, the formation of the inter-Ministry committee to look, inter alia, into the problem of juvenile delinquency. The committee comprises representatives from various civic organisations and experts in the social sciences. The committee held its first meeting last Thursday and will complete its report, hopefully, by the middle of next year. Meanwhile, if the Member has any suggestions on the matter, he is very welcome to send them to me. I will ensure that the committee will study them.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, indeed the views of the home owners are incorporated. Whenever the Development Guide Plans for the respective areas are released, my Ministry makes it a point to exhibit these plans and owners can file objections under the Planning Act if they are not happy with the proposed plans. They will then be given the opportunity to present their views at a formal hearing. If the hearings conclude that the appellants have a case, then the single-storey terrace houses can be safeguarded. But I must qualify here that we are looking at the interest of the community at large, and we are looking at the housing estate in its entirety. So if a small group of owners want to keep their estate single-storey, in fact, they can do so by coming together and agreeing among themselves and have a mutual agreement that every one of them will lodge a deed of covenant with the Registry of Land Titles and Deeds. This deed of covenant can be drafted in such a way as to restrict all of them who agree as well as future owners who buy the property from rebuilding their properties beyond one storey. So they do not have to look towards Government to exercise the control of one-storey houses. If these 50 or 100 home owners want to have single-storey, they can come to an agreement among themselves, put a covenant in their deed and they can preserve their estate as one-storey houses. PROBLEMS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY (Measures taken) 6. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Acting Minister for Community Development what measures his Ministry is taking in respect of the problems of juvenile delinquency.”
“Blocks 739 to 746, Bedok Reservoir Road, are located in a Neighbourhood Centre. Therefore, besides season parking, the car parks also serve short-term parking needs of those patronising the Neighbourhood Centre. There are sufficient parking lots to meet the needs of the season ticket holders as the season parking ticket take-up rate is only 70%. However, during peak periods between 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm, and on weekends, the additional demand for short-term parking due to the commercial activities is not adequately met. Therefore, HDB plans to provide about 50 additional car parking lots at the reserve site next to Block 742 Bedok Reservoir Road. These additional car parking lots are expected to be ready by end 1995.”
“Prior to 1991, HDB did not include land depreciation costs in its car park accounts. It is therefore only meaningful to give cumulative figures from 1991, as annual accounts before then did not reflect land costs. According to HDB's accounts, the total cumulative cost for HDB car parks from FY 90/91 to FY 93/94 is $946 million, while the total cumulative income, which includes fines, for the same period is $878 million. In other words, over these four years, HDB suffered a loss of about $58 million. In fact, the loss should be higher, as the land costs just mentioned were based on a land valuation done back in 1985. Over the same 4-year period, URA's total income from its car park operations amounted to $132 million. However, of this, $51 million came from parking fines. URA's income from parking fees totalled $81 million. URA's total cost was $72 million. As in the case of HDB, the price URA pays for its use of state land for roadside parking is low. URA would also be incurring a loss if it had to lease land for its car park lots at rates similar to those for private car parks. PARKING LOTS AT BLOCKS 738 TO 745 BEDOK RESERVOIR ROAD (Shortage) 6. Mr Chew Heng Ching asked the Acting Minister for National Development, in view of the acute shortage of parking lots at Blocks 738 to 745, Bedok Reservoir Road, whether and when the car park next to Block 742 will be extended.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, under the 1993 labour survey, 92% of Singapore households qualified under the existing rules. The income ceilings were last reviewed on 1st December 1992. We will review it again on 1st December 1994. 1.30 pm”