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 53 of 54.
“Sir, as I explained in my answer just now, households with low income can ask for a mortgage loan of 95% of the posted price, and not just 80%. Nevertheless, my Ministry is aware that some of these households still face difficulty in purchasing flats from the secondary market. The Ministry is also currently reviewing the mortgage loan financing for the resale market, in particular, to bring the posted price closer to the market price. HDB'S POLICY ON BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING 2. Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for National Development whether the Housing and Development Board has digressed from its policy to build affordable housing for people.”
“Sir, together with the Ministry of Health, we will always monitor the level of provision of medical services to Singaporeans and if it comes a time when medical services are not provided adequately at the HDB estate level, then we will consider other measures to ensure that this service is provided. PUBLIC PARKS AND LAND UTILISED FOR GOLF COURSES (Particulars) 5. Mr Ling How Doong asked the Minister for National Development what is the total area (i) of public parks and (ii) of land utilised for golf courses.”
“I think it is very difficult to convince the public that doctors are less able to tender for shops than a barber shop or a provision shop. The services that the doctors provide to the estates are viable services and they should be able to tender competitively for their premises.”
“Apart from these private clinics, there is at least one Government polyclinic in each HDB new town. Residents in HDB estates thus enjoy convenient access to inexpensive medical care.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB cannot give preferential terms to doctors who wish to buy HDB shop premises for use as clinics. Those who require HDB shop premises can bid when HDB offers new shops for sale by public tender. The cost of premises is not a major component of the operating costs of medical clinics. Thus, selling shops at preferential rates to doctors will not necessarily reduce or limit healthcare costs. More importantly, if HDB were to sell shops to doctors at preferential rates, then it would be hard put not to give similar concessions to others who could also claim that it will help bring down the general cost of living. If all such requests were to be acceded to, the end result would be a gross distortion of the forces of demand and supply in the market for HDB shops, without residents benefiting in any way from lower healthcare or other costs. The present system of selling HDB shops by public tender ensures that sale prices are determined by market forces. Competitive tendering also makes it likely that services most needed by residents, such as medical services, are provided efficiently and at affordable prices. As such services would be viable, those intending to provide them will be able to pay the market rate for such premises. Any concern that the tendering system will result in residents of HDB estates having inadequate access to medical services is misplaced. There are a total of 643 clinics in HDB estates. This gives an average of one clinic to every 1,000 dwelling units. Their distribution reflects the population catchment of Singaporeans in HDB estates. Even Lim Chu Kang, the smallest HDB estate, with 93 dwelling units and a population of about 400, has a clinic.”
“Sir, I think there is a big difference. First, the principle is that the HDB flat is meant as public housing and it must be owner-occupied. If you allow HDB flats to be open for purely investment purposes, I think the demand will be very much greater than today. Today, we must build flats for Singaporeans who want to reside in HDB flats. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD SHOPS (Sale to doctors for use as medical clinics at preferential rate) 4. Dr Toh Keng Kiat asked the Minister for National Development whether he will consider the sale of Housing and Development Board shop premises to doctors for use as medical clinics at a preferential rate, subject to restrictions, as a measure to contain cost of healthcare.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in land-scarce Singapore, public housing has to be strictly for owner-occupation. Those who buy their flats direct from HDB are required to reside in the flats. They are allowed to own private residential properties for investment purposes only after they have completed the 5-year occupation period. Similarly, a private residential property owner who buys a resale HDB flat from the open market must thereafter reside in the HDB flat. We cannot allow private property owners to purchase HDB flats without residing in the flats. This will only encourage speculative demand for public housing, and deprive those who are in real need of public housing from owning HDB flats. It would defeat the very purpose of providing public housing in the first place. So we would like to maintain the principle of owner-occupation in HDB flats.”
“Sir, this is a fairly new principle and the Member is proposing that we accord priority based on income levels. This is something very new. We will of course study it but I do not think it is something that we would like to introduce for the time being. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS (Purchase by owners of private properties) 3. Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for National Development, in view of the fact that Housing and Development Board flat owners are allowed to invest in private properties as long as they reside in their HDB flats, whether the HDB will allow Singaporean owners of private properties to purchase HDB flats without residing in the flats.”
“Before 1987, the People's Action Party rented shops and converted void deck space from HDB for use as offices. In 1987, the PAP terminated all such tenancies. As HDB does not keep historical records of tenancies terminated long ago, the information on offices and void deck space let to the PAP from 1965 to 1987 is not available. HDB does not let out any Community Hall to the PAP. Community Halls are let to Advisors to Citizens' Consultative Committees/Residents' Committees. WRITTEN ANSWER TO QUESTION VACANT PLOTS OF LAND AT THE JUNCTION OF UPPER SERANGOON ROAD AND POTONG PASIR AVENUE 1 1. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for National Development whether there are plans to develop the two vacant plots of land adjacent to Upper Serangoon Road and Potong Pasir Avenue 1.”
“HDB will build 350 4-room flats and 350 5-room flats in Tanjong Pagar GRC. These flats will be developed on two sites, one at the junction of Bukit Merah Road and the Central Expressway, and the other at Lower Delta Road. These 700 units will be included for booking during the 4th Quarter 1992 booking exercise in October 1992. Tenders for the construction have been called recently. The flats are expected to be completed by early 1995. ADDITIONAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE POST FOR CHANGI CONSTITUENCY 22. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether an additional Neighbourhood Police Post will be provided in Changi Constituency which has a large land area and an increasing population. Prof. S. Jayakumar: There are no plans to set up an additional Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) in Changi Constituency. Police's assessment is that there is adequate Police coverage by the Changi NPP which is situated at the void deck of Blk 146, Simei Street 2. In addition, residents of Changi Constituency can also be served by two neighbouring NPPs, Changkat NPP located at Blk 109, Tampines Street 11, and Tanah Merah NPP located at Blk 51, New Upper Changi Road. PEOPLE'S ACTION PARTY OFFICES IN HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD SHOPHOUSES AND VOID DECK SPACE 23. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for National Development how many shop-houses and how much void deck space in Housing and Development Board estates were occupied by the People's Action Party as offices and community halls from 1965 to 1991 up to the time the HDB decided it did not want to provide offices for Members of Parliament.”
“Part of the void deck at Block 143 Potong Pasir Ave 2, #01-214 has been let to the PAP Community Foundation by HDB since 1st July 1987 for use as an Education Centre. Under the terms of the Tenancy Agreement, the Foundation can allow other organisations or individuals to use the premises for any lawful, non-profit making purposes, for up to a maximum of 20% of the total operational hours each year. Within these guidelines, the Foundation can decide which other organisations or individuals can be allowed to sub-let or use the premises, and the type of activities that can be held. I must stress that allowing the Foundation to sub-let its premises is not in any way unusual. HDB's tenancy agreements for shops, offices, and other commercial premises, for example, also allow sub-letting. Unlike Education Centre premises, there are no restrictions on the number of operational hours that offices and commercial premises can be sub-let for. The tenancy terms for Education Centres thus are more stringent. GENERAL HOSPITAL IN SIMEI ESTATE 18. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Health whether there is any revision in the plan for a general hospital to be built in Simei Estate and whether the hospital will be completed in 1995 as scheduled.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, international support of CITES has called for the ban on domestic trade in rhinoceros products and this has gathered momentum. Countries like Hong Kong and Macau have taken steps to implement the ban. This Amendment Bill to ban domestic trade in rhinoceros products will demonstrate Singapore's concern for the protection of endangered wild life species. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Lim Hng Kiang]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. EDUCATION ENDOWMENT SCHEME BILL Order for Second Reading read.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, the Government has decided to amend the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act to ban domestic trade in rhinoceros products and any gazetted species. The Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act was enacted in March 1989 to give effect to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Currently, the Act controls only the import and export of endangered species. This Bill seeks to make it an offence to sell, offer, or expose for sale or display to the public any species gazetted by the Minister. For the time being, only rhinoceros products will be gazetted. As CITES considers the rhinoceros one of the most endangered wild life species, it called for a complete ban on all trade, including domestic trade, in rhinoceros products in July 1987. However, this call from CITES is not binding on its members. Singapore has already banned the import and export of rhinoceros horns since October 1986. At the time of the enactment of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, domestic trade in rhinoceros products was allowed to continue to enable our local retailers to run down their existing stocks. By now, local retailers have had more than five years since October 1986 to run down their existing stocks. Therefore, the ban on domestic trade in rhinoceros products should not have serious impact on our local retailers. I should also add that the ban on rhinoceros products, particularly the rhinoceros horn, would not have any serious impact on the public. For those who believe that rhinoceros horn is useful in reducing fever, there are close substitutes. They can either take antelope horn or simply take a Panadol.”
“That is not true. If you have got any specific questions on the PCF, please address to the appropriate authority. "SPYROS" ACCIDENT (Donations and disbursements) 15. Mr Ling How Doong asked the Minister for Labour what was the total amount of donations received in the "Spyros" case and how were they disbursed. Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, I take it that the Member for Bukit Gombak is referring to the `Spyros' accident which happened in 1978. Sir, the total amount of donations received from the public for victims of the `Spyros' accident was $3,929,366.51. The amount was paid out to 62 injured workers and families of 73 persons who died in the accident.”
“If the Member feels that there are insufficient kindergarten places in his constituency, he can always set up a foundation and establish an education centre. If you meet the criteria, you get concession rates. If you do not meet the criteria, you rent the premises at market rate. That is what the other education centres in Singapore are doing.”
“HDB does not decide on the number of applicants for the facilities. HDB receives the applications and if they establish that the organisations are bona fide and the requirements are genuine and meet the needs of the residents, HDB will approve the applications. HDB does not, as a planning norm, determine how many educational places must be provided in each constituency or each new town.”
“If that is the case, then other organisations can well come in and set up such educational services for those children in Hougang.”
“As I have explained earlier, $5 million is to establish the standing of the foundation.”
“The criteria for any organisation registered under section 29(1) to set up education centres are not aimed at any political party - PAP or the Opposition. Any organisation that satisfies these criteria and has the objective of serving the people through the setting up of education centres and meets the requirement of $5 million would be free to apply to HDB for consideration of setting up education centres at concessionary rates.”
“The minimum paid-up capital is $5 million. If you want us to establish a higher paid-up capital for other centres, we will consider the suggestion. Mr Low Thia Khiang: Sir, does the Minister agree that the HDB's policy of requiring a minimum paid-up capital of $5 million, is designed to deny the Opposition from renting HDB premises at a nominal rate to set up educational services?”
“The minimum paid-up capital is required to establish that the foundation is a bona fide foundation and able to sustain itself over the long term.”
“The PAP Community Foundation has many centres and the $5 million paid-up capital more than satisfies the requirement to support these centres.”
“Organisations which are not registered under section 29(1) of the Companies Act or which do not satisfy the minimum paid-up capital can still provide educational services in HDB estates. They can rent or purchase commercial space at market rates. Planning approval will have to be sought for change of use of such premises. Let me now turn to the specific question of the educational and community service facilities in Hougang Constituency. Hougang Constituency is a fairly mature estate with most of the flats built before 1989. In tandem with the development of the estate, a wide range of social and community-oriented facilities have been provided, not only within the constituency, but also in Hougang New Town as a whole, of which Hougang Constituency is but a part. In the constituency itself, there is a community centre, primary school and junior college. In Hougang New Town as a whole, there are nine primary schools, seven secondary schools, a polyclinic, a sports complex and a home for the aged. In addition, HDB has allocated void deck space in Hougang Constituency for various voluntary welfare and grassroots organisations whose activities are supported by the Ministry of Community Development or other competent authorities. These community-oriented facilities include two childcare centres, one Senior Citizens' Club, two education centres, one community hall, one police post and five Residents' Committee centres. There is, therefore, no lack of educational and community service facilities in Hougang Constituency.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, at the sitting of the House on 18th March 1992, the then Minister for National Development, Mr S. Dhanabalan, explained HDB's policy on the use of void deck space. As far as possible, void decks will be kept open so that residents can have space for social interaction as well as for other practical purposes. HDB will, however, allow a limited portion of the void deck space in each estate to be converted for use by organisations providing educational and social services needed either by the residents in the area or the community at large. As HDB wants to minimize the conversion of void deck space, HDB has set strict criteria for its allocation. Void deck space for the setting up of education centres is allocated only to approved organisations which are registered under section 29(1) of the Companies Act, and which have a paid-up capital of $5 million or more. Broadly speaking, to be registered under section 29(1) of the Companies Act, an organisation must be set up for charitable or related objectives which are in the general or national public interest, have the financial means to carry out its objectives and be non-profit making. The paid-up capital requirement of $5 million is used by HDB as the criterion to judge whether or not an organisation registered under section 29(1) of the Companies Act has the financial means to provide on a continuing basis educational services of the required standards. It is a matter of judgement whether the paid-up capital requirement should be set at $5 million or some other figure. The Government is of the view that the paid-up capital requirement of $5 million is adequate but not excessive.”
“That is not true. We have sufficient manpower and we have the enforcement notices duly administered. We have now moved faster and all the cases are now being tackled, and we do not intend to let anybody off. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Policy on letting out void deck space as education centres) 14. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for National Development if he will explain (i) the rationale of the policy of the Housing and Development Board to let out void deck space for use as education centres only to foundations which have a minimum paid-up capital of $5 million to provide educational services and (ii) on what basis the HDB decided that there is no lack of educational and community service facilities in Hougang Constituency.”
“I think Mr Chiam has not heard the answer. First of all, a motorist has a parking offence notice on his windscreen. If he has not received that, or he claims he has not received that, he has a registered letter informing him of his offence. He has another reminder, if he has not received the registered letter. Finally, he has a registered letter of a Court summons. Upon receipt, he can still settle his composition fine. So the administrative procedures taken give the offender plenty of notice to settle his case. If he ignores all these and wait for the case to be handled in Court, then he must keep his parking coupons to testify that he has not committed the offence. If he ignores this, then he must take the appropriate action himself to keep those parking coupons. But by and large, Singaporeans who are law-abiding would have settled the offences and would have appealed if they think that they have not committed the offence. So such cases will not arise. Those cases which are heard in Court much later are those who flagrantly ignored these reminders. Mr Chiam See Tong: Is it not true that the Minister admits himself that there is not enough manpower to carry out all the procedures that he has mentioned?”
“The answer is that there is no cut-off period legally or administratively. These people who are now being hauled up are the ones who have flagrantly ignored reminders. To let them off now, to give them an amnesty, is to punish those who have paid up their summonses and composition fines. Those who have delayed, hoping to get away with it, will now be dealt with appropriately.”
“For example, one motorist accumulated 418 parking summonses, and five more received more than 200 summonses each, over periods of three to six years. They have tried to take advantage of the heavy workload in the Courts, and flagrantly ignored reminders, composition fines and court summonses. Now that HDB and the Courts are clearing cases more quickly, their offences have finally caught up with them. Such recalcitrant offenders should not be let off lightly.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB car parks are regulated by the Parking Places Act, 1974. The Act does not prescribe any limitation period after which HDB shall not take action against those who commit parking offences. However, section 14 of the Act provides that a vehicle owner shall not be guilty of an alleged offence if he cannot with reasonable diligence ascertain the name and address of the actual offender. If HDB is slow to take action in a case, the alleged offender can claim protection under this section, and argue in court that he cannot with reasonable diligence ascertain the name and address of the actual offender, because of the long lapse of time. In practice, however, HDB gives parking offenders early notice and ample opportunity to settle their cases. Besides the parking offence notice issued on the spot, the HDB sends a notice by registered post within a month of the offence. If there is no response, the offender is given a final notice followed by a court summons. Offenders therefore receive up to four notifications, including two registered letters. A motorist who disputes the parking offence notice has ample opportunity to do so at an early stage. If he responds promptly either by appealing against or accepting HDB's offer of a composition fine, then the question of retaining used parking coupons and parking receipts for any extended period will not arise. If a motorist chooses to contest the offence in court, then it is his responsibility to keep the parking coupons and parking receipts that he thinks will support his case. In reality, let me inform the House that many motorists whose cases take years to settle have repeatedly flouted the law, and ignored the many notices and reminders.”
“At present, a total of 52,280 flats are let out at subsidised rents to lower income Singapore citizen families under the Public Scheme for Rental Flats. Of the 52,280 rental flats, 20,240 are 1-room, 25,910 are 2-room, and the majority of the remaining 6,130 are 3-room flats. As I mentioned in my reply to Dr Vasoo earlier, there are at present 4,900 applicants on the waiting list for rental flats. About 1,400 flats are available for rental to these citizen families. HDB will be increasing the supply of rental flats to help reduce the waiting time for applicants. Some 2,300 additional flats will be released for rental in the coming months. Let me just assure the Member that, in general, an applicant who is not too choosy about the location of his rental flat is able to select a flat within two to six months from the date he submits his application. This is because, in addition to the normal monthly selection exercises, HDB also conducts frequent selection exercises for flats not selected during the normal monthly selection exercises. Applicants who are in urgent need of rental housing can therefore participate in these exercises for unselected flats, and should be able to get their flats earlier. PRIVATE HOSPITALS (Levying charges for sundries and supplies) 9. Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that some private hospitals are levying detailed charges for sundries and supplies without prior warning to their patients and if he intends to regulate such practices.”
“The tenancies of rental applicants do not suggest that people are going into rental flats because they cannot afford to purchase flats. That is not the main reason for the increase in number of applications. In any case, the 20% downpayment for purchase flats is not a new requirement. The 20% downpayment has always been a requirement, even under the old waiting list system. So the reason for the increase in number of applications for rental flats is not that people cannot afford to buy flats. HDB RENTAL FLATS (Numbers and types) 8. Mr Cheo Chai Chen asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he will state the numbers and types of Housing and Development Board flats (i) on rental to Singaporeans and (ii) vacant and presently available for rental to eligible Singaporeans and (b) whether steps have been taken to shorten the waiting time for eligible Singaporeans in urgent need of such flats.”
“I have already said this several times. Obviously, I am not communicating with him. The site, originally designated for the child care centre, has been taken over by the SAMH facility. HDB, therefore, tells him that it will build the child care centre at the adjacent site next to the facility for the SAMH.”
“The answers which I have given are the facts. You have been allocated a site to build a child care centre. That site has been taken over by a more urgent requirement for a facility for the aged. The child care centre will be built adjacent to the facility for the aged. Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, my understanding is that the site at Block 139 is being given to the SAMH, and not for a facility for the aged.”
“HDB has not given the Member an alternative site because the site that has been allocated to him will be built. It will be built side by side with the other facilities that are coming up. But to stage the implementation of the various facilities in Potong Pasir, HDB has told him that the construction of the child care centre will be delayed by one year.”
“If the Member is referring to the child care centre that the Potong Pasir Town Council has put up, child care centres are provided by the private sector and HDB, as the landowner, generally disallows child care centres to be put up in the void decks. The particular case in Block 139 has been given approval by HDB. It has not been revoked. HDB has informed the Potong Pasir Town Council that another urgent requirement has come up and that the child care centre will be put up in a year's time.”
“I not only confirm that but I am prepared to give a long list of the things which the Potong Pasir Town Council has requested for and they have been approved. As I rattled off just now, there were barbecue pits, sheltered pedestrian walkways, signboards, residents' corner, multi-purpose court, swimming pool, widening of footbridge, security grilles. I can go on, but I would not want to embarrass him by stating the status of the implementation. So there is no problem in getting approval from HDB, as the landlord. All the other Town Councils go through the same procedures. They have got the permission very promptly and they executed their improvements.”
“I have answered the question. HDB and the Ministry of National Development are not prepared to give the Town Councils a completely free hand where it interferes with the rights of the landowner. The Town Council has got a completely free hand to raise the SC and CC charges.”
“I think the Member for Potong Pasir did not understand my answer. Basically, the Town Councils are managing the estates on behalf of the owner. The Town Councils do not own the common property. So when you want to do something, obviously you have to seek the consent of the owner. That is the first reason. You are only managing the common property, you are not the landowner of the common property. The second reason is, as I have explained, you have to meet certain planning requirements and HDB will also evaluate the planning requirements and planning standards. HDB also evaluates the structural safety. If the Member has problem with any particular facility that he wants to implement in Potong Pasir and has not got approval from HDB, he can write to the Ministry of National Development and we will consider his request. Members may like to know that most of the requests which he has put up have been approved - barbecue pits, sheltered pedestrian walkways, town signboards, residents' corner, multi-purpose court, and even a swimming pool, which he asked for, have been approved by the HDB, as the landlord. But if these are not implemented on the ground, do not blame the HDB.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there are several reasons why any improvement needs the HDB's consent. First, HDB flats are owned by the lessees. HDB continues to own the common areas. The Town Council only manages the common areas on behalf of the owner, ie, the HDB. So if the Town Council wants to make any improvement to the common areas, the Town Council has to apply to the HDB for the landowner's consent. The second reason why the Town Councils have to apply to HDB is that the Town Councils have to meet certain planning requirements and planning standards. HDB has been delegated certain powers by the Planning Department to oversee the planning provisions in the HDB estates. The third reason is, as the engineering authority delegated by the Building Control Division, HDB must also satisfy that any improvement that the Town Council wants to do will not affect the structural safety of the HDB blocks.”
“Again, this Member comes from the private sector. If we have recovered the construction cost, would it be for free? Anyway, the fact of the matter is that the construction costs for both multi-storey carparks and surface carparks are not recovered. That is why the charges are below the construction cost of providing such carpark lots. This was explained by the Minister for National Development in 1989. BILLS INTRODUCED 1.10 pm INLAND REVENUE AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE BILL "to establish and incorporate the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, to provide for its functions and powers and for matters connected therewith", presented by the Minister for Finance (Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. REDUNDANCY PAYMENTS FUND (DISSOLUTION) BILL "to provide for the dissolution of the Redundancy Payments Fund, the distribution of the moneys therein to its members and for matters connected therewith, and to repeal the Redundancy Payments Fund Act (Chapter 266 of the 1985 Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Labour (Dr Lee Boon Yang); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND (AMENDMENT NO. 2) BILL "to amend the Central Provident Fund Act (Chapter 36 of the 1991 Revised Edition)", presented by Dr Lee Boon Yang; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. WILLS (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read.”
“Sir, if the Member propounds the theory of sunk costs, a lot of things will be free. I think that is not feasible. And coming from the private sector, I am surprised to hear that suggestion from him. Basically, the costing of a multi-storey carpark takes care of both the land cost as well as the construction cost of the carpark. Even though a multi-storey carpark can yield more carpark lots, the construction cost is, in fact, quite high. So the cost of providing a multi-storey carpark lot is, in fact, higher than a surface carpark lot.”
“Sir, if the Member is referring to using of carpark space for funeral wakes, I think we will take a look at the charges. But we are referring to carpark charges for vehicles.”
“Sir, we are currently reviewing the season parking rates for surface and multi-storey carparks. We will be introducing different charges for carpark lots in different areas. Carpark charges will vary according to the cost of land, eg, whether the land is in the central or non-central areas. Carpark charges will also vary according to demand and supply in a particular area. And, finally, carpark charges will also vary depending on the type of carpark, ie, whether it is a surface or a multi-storey carpark. The new charges will be announced within the next three months.”
“Sir, the HDB will be providing an additional 100 surface carpark lots at a site fronting Block 241, Bishan Street 25 in the Bishan North Estate. Construction work will commence early next year and will be completed by the second half of next year. MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS IN SIMEI ESTATE (Reduction of season parking charges) 14. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for National Development whether he will reduce the season parking charges for all the multi-storey car parks which are grossly under-utilised in Simei Estate.”
“The construction of the neighbourhood park has already started, and it will be finished by 1994. So there is no need to make interim provision. CAR PARKS AT BISHAN NORTH ESTATE 13. Encik Ibrahim bin Othman asked the Minister for National Development whether the Housing and Development Board has any plans to construct more car parks at Bishan North Estate and, if so, when will they be completed.”
“Sir, the land bounded by Bishan Street 22, Street 24 and Catholic High School is earmarked for long-term public housing development. The 3.6 hectare site is expected to yield about 500 flats. To meet the recreational needs of the residents in the Bishan area, HDB is currently building a neighbourhood park in front of Block 287. The park will be completed by 1994. This is in addition to the existing Bishan Park which serves the whole of Bishan New Town. Encik Ibrahim bin Othman (Thomson GRC): Sir, what is the time-frame for the implementation of the development plans? In the meanwhile, would the Minister consider beautifying the location as mentioned?”
“Technically, you can upgrade the antenna to receive any station that you want. But there is the stated policy of the Government that it would not upgrade the CATV in the HDB estates to receive TV3. 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. DRUG TRAFFICKING (CONFISCATION OF BENEFITS) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 2.10 pm”
“The Government policy on TV3 has been explained in previous discussions in the House. As I read in the Hansard, it is quite clear the Government, through HDB, does not intend to provide TV3 reception in HDB estates. Mr Chiam See Tong: My point is that if you have got an antenna that can receive Teleview, you can also receive TV3. Is that correct?”
“The subscription fees, I think, will be covered by the Minister for Information and the Arts. I do not think he will allow the Town Councils to install a modem on the CATV that will facilitate the TV reception for the entire block without paying for all the units in that block. If a Town Council wants to install a modem on the CATV for the entire block, it will be charged for 100 units. So if the Town Councils want to pay for all and not pay according to individual user, I am sure he is quite happy to subscribe en bloc for the residents. Sir, I think all these are not intended in the change of the CATV. The taking over of CATV by HDB is very simple, very straightforward. We want to take it over so that we can upgrade the CATV reception for subscription TV in the quickest way possible. And even then, that will take us three years before the whole upgrading exercise can be finished.”
“Let me assure him that the objectives of the Town Councils Act have not changed. We are coming to the House today to make procedural changes that are required based on experience. In particular, he mentioned clause 2 which is intended to reduce the number of days during the transition. In the present Act, it is 180 days. We think that 90 days is sufficient for the transition. Previously, we provided for 180 days because it was a transition from HDB to Town Councils when the Town Councils were first formed. Now the Town Councils have been in operation for three years. They are going concerns and we think that we need only 90 days for a transfer after a general election or a change of boundaries after a general election. He mentioned that Bukit Gombak did the transfer in 30 days. I think that goes to prove the point that, in fact, we are able to do it within 30 days. The Act gives 90 days. This is to give the Minister the flexibility of up to 90 days. We, in fact, feel that it can be much shorter. He made another comment on the CATV. I think Mr Chiam has a very fertile mind and I thank him for the suggestion that the TV reception can be very poor if the CATV is poorly maintained. But let me assure him that that is not our intention. The reason why HDB took over the CATV is that HDB has the technical and the supervisory expertise to upgrade the CATV for the new facilities that will now be available to Singaporeans, in particular, subscription TV. I think Mr Chiam said that money is involved. Indeed money is involved. To upgrade all the antennae systems so that residents will be able to receive Teleview and subscription TV will cost the Government more than $60 million. He claimed that if you attach a modem on the antenna, you can pay for the entire block.”