Teh Cheang Wan
Singapore
“The Board does not propose to reinstitute the procedure for the resale of flats at the respective Area Offices in Ang Mo Kio New Town. As a pilot project, the Board has centralised the resale of Ang Mo Kio flats at Sales Section, Maxwell Road.”
“At the contract price or whatever it is, and this is due to the mistake made by the HDB, the HDB has been quite generous. If the mistake made by the HDB staff has been to sell the flat at lower than the posted price, then the owner has the benefit of this mistake.”
“The Member for Potong Pasir is asking a question which I have to check for an answer. I do not carry with me the millions of accounts of HDB flat-owners with me. So I cannot give him an immediate answer. But I can assure the Member for Potong Pasir that those people will be refunded.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the announcement by HDB on 4th July 1986, 49 HUDC lessees appealed to the Board to buy their flats. All were unsuccessful. As at 20th September 1986, 27 HUDC flat owners had sold their flats in the open market. Twelve of them sold their flats above their original purchase prices.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the implementation of the policy, HDB has resold 13 HUDC flats from among those flats HDB bought back from the HUDC owners. In addition, HDB has sold 44 new HUDC flats. The slow sale of HUDC flats is due mainly to the depressed property market.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have no figures readily available as to how many of these 49 HUDC flat-owners who requested the Board to buy back the flats have committed themselves to buying other property.”
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“The population of Hong Kong is 5.5 million. Hong Kong has a territorial area twice the size of Singapore.”
“Every charge by Government is reasonable. Not just one, but every charge, and they are justifiable. We come to the prices of public housing. I would like the Member of the Opposition to think why Singaporeans are not as enterprising as people of Hong Kong, not as hardworking as the Koreans? We have seen how the Koreans work in Singapore. We have heard of how enterprising the Hong Kong businessmen are, and that Singapore is not as developed as Japan. This is a statement of fact. And yet Singaporeans live in very much better housing than people in Hong Kong, in the city of Korea, than people in the city of Japan. Why?”
“1-9. It cannot be 9-0. If it is 90%, then the whole of Singapore city will be empty! Just imagine, the Member for Potong Pasir has suggested that at present 90% of office space in Singapore is empty!”
“Architects and engineers could be engaged to prepare the plans, contractors could be employed to build the houses and property agents could be engaged to sell the units. The high property prices attracted an enormous number of new developers into this field. This was the main cause for today's oversupply situation. The high residential rentals increased the cost of living for the expatriates. During the property boom period, many businesses were forced to reduce their office space and a considerable number of expatriates found it too expensive to continue to be stationed in Singapore. Today there is a glut of properties. Prices and rentals have come down. This has made it cheaper to do business in Singapore and should provide an impetus to our economic recovery. Singapore's property market problems are not unique. Other countries have also experienced similar property cycles. It is not possible to predict the supply and demand of properties with accuracy and certainty. Fortune Magazine in February 1986 published an article about the glut of office space in 33 United States cities, headed by Houston with a vacancy rate of 31% of the total office space. Singapore, according to the last survey, has 19% of office vacancy.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to start off with the Urban Redevelopment Authority. During the debate on the Presidential Address and on the Budget, a lot of Members have been talking about the property market in Singapore. In today's climate of economic recession and low property prices, numerous complaints have been voiced about the property market, especially by the developers. Let us see what actually happened to the property market. After the slump in property prices from 1974 to 1978, property prices turned around in 1979 and escalated very rapidly to reach their peak in 1981. Rentals and property prices increased by four to five times in this very short period. During the property boom, we heard a lot of complaints about high rentals and high property prices. Property prices were even out of the reach of the upper middle income group. People were queuing up every day to book properties. We saw pictures published in the newspapers showing people queuing overnight in order to be able to place their bookings the next morning. Requests were then made inside and outside this House for the Government to curb the property price increase and also to curb speculation. Requests were also made that the Govern- ment should supply more land to stabilize the property market. In response to these requests, URA launched three land sales in 1981 and 1982 to provide more land for development. The effect of high property prices attracted a large number of people into the property market to become developers. They considered that property development was the easiest way to make huge profits. As long as they could get a piece of land, they need not require any expertise to become a developer.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think it is so because most of the HDB car parks are for season parking by the residents; that is $25 a month, which is much lower than anywhere else. HDB, in fact, does not follow the market forces, as far as the determination of the season parking charges for the residents are concerned. An overwhelming majority of the HDB residents are parking their cars in HDB estates, and they are paying $25 a month for 24 hours of parking a day. I do not think any private paid car park is charging a similar figure. In that respect, HDB is taking the lead in levying low charges. COMPLAINT BY THE MEMBER FOR ANSON 11.30 am”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not have the figures. But on the whole I think there would be more public car parks if you take it island-wide, because HDB itself owns a very large number of car parks in the housing estates. HDB is housing 84% of the total population in Singapore. Naturally, HDB has more car parks than the private sector.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the city area I think there are more private car parks than public car parks. Of course, in the housing estates, there are more HDB car parks than private car parks.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the penalty for over-parking has been instituted for orderly parking in the HDB estates. It is also to prevent people from not putting parking coupons for the time they park at the car park.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the URA has been monitoring private car parking charges since lifting the control of these charges on 1st May 1985. The monitoring shows that the private car parking charges are either the same or slightly higher than the rates at public car parks. There is therefore no reason for the parking charges at the URA and HDB car parks to be reduced.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think HDB has introduced various schemes to encourage the tenants to be home owners. I hope the tenants in the rental flats will take advantage of the concessions granted by HDB and move out and become home owners. PUBLIC CAR PARKS (Reduction of charges) 12. Mr Chew Heng Ching asked the Minister for National Development whether, in line with the drop in charges at most private car parks in the last few months, charges at the Urban Redevelopment Authority and Housing and Development Board car parks will be reduced.”
“I have answered the second part of the question. I said that once the 1-room flats in Delta Constituency are vacated by tenants, the HDB will either convert them into bigger flats or demolish the blocks to make way for new blocks comprising bigger flats. On the supplementary question by the Member, I think the rule is roughly like this. When more than 50% of the tenants in a block have vacated their flats, then HDB will take action to resettle the remaining tenants. Mr Yeo Choo Kok( In Mandarin): I would like to ask the Minister whether the HDB will take any steps to encourage or persuade SIT tenants to move out earlier or to compel them to move out.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB has a long-term plan to redevelop the old housing estates comprising all the Singapore Improvement Trust flats in Delta Constituency into a new housing estate. The timing of this redevelopment programme will depend on when the SIT flats are vacated by existing tenants. Once the 1-room flats in Delta Constituency are vacated by tenants, the HDB will either convert them into bigger flats or demolish the blocks to make way for new blocks comprising bigger flats. Mr Yeo Choo Kok (Delta)( In Mandarin): Sir, under what conditions will the present occupants be moved out for the HDB to demolish such flats. The Minister has not replied to the second part of my question, ie, whether the HDB has any plan to convert the present 1-room flats into bigger flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said earlier, since 1st May 1985, URA has been allowing the private sector to determine the market rate for parking charges. That means, it is based on market forces. So if the private sector, or the market forces move towards half-hourly parking, the URA and HDB will most probably follow.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB will not introduce a 30-cent half-hourly parking coupon. This is similar to the practice of private car parks outside the Restricted Zone which are charging short-term parking based on a minimum period of one hour. Since 1st May 1985, the URA has been allowing the private sector to determine the market rate for parking charges.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think HDB is forcing anybody. The point is that young people have a long working life before them, and the HDB is encouraging them to become home owners. And if these people insist on becoming tenants, they can wait and apply when they reach the age of 29 years.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think the HDB has flouted the Constitution. The Member for Anson has a habit of not listening to the answer. I said in the first sentence, "It is the objective of the Government to achieve a 100% home ownership society by 1999." If we allow the young people to rent flats, then we defeat our objective. That is the reason why the Government has introduced various measures to help the people to own a home. Therefore, the young people, as I have said earlier, who have another 20, 30 or even more years of working life, should be encouraged to own a home, and not to entrench themselves in rental flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is the objective of the Government to achieve a 100% home ownership society by 1999. Various incentives have therefore been introduced to assist the lower-income families to buy their flats. These include a lower downpayment of 5%, a larger mortgage loan of up to 95% of the selling price, a longer repayment period of 25 years and the use of easier repayment schemes. The 5% downpayment is only $1,700 for a 3-room flat and $2,100 for a 4-room simplified flat in the New Town Zone. An applicant who earns only $500 a month would have accumulated enough CPF to pay the downpayment for a 3-room flat within a year, or 15 months for a 4-room simplified flat. The period will be even shorter if his wife is also working and contributing to CPF. There is therefore no difficulty for anyone to buy an HDB flat. With the completion of more HDB flats, an applicant if he is not choosy can get his flat very quickly. The age requirement of 29 years is imposed to discourage young people from entrenching themselves in rental flats. With a working life of another 20 to 30 years and assistance from the Government, these young people can easily save enough money to become home owners.”
“Sir, I hope by the end of this year. HDB RENTAL FLATS (Imposition of age requirement) 3. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development if he will explain the rationale for the ruling to exclude persons under the age of 29 from applying for rented accommodation in Housing and Development Board apartments.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to a similar question tabled by the Member for Bukit Timah in October 1985, I have explained to the House that the Government does not keep records of the type and number of rent-controlled premises. Since then, my Ministry, in conjunction with the Ministry of Law and the Inland Revenue Department, has been collecting data on rent-controlled premises from available records. From preliminary estimates, there could be about 12,000 premises under the Control of Rent Act. These comprise not only residential premises but also shophouses and non-residential premises. The review of the Control of Rent Act will be conducted once the data collection is completed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB has a programme to replace all old block number plates in HDB estates with new luminous number plates. This will improve the visibility of the block numbers. The replacement programme is being implemented in conjunction with the repairs and redecoration exercises for HDB flats starting from January 1986. CONTROL OF RENT ACT (Repeal) 2. Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for National Development what is the approximate number of rent-controlled premises under the Control of Rent Act; and whether his Ministry will consider introducing legislation to repeal the Act as more than 85% of our population are living in public housing estates and housing is no more a problem.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Main and Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1986 to 31st March, 1987 and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I will not change the rules. I think the present rules are still satisfactory. SECURITY MEASURES AT CHANGI AIRPORT 9. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether he will inform the House of the security measures that are enforced at the Changi Airport and whether these are adequate; whether other measures are being contemplated and whether passengers will be inconvenienced.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the down payment for a small flat for the lower income group has been reduced to a very attractive term. It is only 5%. Mr Chng Hee Kok: Sorry, the Minister has misunderstood my question. Generally, the down payment is 20% for everybody, even for the less popular estates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, because HDB has built a very large number of flats, in fact, slightly ahead of the demand, the purchaser has become very choosy. He continuously rejects the flat. Some of them, even though they have accepted the flat initially, declined later. This has resulted in the flat being vacant for a long time.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of HDB flats available for sale as at 28th February 1986, was 18,465. A total of 40,000 flats is scheduled for completion in 1986. As at 28th February 1986, the number of applications for purchase of HDB flats was 52,219. The HDB's building programme is always reviewed every six months to take into account changes in demand. The programme will be adjusted if there is a possibility of an oversupply of HDB flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not consider that is necessary. If any resident of an HDB estate finds that he is adversely affected, he can apply to the HDB to move to a new flat. HDB FLATS (Situation) 8. Dr Wong Kwei Cheong asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many Housing and Development Board flats are currently available for sale; (b) how many flats will be completed by the end of 1986; (c) what is the number of applications for flats as at the latest convenient date; and (d) whether the HDB has plans to review its building programmes if there is a possibility of an oversupply of HDB flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ayer Rajah Expressway will be fully completed by 1988. The Keppel Viaduct, which is the starting point of the Expressway, was opened to traffic in September last year. The next section between the Viaduct and the Alexandra Road will be open to traffic next month. The final section is formed by Ayer Rajah Road and Upper Ayear Rajah Road. Construction work will commence sometime this year. When fully completed, there will be a total of 12 pedestrian overhead bridges and one underpass along the Expressway. Two of these pedestrian overhead bridges will be constructed at the junction of North Buona Vista Road and Lower Kent Ridge Road.”
“Sir, the proposed HDB's programme between 1986 and 1990 is 160,000. This is the proposed programme. The HDB's policy has always been to build in order to meet demand. The demand, judging from the waiting list, has always been reviewed every six months. If the demand is greater, such as between 1981 and 1985, the HDB in fact had to build more than the programme. If the demand comes down, then HDB will reduce the programme accordingly. AYER RAJAH EXPRESSWAY AND OVERHEAD BRIDGES 7. Encik Abbas Abu Amin asked the Minister for National Development when the Ayer Rajah Expressway will be completed and what steps are being taken to build overhead bridges, especially at the junction of North Buona Vista Road and Lower Kent Ridge Road, near the National University of Singapore.”
“Sir, the answer is no. If the price is beyond their means, they will not apply.”
“Sir, just now I said that there were 7,800 applications in the last two months. The projection is based on this trend. If this present rate of slightly under 4,000 a month continues, then we will reach the figure of 45,000. But we may or may not reach this figure.”
“Sir, I think the number is very small. Offhand, I do not have the exact number with me. If the Member for Anson submits a written question, the answer will be given to him.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is yes, there is a good response. I think there are more than 2,000 tenants who have applied under this special scheme to own their flats.”
“Any home buyer who wishes to own a home should make some effort.”
“Sir, the 5% downpayment is a very small sum.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since Questions 5 and 6 by the Member for Telok Blangah are related, I will answer them together. The HDB has already implemented various measures to help existing tenants and prospective home buyers to purchase flats. Tenants buying 3-room and 4-room simplified flats need only pay a 5% downpayment. They can also take up mortgage loans of up to 95% of the selling price and repay the loans over 25 years. Under the Ballooning Repayment Scheme, home buyers need only pay 75% of what the normal monthly repayments would have been in the early years of the loan. As the 15% reduction in employer's contribution translates into a 25% total reduction in CPF available for housing payments, the ballooning scheme will enable new buyers to pay for their flats as if the CPF deduction had not taken place. Thus, the 15% reduction in the employer's contribution to the CPF is likely to have little impact on the demand for public housing. Sir, we are unable to tell to what extent the demand for public housing will be affected by retrenchment. However, there has been no significant drop in the number of new applications for purchase of HDB flats so far. In the first two months of this year, a total of 7,800 new applicants have registered with the HDB. If this trend con- tinues, the number of new applications for 1986 will be around 45,000. Our public housing building programme is geared to meet demand. As of today, there are still more than 52,000 applicants waiting to buy HDB flats. The HDB's building programme is already committed in the next two years to meet this demand. There will therefore be no depressing effects on the construction industry in the next two years. Government's objective of achieving 100% home ownership by 1999 is unlikely to be affected.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the land at Alexandra Terrace and Alexandra Lane was acquired for development by the Port of Singapore Authority. The former Perak House next to the Pasir Panjang Community Centre has been relocated to the former Radin Mas School. The vacated building has since been demolished and the land is in State ownership. There are no plans for development at present. STUDY OF TAMIL AS SECOND LANGUAGE IN SCHOOLS 4. Mr S. Chandra Das asked the Minister for Education (a) how many students are offering TL2 in our schools; (b) how many students take TL2 lessons as part of their curriculum in the schools; (c) how many students go to Tamil Language Centres for the TL2 lessons; and (d) what plans the Ministry has to make teaching of TL2 part of the school curriculum.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry will not consider a downward revision of parking fees. I think the $25 a month parking charge is very low in the present situation. VACANT LAND AT ALEXANDRA TERRACE AND FORMER PERAK HOUSE (Development plans) The following Question stood in the name of Encik Abbas Abu Amin - 3. To ask the Minister for National Development what are the plans for developing the vacant land at (i) Alexandra Terrace and Alexandra Lane, and (ii) the former Perak House, next to the Pasir Panjang Community Centre.”
“Sir, sometimes it is due to both. In certain popular car parks, more cars are parked, causing indiscriminate parking and a little bit of confusion.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the pilot scheme to have free parking on Sundays and public holidays is being tried out at the car parks in Ayer Rajah Constituency for a period of six months. Since its introduction on 1st December 1985, indiscriminate parking of vehicles was observed at some of the car parks in the Constituency. However, as the pilot project has only been in operation for the last three months, it is too early to draw any conclusion on the feasibility of the scheme. The HDB will continue to monitor the situation closely before deciding at the end of the six months' trial period on whether to extend the free parking scheme to other housing estates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the third stage rental increase for shophouses affected by the 1983 rental revision exercise has been deferred for one year till September 1986. It is still too early to consider further deferment of the rental increase. However, the request by the Member will be favourably considered when the matter comes under review in the middle of this year. FREE WEEKEND PARKING IN AYER RAJAH (Extension to other housing estates) 2. Encik Ibrahim Othman asked the Minister for National Development (a) how successful is the pilot free parking scheme introduced in the Ayer Rajah Constituency; and (b) whether such a scheme will be extended to other housing estates, when popularly requested.”
“Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether he will enlighten the House on the number of cases of resettlement, particularly of those shopkeepers who have, due to the recession and lack of capital, opted for cash compensation; and (b) whether the same compensation will be given in respect of shophouses which were built before World War II and are of a temporary nature, as for those defined as permanent structures; and, if not, what other assistance is being contemplated.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have said just now that the awards tendered by HDB have remained more or less constant. PUNGGOL NEW TOWN (Building of) 8. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development whether and when a New Town will be built in the Punggol Constituency. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Mr Lee Yiok Seng)(for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. (In Mandarin): This is a question relating to the development in Punggol. The HDB plans to build a New Town in Punggol. However, the development of this New Town is not expected to take place until after 1995. Mr Ng Kah Ting( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether he can tell the House the size of the land earmarked for the development of the future New Town in Punggol. Also what is the number of flats to be built, and how many residents can be accommodated in this New Town? Mr Lee Yiok Seng( In Mandarin): About 45,000 flats will be built in this new town, and about 180,000 residents can be expected to be accommodated there. Mr Yeo Choo Kok (Delta)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, a supplementary question. I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether this New Town will be a new Punggol Constituency or a new Kankar Constituency? Mr Lee Yiok Seng( In Mandarin): In such matters, the HDB usually will respect the views of the grassroots leaders and the MPs concerned. When the time comes for the naming of a new town or constituency, Members of Parliament concerned can get in touch with the relevant authorities for consultation to help arrive at a proper name to be given to it. RESETTLEMENT OF SHOPKEEPERS (Compensation and assistance) 9.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, while prices of building materials have generally fallen in the last two years, tenders awarded by the HDB to its building contractors have remained relatively constant. This is due mainly to the introduction of improved building features and better finishes to HDB flats, such as the use of better quality aluminium sliding windows, replacement of mild steel casement windows in kitchens with aluminium windows, extension of glazed wall tiles to ceiling height, etc. In addition, resettlement cost has increased by 30% since March 1985. This adds to the development cost of HDB flats. At present selling prices, HDB flats are already subsidized by Government. Any reduction in the selling prices without a corresponding fall in the building cost will mean a further increase in the level of Government subsidy on public housing. This is not possible at this time when Government is lowering taxes and reducing its revenue collection.”
“Sir, about three to five years. HAWKER LICENCES (Particulars) 4. Encik Abbas Abu Amin asked the Minister for the Environment (a) how many licensed hawkers there were on 31st December 1985; (b) how many hawker licences will be issued in 1986; (c) what are the criteria for approving applications for such licences; and (d) what types of stalls are available to new licencees. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng) (for the Minister for the Environment): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. The number of licensed hawkers as at 31st December 1985 was 25,511, consisting of 13,236 market produce hawkers, 9,249 cooked food hawkers and 3,026 piece and sundry goods hawkers. New hawker licences are issued only to resettlement cases and those who qualify under the hardship scheme. As the HDB and the MOE will not be building any more hawker centres, the number of new hawker licences to be issued in 1986 will depend on the number of vacancies that become available when existing stallholders give up their stalls. The criteria for approving applications for cooked food stalls are based on the applicant's financial position, age and the number of dependants the applicant has to support. As at the end of February 1986, there were vacancies for 1,535 market produce stalls, 357 cooked food stalls and 144 piece and sundry goods stalls. 120 food stalls are set aside for resettlement cases each year. The remaining vacancies are available to those who satisfy the means test for hardship.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the announcement of the Government's policy in March 1984 in this House to phase out pig farming, 65 small pig farms have been resettled from Punggol. The land left vacant by the resettled pig farms in Punggol is about 22 hectares. Punggol has been earmarked for HDB housing development. The vacated land in Punggol will therefore be tendered out for short-term non-pollutive agricultural activities, such as vegetable cultivation. The necessary infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water supply are already provided. Hence, any development expenditure will be minimal.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I did not relate the rentals to the private sector. I said "new HDB tenants", not the private sector. RESETTLEMENT OF PIG FARMERS IN PUNGGOL (Plans for use of land) 3. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many small-time pig farmers in Punggol have been resettled up to the latest convenient date; (b) what is the acreage of land left vacant; and (c) whether there are any proposals to have such land utilized for agricultural purposes; and, if so, what will be the activities and conditions and whether any expenditure will be incurred.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since Questions 1 and 2 from the Members for Chong Boon and Yuhua are similar, I will answer both questions together. The answers are: (a) The HDB will extend by another 21 months, up to 31st December 1987, the 15% rental rebate for HDB industrial and commercial premises. (b) The present rental rebate of 15% plus the 50% property rebate that has just been announced represent a very substantial reduction in rentals for tenants of HDB industrial and commercial premises. With the rebates, the rentals of these premises are generally lower than the current market rentals payable by new tenants of HDB premises. There is therefore no plan at present for the rental rebate to be increased further.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a total of 1,104 units of HUDC flats have been completed in Hougang New Town. Of these, 762 units are within the Punggol Constituency. As at 21st February, 1986, 561 units of the HUDC flats in Hougang New Town have been taken up. The HDB will continue to offer units which have not been taken up to new applicants as well as existing applicants on the waiting list. As the HDB will not be building any more HUDC flats until the present stocks are exhausted, it will only be a matter of time before all the vacant units are taken up. GRADUATES REGISTERED WITH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT 10. Dr Toh Chin Chye asked the Acting Minister for Labour what is the number of persons registered for employment with the Ministry of Labour as of January 31st, 1986 and, of these, how many are graduates of (i) junior colleges, (ii) polytechnics, and (iii) universities and other institutions of higher learning. The Acting Minister for Labour (Mr Lee Yock Suan): Mr Speaker, Sir, on 31st January, 1986, 9,919 persons were registered with the Employment Services Department of my Ministry. Among these, 158 were junior college graduates or pre-university school leavers, 170 were from the polytechnics and 141 from the universities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member for Anson did not hear me carefully. I said that the responsibility for maintenance and management of the estates is similar to the management committees. But there are other areas which are not similar to that of the management committees. HUDC FLATS IN PUNGGOL CONSTITUENCY 9. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many units of HUDC flats have been completed in Hougang New Town, particularly in the Punggol Constituency; (b) how many units have been taken up; and (c) what the Housing and Development Board proposes to do with those units that are not taken up.”