HIDDEN_HEAD L – MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY: Head L (cont.) –

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim): Sir, Singapore's good ambient air quality is one of our competitive advantages in attracting visitors, investments and talents. In 2007, our air quality continued to be good, with the Pollutant Standards Index or PSI in the 'good' range for 95% of the days and in the 'moderate' range for 5% of the days. Our overall ambient air quality as well as the air quality that we have sampled at our roadside monitoring stations is within the USEPA standards but with the exception of very fine particulate matter or PM2.5. In 2007, the ambient level of PM2.5 was 19μg/m3, above the USEPA standard of 15ug/m3. However, with measures such as the adoption of Euro IV standards for new diesel vehicles in October 2006, our target is to meet the USEPA standards by 2014.

Sir, domestically, the main sources of air pollution are our industry and transport. Both Ms Lee Bee Wah and Mdm Ho have noted the potential pollution impact on industries. In Singapore, we adopt a forward-looking approach to minimise this from the onset. All new industrial proposals are referred to the NEA to ensure that sufficient pollution control measures are in place from the start. This screening covers not just air pollution considerations, but also other areas like potential water pollution and noise nuisance. In addition, for major industrial developments, including oil storage terminals, developers are required to carry out pollution control studies to identify potential sources of pollution and implement mitigating measures before the project can proceed. NEA also conducts inspections to ensure that environmental regulations, such as emission limits for particulates and nitrogen oxides, are complied with. A similar approach is adopted for the transport sector, with stringent standards set for vehicular emissions as well as for the fuel used.

We also provide incentives, Sir, to encourage the take-up of cleaner technologies, for instance, green vehicles. Both Dr Lim and Mr Edwin Khiew asked about the Government's strategy to encourage green vehicles in Singapore. Sir, besides cost, the take-up rate of green vehicles is affected by factors such as consumer preference and the provision of maintenance support by the car dealers. The demand for green vehicles is therefore best left to the consumers to decide. Notwithstanding this, the Government will introduce the necessary incentives to facilitate consumers and fleet operators to opt for environmentally-friendly vehicles.

So, in 2001, we introduced the Green Vehicle Rebate or GVR scheme to narrow the cost differential between a green vehicle and the conventional equivalent model. The GVR is applicable to hybrid, CNG and electric vehicles, and is available until end 2009. I am heartened by the positive response to the GVR, as the number of green vehicles has increased from about 200 to more than 1,500 in the last two years. Sir, when carrying out the next review of the GVR scheme, my Ministry and the Ministry of Transport, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, will take into account up-coming developments such as the adoption of the Euro V standards in Europe.

Mr Khew has a particular question on the tax levy: why is it necessary on private diesel vehicles when Euro V diesel vehicles are less pollutive? At the moment, Euro V is still not available in Singapore. It will only be available in Europe in 2012 and, as I mentioned earlier, we will continue to evaluate and review the policy position in respect to cleaner vehicles.

Sir, Dr Lim also suggested a separate COE category for green vehicles. I think he knows the answer. My Ministry studied this previously with the Ministry of Transport and concluded it would not be appropriate as demand for green vehicles is best left to the market to decide. It would also be difficult to set a quota for green vehicles. In fact, as with all vehicle categories, their growth would be capped as a result. On the other hand, if green vehicles do not have a separate COE category, their take-up can increase freely in response to demand, which is happening currently.

Sir, Mr Khew also noted the current limited availability of refuelling facilities for CNG vehicles.

As part of my Ministry's support for private sector efforts to develop CNG refuelling stations, the NEA has helped companies to co-fund the start-up costs through the Innovation for Environmental Sustainability Fund. Besides SembGas' CNG refuelling station on Jurong Island, NEA will co-fund SMART Automobile Private Ltd's project to set up CNG stations at Mandai and Serangoon North. The Mandai CNG Station is now open. Mr Seng Han Thong and I were present there. And SMART targets to set up the Serangoon North station by the end of this year.

NEA also encourages the private sector to explore dispensing CNG at fuel service stations. SembGas and SPC have since collaborated to retail CNG at SPC's Jalan Buroh service station from February 2008.

Sir, I am hopeful that with these recent developments, more drivers will opt for green vehicles and this, in turn, will improve our air quality.

However, Sir, notwithstanding our efforts to mitigate air pollution within Singapore, our air quality is also affected by external factors that are not directly within our control. I think it is important for me to make a response on this issue.

Singapore and the surrounding region generally experience two dry seasons every year, a short one during the February-March period, which we are in now, and a traditionally longer one during the September-October period. So, during the weekend of 22nd to 24th February this year, the PSI in Singapore went slightly into the "moderate" range due to weakened north-easterly winds, poor dispersion and the increased number of hotspot activities in Sumatra, mainly in Riau.

NEA forecasts that the current dry weather may last till March before the inter-monsoon season with increased rainfall from April. The rainfall should help to put out forest fires. Notwithstanding, we must be prepared that Singapore may experience slightly hazy days during this period, especially in situations where prevailing winds become weaker.

Sir, Singapore has been working with Jambi province in Indonesia to help enhance its capacity to prevent land and forest fires there. NEA officers who were in Jambi last week observed only about four to five hotspots. So, I am heartened by Jambi's commitment in mobilising resources quickly to prevent hotspots from starting or escalating over there. We will continue to work with Jambi to implement the mutually-agreed Action Programmes outlined under the Jambi Master Plan.

Apart from our bilateral efforts, Singapore remains committed to working closely with ASEAN countries under the framework of the regional Transboundary Haze Agreement. Sir, the Bali meeting last year highlighted to the international community the need to protect carbon sinks in the region and thereby to reduce the significant emissions through deforestation. Singapore strongly supports these international initiatives, and Indonesia's leadership in implementing its National Plan of Action to address the haze and its efforts to reduce forest degradation and deforestation.

Sir, I would like to assure Members that my Ministry and NEA will continue to review our pollution control measures to ensure that Singaporeans will continue to enjoy clean air.

Let me now move on to the issue of the smoking ban. Sir, we extended the smoking prohibition to entertainment outlets in July last year. Since then, there has been a significant improvement in the indoor air quality in pubs and bars, with an 80% reduction in the amount of air-borne particulate matter. These particulate matters have been associated with a higher risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular problems. We have also received positive feedback from the operators and patrons.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa has asked if we have plans to extend the smoking prohibition to more public areas such as those frequented by children. Sir, I am pleased to inform the House that we will be extending the smoking ban to more areas next year so as to offer greater protection to non-smokers.

From 1st January 2009, smoking will be prohibited in all children's playgrounds, exercise areas, markets, underground and multi-storey car parks, ferry terminals and jetties. In addition, smoking is now prohibited in most air-conditioned premises, including offices, factories, shops, shopping complexes and lift lobbies. My Ministry will also extend the prohibition from 1st January 2009 to cover such premises which are non-air-conditioned. In the meantime, we are consulting the hotel industry on the possible extension of the smoking prohibition to hotel lobbies. We will also be working with the building owners to prohibit smoking at the entrances and exits of buildings and facilities, as well as the covered walkways abutting buildings.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa has also asked about enforcement action. NEA has since 2009 stepped up its enforcement against the violation of the smoking prohibition. Apart from NEA officers, we have also employed auxiliary police to supplement the enforcement manpower. We will continue to sustain the same level of enforcement when the smoking prohibition is extended to other places from January next year. Should the need arise, we are prepared to step up the enforcement further.

Finally, the smoking prohibition forms part of the Government's efforts to discourage smoking among our young. Over the years, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has also been raising the awareness among young people of the ill effects of smoking. Recalcitrant under-aged smokers are given mandatory counselling, and smoking cessation services are available in all polyclinics and several hospitals. These efforts, Sir, have reduced the proportion of youths aged 13-16 years old who have tried smoking, from 26% in 2000 to 19% in 2006.

Sir, my colleague, Dr Amy Khor, will now respond to the cuts on waste management and recycling.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan): Sir, as Mr Edwin Khew has rightly pointed out, Singapore is a small island state and does not have the land to continue building more incineration plants and landfills indefinitely for waste disposal. Last year, a total of 2.57 million tons of waste was disposed of, a decrease of about 8% from 2000. This is encouraging given that Singapore's population and economy have grown during this period. The decrease in waste volume is due largely to strategies we have put in place to ensure a sustainable waste management system. As raised by Mr Khew, this is even more pertinent as the population and the economy continue to grow with immigration and projects, like IR, and extend the lifespan of the landfill.

First, we aim to minimise waste generation at source. Last year, we started a voluntary packaging agreement with the food and beverage industry. This agreement is an industry-led initiative with the objective of reducing the amount of packaging generated by the industry. This agreement has led to encouraging results. For instance, Chinatown Food Corporation has reduced the thickness of plastic packaging for its roti prata and rice ball products, saving about 8.4 tonne of packaging material a year. And the roti prata and rice ball, may I add, still taste the same as before. Similarly, Nestle Singapore has reduced the thickness of its Milo tins and will save about 9.5 tonne of material per year.

Our second strategy is to promote recycling. Sir, on this note, I am pleased to inform Dr Lim Wee Kiak and the House that our overall recycling rate has actually increased to 54% in 2007, up from 40% in 2000. However we need to recycle even more in order to achieve our recycling target of 60% by 2012. For instance, there is still a lot of paper waste, plastic waste and food waste which can be recycled but is still being sent to the incineration plants.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked if the Ministry will provide more recycling bins to facilitate recycling. Under our National Recycling Programme, there is fortnightly door-to-door collection of recyclables for residents of both HDB and landed estates. Since August last year, one set of centralised recycling bins has been set up for every five blocks of HDB flats to provide additional recycling facilities for residents. The majority of HDB residents can now recycle waste anytime and will not need to walk more than 150 metres from their blocks to do so.

Both Dr Lim and, I think, Mr Liang Eng Hwa have raised the issues of the recycling bin being misused as litter bins, and the collection of recyclables being too infrequent. We urge Singaporeans to be more responsible in the use of recycling bins. The public waste collectors have also increased their collection frequency for high usage recycling bins. Nonetheless, we will continue to work with the stakeholders, including the waste collectors and the community, to build up public awareness and proper recycling behaviour so that the bins are used and maintained properly and not misused.

Last year, my Ministry announced that we were exploring the mandatory provision of recycling facilities in condominiums and private apartments. Sir, I would like to inform the House that we will proceed with this plan. Implementation will commence this year and in phases, starting with the larger condominiums and private apartments.

Dr Lim also asked whether the Government would consider having separate recycling chutes for HDB flats. The NEA has been working with the HDB to pilot test separate chutes for recyclables. The pilot project, which also involves SembEnviro, is carried out at a block of HDB flats in Choa Chu Kang estate. The results have been encouraging. HDB has identified another four new blocks of flats in Sengkang to provide similar separate chutes for recyclables. HDB's eco-precinct, Treelodge@Punggol, will also have separate chutes for recyclables. These chutes will give greater convenience to residents to dispose their recyclable wastes from all floor levels. HDB will study the outcome of these pilot projects before looking into the feasibility of wide-scale implementation.

NEA has also been working with the industries to promote the establishment of new recycling infrastructure. For instance, a mechanical waste sorting plant and a food waste recycling plant have been set up and they are currently being commissioned. Several establishments that generate food waste, such as the National University of Singapore, Regent Hotel and Century Square Shopping Centre, have taken the initiative to segregate and recycle their food waste. In addition, I am pleased to inform Mr Edwin Khew that a pilot scheme has been launched to collect food waste from hawker centres.

As pointed out by Mdm Ho Geok Choo, education plays a key role too, besides incorporating the importance of the 3Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – in the school curriculum, we had also launched the School Recycling Programme in 2002. This includes the provision of recycling bins in our primary and secondary schools, junior colleges, ITEs and polytechnics. And as Ms Denise Phua rightly pointed out, we have also tailored a recycling programme for younger children attending pre-schools. The Pre-school 3R training kit was launched in November 2007 with the PAP Community Foundation and the Presbyterian Community Service. In fact, we have many other programmes for both the primary and secondary schools as well as JCs, including education modules on recycling as well as public health and hygiene. For schools where the students may have different needs, such as Pathlight, NEA will be pleased to work with the teachers to develop environmental programmes for their students.

Ms Denise Phua has suggested showcasing 3R efforts at Sungei Road market. Currently, the market is open to locals to peddle secondhand goods and wares. My Ministry is open to evaluating the long-term viability of any initiative which will further promote 3R efforts and which will improve the standards of cleanliness and public health for the neighbourhood. We therefore welcome Ms Denise Phua to share with us the details of her proposal which she did not manage to complete earlier. In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with Ms Phua and her community leaders to minimise any disamenities that may arise from the operation of the Sungei Road market.

All these efforts will help us move closer towards having a sustainable waste management system. We will include the review of the 60% recycling target under the IMCSD framework, as raised both by Dr Lim as well as Mr Edwin Khew.

Surge in Dengue Incidences in 2007

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Sir, dengue is a disease that can be minimised if everyone takes appropriate steps to prevent the breeding of the Aedes mosquito. We cannot prevent our citizens from travelling and contracting dengue overseas nor block visitors from dengue-prone countries. The disease can only be infected by the mosquito and I do not know of studies about the mosquito crossing our borders from overseas. Therefore, we can certainly do something about preventing the mosquito from breeding here and carrying the parasite within Singapore.

Like many of you, I was involved in the Ministry's effort in trying to prevent dengue from infecting large numbers of our community, going door-to-door. In addition, the Town Councils have taken their responsibilities in this matter very seriously. Despite this, there was a surge of dengue incidences in 2007, after a successful campaign and lower incidence of dengue in 2006. Can the Ministry assure us that better measures be undertaken to prevent a similar surge in 2008 and in the years ahead?

Dengue and Chikungunya

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Sir, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Chikungunya as well as malaria will remain endemic in South East Asia for many years to come. In 2005, we witnessed our largest outbreak of dengue fever in Singapore with 14,000 cases reported. Thanks to the effort of multiple agencies, including NEA, Town Councils, grassroots volunteers, we overcame the problem and dengue decreased to 3,126 cases in 2006. Unfortunately, we saw a rebound in dengue figures in 2007 due to a serotype change. For the first eight weeks of 2008, there are already 864 cases. In addition, we also saw the emergence of a new viral disease transmitted by the same Aedes mosquito – Chikungunya virus. The viral disease is also endemic in South East Asia but not in Singapore previously until now.

Our Environment Health Institute (EHI) does research on vectors, dengue virus and maintain a strict surveillance on the mosquito population in various parts of our island. The EHI also studies dengue virus serotypes as well as monitors the serotype shifts. Detection of serotype shifts or new virus may predict epidemic risk and early measures may be instituted to reduce the risk and the effects of such an epidemic.

I would like to ask the Ministry whether EHI detected the presence of Chikungunya virus in mosquitoes and larvae even before the emergence of the 13 cases of Chikungunya fever.

Singapore is a small island and we are susceptible to diseases that are endemic in South East Asia, even if they are not endemic in Singapore. Chikungunya is a good example. It is important to collaborate with centres in our neighbouring countries and share information on the different viral diseases and vector population. This will provide us with a radar screen on Chikungunya and vector distribution and an advance warning sign of change of viral diseases. Was there an outbreak of Chikungunya virus in our neighbouring countries prior to such cases appearing in Singapore?

Littering

Mdm Cynthia Phua: We aim for 6.5 million population. And today we have more than one million foreigners on our shores. We live, work and play in a modern city with world-class facilities. However, littering in the city, our downtown, housing estates, hawker centres and other public places is still a common sight. I call for more action at national level to reinforce the social values of keeping our environment clean.

May I ask the Minister what initiatives is MEWR undertaking to address the littering problem. May I also ask the Minister to consider: Developing a more coordinated approach where the various Ministries, like the MEWR, MND, MOM, and JTC as it deals with rental housing to workers, can reach out more to our foreigners. I am not blaming foreigners altogether for our litter but they bring with them their country's own culture and social background as well. Please take a look at Serangoon Road, after midnight on a weekend.

Developing ways to inculcate the mindset of environmental civic consciousness. Many individuals have the mentality that because we have an army of cleaners to keep our public areas litter-free, they can take a more laid-back approach towards doing their part in keeping our surroundings clean, especially our young, as they grew up with domestic help. Work with the various agencies to reach out to the heartlanders in the HDB estates. Sharing good practices around so that the learning curve can be cut shorter. As a start, I share with the House what Aljunied Town Council has done to reduce the back apron littering. We have not achieved zero littering but we are actively working towards the effort of zero litter for the Aljunied estate. We are calling the support of our residents and we need the support of NEA and MEWR with some funding to help us achieve this goal.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo: Sir, what more can be done to deter the problem and improve Singapore's image of a clean city. HDB void decks are the most common areas where litter abounds with unwanted flyers casually lying around. Town Councils have helped by placing litter bins near mailboxes, but some residents still do not make use of these bins.

What plans does the Ministry have to combat this menace and anti-social habit and educate residents on being responsible and gracious. How do we deal with those who litter at void decks where bins are readily available, and those who repeatedly commit the offence? What reformative programmes are available? There are also those who spit indiscriminately. How will the Ministry and relevant agencies work with grassroots organisations to advise or educate recalcitrant litterbugs and spitters on the potential health hazards posed by their irresponsible behaviour?

Related to the problem of littering is the improper dumping of bulky refuse at lift landings and rubbish chutes. While on one hand we can wish for residents to take responsibility for removing their own refuse by arranging with Town Councils, unfortunately, not everyone is so cooperative. What measures can the Ministry or NEA implement to curb this problem?

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, Singapore will continue to be susceptible to dengue transmission in the foreseeable future. Apart from being situated in a dengue endemic region, the successful vector control efforts that we have sustained over the past three decades have paradoxically contributed to a large segment of our population today having very low immunity against dengue, to the extent that it now takes only a small number of mosquitoes to sustain dengue transmission. Against this backdrop and assuming the local dengue incidence continues to follow the current natural cycle of five to seven years, we are likely to see a further increase in the incidence of dengue in the next few years.

Dengue, however, is no longer the only challenge that we are facing today. Globalisation has also made Singapore more susceptible to the import of exotic vector-borne diseases from all over the world. Of these, we are particularly at risk from diseases that are transmitted by vectors already present in Singapore, such as the Chikungunya fever which is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito.

The recent outbreak was the first time local transmission of the disease was reported here, although sporadic outbreaks had occurred in some parts of this region in recent years.

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To tackle these challenges, it is important that we continue to sustain a robust vector control programme, comprising pre-emptive source reduction, education and enforcement, supported by virus surveillance and research.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked whether EHI detected the presence of Chikungunya virus in mosquito or larva before the recent outbreak. EHI does not routinely screen local mosquitoes or larvae, as this is not a cost effective approach. Instead, EHI works closely with the hospitals and GPs under an active surveillance network to screen patients with dengue symptoms for the Chikungunya virus. This approach has proven to be effective. We were able to promptly detect the first local case of Chikungunya fever recently. NEA will continue to participate in research studies to further our understanding of emerging vector-borne diseases, some of which have yet to reach our shores.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli asked about the measures that will be taken to prevent a surge of cases in 2008. This year, we will continue to focus on pre-emptive source reduction to suppress the mosquito population ahead of the warmer months, when dengue transmission is expected to intensify. We will also work with MOH to promote the early detection of dengue and Chikungunya fever, as this will allow prompt intervention to limit disease transmission. On this note, I would like to commend the good efforts that the Inter-Agency Dengue Taskforce has devoted to dengue control in the past few years. The Taskforce will continue to be an important part of Singapore's dengue control regime in the days ahead.

Notwithstanding these efforts, I would like to remind the House that Government action alone will not be adequate. The public also needs to play their part to deny the vectors the place to breed. Unfortunately, we still saw an increase in the number of breeding in homes last year, compared with 2006. As an added deterrent, NEA will be increasing the penalty for first-time offenders caught with breeding in their homes from $100 to $200 with effect from 1st April this year. This increased penalty is the same as that imposed on first-time offenders for littering and smoking ban violation.

Sir, Singapore is not the only country that is threatened by dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. Having built up our own defences, we are prepared and ready to help others to strengthen theirs.

Dr Lim asked about cooperation within the region. We are partnering the WHO in developing the Asia Pacific regional strategic dengue control plan. The plan can be used by countries in the region as a blueprint to develop the necessary capability to keep dengue as well as other mosquito-borne diseases at bay. Singapore has offered to co-host, with the WHO, a Dengue Programme Managers Meeting for the Western-Pacific Region later this year. The meeting will serve as the platform for countries to share knowledge and develop the strategic plan.

Last year, Singapore spent some $70 million to control dengue and we expect the costs to be even higher this year. This is money well spent as the economic cost of not doing anything and seeing a spike in dengue cases may be many times higher, not forgetting the loss of lives. That said, if all of us play our part to be more vigilant and take action as individuals and communities, we can reduce the amount of resources spent to tackle the negative consequences of vector-borne diseases. This ultimately translates to a reduced cost-burden for all Singaporeans. It is only through the concerted efforts of all that we can prevent vector-borne diseases from taking root in Singapore and threatening our quality of life. I therefore urge everyone to continue to do their part.

Now, I turn to the topic of littering. Sustaining a high standard of public cleanliness has always been a priority for the Government. I would like to inform the House that a Public Cleansing Survey (PCS) commissioned by NEA last year has found that the majority of Singaporeans (some 70%) were satisfied with the state of public cleanliness.

NEA, together with other agencies such as NParks, PUB, SLA, and the town councils, is responsible for the cleansing of public places. Ms Lee Bee Wah asked how we monitor drain cleansing in our estates. Drain cleansing is carried out by private cleaning contractors through performance-based contracts. In addition to a minimum cleansing frequency, contractors need to meet stipulated performance standards, stepping up their cleansing frequency if the situation on the ground warrants it. PUB conducts audit checks and imposes demerit points for unsatisfactory performance, which may translate into deductions in the payments to the contractors. Members of the public can provide feedback on any lapse in performance to PUB or NEA, who will ensure the contractors take the necessary follow-up action.

Sustaining a high standard of public cleanliness, however, is not about employing an ever-increasing number of cleaners. It is also about correcting the mindset that it is acceptable to litter because someone else will clean up for us. We have been working with MOE and educational institutions to emphasise the importance of environmental ownership in our educational curriculum, so as to imbue a sense of civic-mindedness in our youths.

Apart from youths, we have been targeting the anti-littering message at the nation as a whole, under the umbrella of the "Singapore, Litter-Free" campaign. We agree with Mdm Cynthia Phua that we should work with all stakeholders. Thus, we reached out to the residents through district-wide initiatives such as "My Environment Shines" organised jointly with the CDCs and grassroots organisations, to raise civic-mindedness and promote community ownership. At this juncture, I would also like to commend Mdm Cynthia Phua for her town council's effort to join us in the fight against littering. We are also working with MOM and employers to educate foreign workers against littering.

We recognise that sustained enforcement is necessary to deal with the minority group of litterbugs who remain resistant to our educational efforts. To this end, NEA has been increasing the number of enforcement manhours in the past few years. But we agree with Mdm Cynthia Phua and Mdm Ho Geok Choo that there is more we can do to deter people from committing socially irresponsible acts such as littering and spitting. Thus, in addition to the current littering "hotspots" in town centres, NEA will step up enforcement against littering in lift lobbies, letterbox areas and void decks of HDB estates, where littering continues to be a problem.

We share Mdm Ho's observation that improper dumping of bulky refuse in HDB common areas is also a concern. As the town councils continue to educate the residents on the availability of bulky waste removal services, we also encourage civic-minded residents to help us spread the message of proper bulky refuse disposal, as Mdm Ho has suggested.

Singapore's image as a "clean and green city" did not happen by chance. It was achieved through years of conscientious efforts put in by the Government and the community. My Ministry will continue to adopt the combined approach of public education and sustained enforcement, to tackle the littering problem in Singapore, so as to ensure that we continue to enjoy a "clean and green" living environment.

Ms Lee Bee Wah asked if there are plans to build no frills hawker centres to keep rental costs low. I would like to note that although the Government has no plan to build new hawker centres, we will maintain and upgrade existing ones, many of which have been built ages ago, so that they can continue to provide a clean and hygienic dining environment. More than 80% of respondents surveyed in 2005 felt strongly that upgraded centres were cleaner, drier and more spacious, while two-thirds indicated that they would patronise these centres more often.

The Chairman: Mr Charles Chong is not present. Mr Masagos.

Water

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M): Sir, I recall my conversation with a telecoms supplier from Israel. We were talking about the situation in the Middle East, when I was struck by a statement he made. He said that in the near future, the conflicts in the Middle East will be about water. This was when global climatic changes were not even hip.

That conversation resonated even more later when the water issues became a very hot issue with Malaysia, and then more recently when the climatic changes in the world are vaporising the glaciers and putting rain where there were none in the past. His ominous words could certainly ring true - shifts and changes in where water can be found and used will be potential points of conflict in the future.

Coming back to Singapore, we are fortunate that the Government has taken steps for some time now to source for alternative resources. Besides the supply from Johor, the NEWater and desalinated water have proven to be viable and comforting alternatives in addition to our local source. My question to the Minister is whether, with these four taps, there is sufficient water supply both for domestic and industry, for now and the future, from these four sources, or do we need a fifth.

With global climatic change, the public should be aware that global scarcity of potable water is real. Therefore, good habits and practices should be imbibed, if not imposed, in conserving this precious resource. One approach for domestic uses that the Ministry has undertaken recently was to encourage voluntary water efficiency labelling for domestic appliances. May I ask if there is a need to make this mandatory? This practice will definitely help our consumers make the correct choice and attain MEWR’s 10L challenge. What are the Ministry’s plans for non-domestic water users? With respect to water charges, can the Minister update us on the restructuring of water charges announced in the last COS? Lastly, what are the Ministry’s plans in further developing the water industry sector?

ABC Waters Programme

Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, during last year's National Day Rally, the Prime Minister informed the nation of the ABC Waters Programme being developed in Punggol and Sengkang. I received feedback from my friends and residents that it was one of the most visibly exciting part of PM's speech that night. This has also created interest among Singaporeans about the ABC Waters Programme, stirring their hopes that more could be done to the channels and rivers near their homes.

Sir, I feel that there is much potential in some areas of Singapore for greater integration of its water bodies to the recreational lifestyle of the people for the purpose of improving the quality of life in those estates. Besides the residents of Punggol and Sengkang, what can the rest of population look forward to with regard to the ABC Waters Programme? Could the Ministry update the House on the upcoming projects in 2008?

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, as Mr Masagos has rightly pointed out, there is a need to encourage good water conservation habits. We recognise the importance of individual effort in water conservation and have schemes to promote this.

In 2006, we launched the 10 Litre Challenge to reduce daily water consumption per capita by 10 litres. I am happy to report that 68 water volunteer groups have since been formed in 39 constituencies involving Residents Committees, voluntary welfare organisations and other organisations. These groups volunteer their time over the weekends to visit households and assist in the installation of water saving devices. We hope more Singaporeans will step forward to follow this fine example.

Through our outreach and educational programmes, we have lowered our daily per capita domestic water consumption from 165 litres in 2003 to 157 litres today. We are on track to reach our target of 155 litres by 2012. In 2006, we also launched the voluntary water efficiency labelling scheme as part of the 10 Litre Challenge. To-date, more than 500 products have been labelled, from taps to shower heads to washing machines. This allows consumers to make informed choices when they make their purchases.

I am pleased to inform Mr Masagos that in view of the favourable response that we have received for the voluntary scheme, the labelling scheme will be made mandatory from July 2009. For a start, taps, flushing systems and urinals must come with water efficiency labels. We will consider extending this scheme to shower heads and washing machines in the future when more water efficient models are available. From July 2009, taps, urinals and dual flush systems installed in all new developments and premises undergoing renovations must have at least one-tick water efficiency rating. As developers install water devices in bulk, this will hasten the take-up of water efficient devices and incentivise suppliers to bring in more models. In fact, PUB

is already working with HDB to adopt the use of water-efficient products in HDB developments. The choice of dual-flush cisterns was offered in some upgrading projects and the take-up rate was high. HDB has also incorporated the use of dual-flush cisterns for their new projects.

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The non-domestic sector is another key group of water consumers accounting for half the water consumption in Singapore. PUB currently has some initiatives to manage water demand in this sector. For example, users are encouraged to run water-efficient buildings by using water-efficient fittings and monitoring their water consumption. They are also encouraged to use NEWater in place of potable water, and to recycle water whenever possible. Last year, PUB also launched the Water Efficiency Fund to provide financial incentives to companies to take on water conservation measures and develop alternative water sources.

Our experience with water-efficient building programmes suggests that there is generally scope to lower one's water consumption by about 5% to 10%. Hence, we would like to call on non-domestic users to take up a 10% challenge where we will work with them to reduce their water consumption by up to 10%, if not more. This can be achieved, for instance, by installing water-saving devices and adopting good water management practices. Taking up this challenge will also benefit the users, since reduction in water consumption means cost savings. Over the next three to five years, we will engage the different sectors to help them lower their water consumption. We will start off with Government and commercial buildings, hotels and schools.

To help promote this 10% challenge, a 10% Challenge website will be launched. It will assist users in assessing the state of water management in their premises and identify opportunities for improvement. PUB will also work with institutions, like the polytechnics, to develop a Water Efficiency Manager Course to equip inhouse facilities and operations managers with the knowledge and skills to conduct water audits and adopt waste conservation measures. PUB also plans to work with professional organisations to develop a water-efficient building design guide. PUB will work with BCA to include water-efficient building design as a criterion under the Green Mark certification for buildings. All in, the 10% challenge is a basket of initiatives to encourage and assist the non-domestic sector to reduce their water consumption. Beyond cost savings to customers, we hope to achieve a longer term change in the mindset and approach towards the design of buildings and systems that are water-efficient.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, before I respond to the cuts on water, I apologise to Mr Edwin Khew on one particular question under parking charges. I do not have the immediate answer, but I will ask my officers to work with MND and then we will send Mr Khew a written reply on this.

Sir, Mr Masagos asked about the sufficiency of water to meet our needs. My colleague, Dr Amy Khor, has talked about our efforts to encourage Singaporeans to conserve water. On our part, the Government, through the PUB, will ensure that there is sufficient water to meet Singapore's needs.

On the supply side, as noted by Mr Masagos, our Four National Taps strategy provides us with a diversified and sustainable supply of water. The four taps, if I can recap, are: (1) water from local catchments; (2) imported water; (3) NEWater; and (4) desalinated water. We will continue to maximise the water that we collect from our local catchments. By next year, three new reservoirs at Marina, Punggol and Serangoon, which are currently under construction, will be created. Together, they will increase our catchment area from half to two-thirds of Singapore’s land area.

NEWater demand has been growing since its introduction in 2003. The industry values NEWater for its high quality. With the completion of our fifth and largest NEWater plant at Changi, NEWater will be able to meet 30% of our water needs by 2011, up from the current 15%. Our fourth tap is desalinated water. The Singspring desalination plant was commissioned in 2005, and can supply up to 10% of our water demand. Together, our Four National Taps will ensure a robust and sustainable supply to meet Singapore’s long-term water needs. But there are areas that we can improve.

For example, currently, Jurong Island gets its water from mainland Singapore. Water demand on the island amounts to some 10% of the total demand in Singapore. This is expected to increase with further industrial growth on Jurong Island.

With the high and concentrated demand on Jurong Island, there is scope to consider developing localised water supply on the island itself. There is plentiful supply of seawater for desalination, and we can also recycle the used water on the island. PUB will study the feasibility of developing water supply on Jurong Island. Should we proceed, we will ensure that there is minimal cost impact to the companies on Jurong Island. If successful, this initiative will enhance Singapore’s reputation as a leader in integrated water resource management and in balancing environmental sustainability with industrial development.

Sir, Mr Masagos also asked for an update on the restructuring of water charges, which was mentioned at last year's COS. I had informed the House that my Ministry would look into restructuring the used water charges into a single volumetric fee, moving towards a single price for water. We are still in the process of studying the implementation details.

Our initiatives in managing our water supply and demand represent a holistic approach to water management that is increasingly recognised internationally. For its excellence in integrated water resource management, PUB was awarded the Stockholm Industry Water Award last year. We want to build upon such achievements and track record to develop Singapore as a hub for water solutions to meet global challenges.

Mr Masagos asked how the water industry has grown and what the plans are to develop it further. Last year, Sir, I informed Members that we had set up the Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI), to spearhead our efforts to grow the water industry. I am pleased to report that EWI has made good progress in 2007.

Through the investment promotion efforts by both the EDB and PUB, we have continued to attract and anchor major multinational companies and R&D centres. Black and Veatch, for example, has announced plans to expand its Singapore operations to serve as its Global Design Centre. Our home-grown companies, such as Hyflux, Keppel and SembCorp, have done us proud by expanding their businesses in key overseas markets, such as China and the Middle East. A number of major projects were clinched last year, such as Keppel’s $1.5 billion wastewater treatment contract in Qatar. In addition, under the MOU which my Ministry had signed with the Ministry of Construction in China on cooperation in urban environment and water resources, in-principle agreement was reached for SembCorp and PUB to jointly embark on a wastewater treatment and water supply demonstration project in ZhangJiaGang, China.

EWI’s key strategy in growing the water industry is to nurture a vibrant research eco-system. This would provide critical technological innovation, intellectual capital and trained specialist manpower for our growing environment and water industry. The research community and Singaporeans have responded very positively to this development.

Our local academic institutions have been proactive in building up their research capacity. Both NUS and NTU have established institutes that are focused on environment and water research. Internationally renowned research institutes, such as Delft Hydraulics, have likewise been attracted to set up their R&D Centres and partnerships in Singapore.

Riding on this momentum, Sir, we will be launching our flagship water event, the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) in June this year. I hope Members can pencil in their diary 23rd to 27th June, and that they could turn up. This will be a milestone for Singapore, as the Water Week will be a platform for Government officials, industry leaders and water professionals from all over the world to network and share solutions and experiences in the field of water. In the long term, we plan to grow SIWW into a leading water show in the world, which will contribute to our vision for Singapore to become a global hydro-hub.

Sir, Dr Muhammad Faishal has asked about the new and attractive water projects that the public can look forward to. I heard Mr Christopher De Souza also touched on this during the Budget debate and had added kindly the letter "D" to his ABC. I am pleased to inform the House that the Marina Barrage, when completed, will not only increase our water supply but help to alleviate flooding in low-lying areas of the city. We can see on the screens the picture of the Marina Barrage. I hope this will warm up the House. The reservoir created will also be a lifestyle attraction offering a host of recreational possibilities. International and local sporting events, such as sailing and river regattas, will be held, adding buzz to the Marina Bay.

By the third quarter this year, visitors to the Marina Barrage will be able to learn about Singapore’s water story and understand how the barrage works. This is the Visitors' Centre on the screen. They will also get to see green features in the building design, such as the turfed roof, the use of solar energy, and water and energy-efficient fittings. So, Sir, we walk the talk. Through these, we hope the public can learn more about the Marina Barrage and other projects, and how they can play a part in our water and environmental sustainability story.

Sir, last year, as pointed out by Dr Muhammad Faishal, the PUB launched the ABC Waters programme to bring people closer to water so that they will better cherish this precious resource. Under the programme, our drains, canals and reservoirs will be transformed into vibrant, beautiful and clean streams, rivers and lakes, raising the quality of life of Singaporeans to an even higher level.

I am happy to report good progress on the first three projects which will be completed this year - at Kolam Ayer, Bedok Reservoir and MacRitchie Reservoir. Singaporeans can also expect more exciting projects across the island, including those at Lower Seletar Reservoir, Jurong Lake, Pandan Reservoir, Sungei Punggol and Kallang River near Bishan Park.

Let me now give a preview of some of these projects, so that after a long week and a long day, we end up on a high note, Sir.

In the eastern part of Singapore, at Lower Seletar Reservoir, the rich heritage of the area will be preserved. Along the heritage bridge, visitors can take in the scenic view of the reservoir and, through story panels, learn of the interesting history of Lower Seletar Reservoir and its previous Orang Seletar settlement. This will connect the young with the past and bring back memories of the place for the older generation.

In the western part of Singapore, Jurong Lake will be transformed into a family recreational attraction. Here, school children can learn how wetlands function and families can get close to the water along the boardwalks. As a connection to the loose translation of Jurong as a fish - as I understand, its local name is Ikan Julong - there will be a fishing promenade for anglers.

Finally, in the central part of Singapore, Kallang River along Bishan Park will be transformed into a scenic river, which will be integrated with the adjacent park. Families can enjoy a quiet stroll along the new footbridge connecting the residential estates from both sides of Bishan Park. They can also enjoy picnics by the water while children have fun at the water play areas.

With these projects, we hope to bring waterfront living to the HDB heartlands, improve the quality of our living environment and enhance property values. It will also bring closer to realisation our vision of being a City of Gardens and Water, which is one of the key thrusts of Clean and Green Singapore.

Sir, while the Government carries out the physical infrastructural works, the success of these projects will depend on the community. We want people to visit our waters, have fun and, in doing so, develop a sense of ownership and play their part to keep our waters clean.

PUB will engage the community to encourage them to take ownership of these projects. A one-day workshop was held for the pilot project at Kolam Ayer, where the community groups brainstormed how they could sustain the project in their estate. They are now developing those ideas into community bonding projects which they will run themselves. Similar workshops will also be conducted for the other ABC Waters projects.

Sir, let me conclude. I would like to thank the Members for their views and suggestions. We can all be proud that Singapore has done well to achieve the clean and healthy environment that we enjoy today. While we continue to take care of our environment, we are also moving towards our vision of becoming a city of Gardens and Water to further enhance the quality of life of all Singaporeans.

Looking ahead, my Ministry will maintain a strong focus on environmental sustainability to ensure that we deliver an even higher quality environment in tandem with a growing population and economy. We will continue with efforts to develop and position Singapore as a global hub and a thought-leader for environment, water technologies and solutions. At the same time, we will encourage the private sector to adopt more environmentally-friendly business practices, especially where these result in cost-savings and greater resource security. To facilitate such efforts, we will look into providing incentives where necessary, for instance, to address market barriers and failures. We will continue to take a sensible approach by adopting measures that reap effective returns and long-term benefits for our people and industries.

While the Government will actively do our part, achieving environmental sustainability will require the participation of each and every Singaporean. It can be as simple as not littering, keeping our homes free from dengue, bringing our recyclables to the nearest recycling bin, and choosing water and energy-efficient appliances. I urge everyone, including Members of this House, to be more mindful in the little choices that we make in our daily lives.

If we work together to sustain a better environment, quality of life, the result of our joint efforts will be enjoyed not just by ourselves but also our future generations will benefit from a Singapore that is economically vibrant and has a high quality living environment with clean air, clean land and water for all.

7.00 pm

Er Lee Bee Wah: Sir, I have a clarification addressed to the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. Just now, SPS mentioned that NEA is not going to build any more new hawker centre. May I know what is the reason because a lot of residents have been asking for hawker centres as they find that the food in hawker centres is cheaper generally?

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, NEA has evaluated the hawker centres when undertaking the Hawker Centre Upgrading Programme and, in fact, there are some hawker centres which are actually not viable. They have very low volume of business and this may actually have to be consolidated with other areas.

At the moment, there is no plan to build more new hawker centres but we will continue with the upgrading programme of the existing hawker centres.

In fact, I would like to add that, like I said earlier, the upgraded hawker centres have been very well received by the residents and many of them prefer to have upgraded hawker centres and they say that they would want to go back to the upgraded hawker centres. In fact, we work very closely with the grassroots and the advisers when we upgrade existing hawker centres.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Sir, I have two clarifications. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary has not answered my appeal for some funds to work on the various anti-littering programmes at the town council level.

Second clarification. I would like to ask the Minister to set up a code of practice under the E2 Singapore for the lighting levels in our open area for energy efficiency. For example, acceptable lighting levels in common corridors, linkways in the estates and working with the Ministry of Home Affairs for lighting levels after midnight, taking into account the security and safety of residents.

Here again, I would like to volunteer Aljunied Town Council to work with MEWR to set up this code of practice.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, in terms of funding for town councils and the efforts that we are trying to encourage people not to litter, actually that is the responsibility of town councils to make sure that the place remains clean and to educate the residents of the town council. But we do fund VWOs that help us in our effort to send the message over. So I am sure Mdm Cynthia Phua can creatively think of a way to get some funding from NEA through the respective VWOs in Aljunied Town Council.

Sir, on the code of practice, it is a very good point. E2 Singapore is still in its early days. We have just launched it. We are now looking at sector by sector. In fact, we are now trying to establish some baselines. We are gathering data. So over time, as we develop some expertise in this area, as rightly pointed out by the Member, we need to establish certain levels that we think are acceptable and this will be progressively rolled out, as we build up our capability.

I will consider the offer by Mdm Cynthia Phua to consider maybe perhaps a pilot scheme where we can work together with Aljunied Town Council in terms of the lighting level.

Mr Seah Kian Peng: Sir, I just want to ask the Minister what are the measures that the Ministry would be putting in place to ensure that large scale projects organised by the public sector are eco-friendly.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, at the moment, we work with the various agencies. It is not mandatory but what we have done is that we have contacted the various agencies and the NGOs who have been supporting us.

As an example, I think about two or three years ago when we had a National Day Parade at the National Stadium then, there were several efforts together by NEA and some VWOs to help encourage the attendees at the National Day Parade to pick up after they have finished the parade. So we will continue to engage the various agencies and work together with them. It is not something which is mandatory but something which we want to encourage as a good practice. We have been in touch with all the other Government agencies and, as and when there is a request, we will continue to work with them, Sir.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Sir, I have two clarifications.

First to the Minister. Sir, I hope that the Minister will reconsider and review the proposal to introduce the Green COE. I said that because there are 800,000 cars in Singapore. With a minute 5% proportion of COEs being green itself, we will have 40,000 of new green cars over a 10-year period, which is 4,000 a year and that is a straightaway commitment. And that will limit and force the distributors to bring in new cars unless they want to lose that 5% of the market. So I hope that the Minister can, with the other ministries, restudy the proposal.

The second clarification is to the Senior Parliamentary Secretary as regards the recent Chikungunya outbreak. I would like to ask whether we have any environmental intelligence of any Chikungunya outbreaks in Johor or in the nearby countries, and as a result causing the Chikungunya outbreak over here, and what kind of cooperative framework is formed under the ASEAN ambit for such environmental disease control.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: If I were to say that we have studied it and the answer is still no, will he accept my answer? But certainly, Sir, if I look at the spirit of Dr Lim's question, it is how do we ensure that we have better vehicles on the road.

I think one of the low lying fruits are commercial vehicles. As you know, we have instituted Euro IV standards for buses and so on and so forth from October 2006. Once the Euro V come into availability, we will consider moving to the Euro V.

So I think we should work at that population of the transport sector first rather than the passenger vehicles. But having said that, I share his spirit of trying to encourage more Singaporeans, but I am sure if he analyses the answers that we have given that if we let the green vehicle to float from one category to another category, it is free to actually respond to the market demand. If we restrict it to only one category of the COE, even for 5%, if we restrict it to engine capacity, I know you are asking across two dimensions basically, which is very difficult, because under MOT's current rules, it is only along engine capacity, it will restrict the growth.

But to be fair, we will keep all the options open. Perhaps he can raise it again at next year's COS.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, yes, we do have some intelligence about outbreaks of Chikungunya in countries in the region, for instance, in Indonesia as well as even in India. Unfortunately, we cannot implement any immigration control for mosquitoes or the viruses. So I think the most effective way would still be to undertake a pre-emptive source reduction exercise, pre-emptive virus surveillance system, a laboratory-based system as what we have done, EHI together with a network of GPs, to detect any Chikungunya case or dengue case, and try and limit the transmission through intensive source reduction exercise.

Dr Lily Neo: Sir, earlier I spoke on energy saving. On the same topic, may I ask the Minister whether there is any incentive or the promotional use of the solar water heaters rather than the use of electrical water heaters?

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, at the moment, there are no such incentives but what we have done is to provide information to households on which are the more energy efficient appliances. The jury is still out on whether solar water energy would be better than other types but what we can do, as I have mentioned in my reply, is for us to provide information on which one is more efficient, which one is better for you to use. I think that is the first step that we need to do.

Whether or not we want to incentivise the behaviour further, I think this will have to be studied progressively. This is done in other countries but once you incentivise, you provide subsidies, you skew the market unnecessarily. We want to be able to make sure that the market will respond according to the demands of the population. So the role that we have taken upon ourselves at this point in time with respect to households is, firstly, to provide the market information, secondly, through the efforts of the CDCs, to encourage households to consider taking on some of these options.

But then again, as I have said, these are still early days. As we develop our energy efficiency masterplan, we will consider all options and which are the ones which are necessary for us to have perhaps a quantum leap in terms of the number of energy efficient appliances being used in Singapore. But the first step is obviously to provide that information.

Mr Zainudin Nordin: Sir, the Minister has created an excitement with the images of ABC. So let us ask the Minister whether there is any hope to advance the ABC project in Bishan and for the others too?

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, when we launched the ABC Waters Programme, we mentioned that we will do 26 ABC projects in the next five years. I am not sure whether it includes Bishan but we will continue to explore. As long as you have a canal and it is part of our water catchment system, it is nearby a park, there is a park connector, I think we will consider it seriously.

The ABC water plans that we will develop is for a very long term period but as we go along, we will learn, and I think it is better for us to learn from others, perhaps the day will come when his constituency will have one and it will be a better project than others. But certainly we want to explore all the available opportunities.

Er Edwin Khew Teck Fook: The Minister did not answer my question. This is with regard to attracting companies with the recyclable technologies to come into Singapore. Will the Minister consider providing more incentives?

Assuming right now that we are more efficient in terms of recycling various recyclables, how are we going to treat all these recyclables?

I remember at one stage we had a mountain full of waste paper. We were so efficient in recycling paper that I think at that time the market value of paper was very low, so we were caught with this.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I agree with Mr Edwin Khew that in order for recycling to make sense, we also have to have a viable economic model. In fact, my predecessor, Mr Lim Swee Say, has set in place very good programmes and policies. For example, we have a Serangoon recycling centre where various recycling companies are gathered together. This is something in which the market will have to react. We will continue to promote recycling both in industry and the households, and work with industries as to whether or not this will make economic sense.

In terms of attracting companies to come to Singapore, this is the function of EDB, but we will continue to work with our economic agencies to see whether these are the kind of companies that we want to relocate to Singapore so that they can form part of the economic viability. But I agree with Mr Khew that will be one of our primary consideration because there is no point collecting all the papers and there is nowhere to go. But, at the same time, there are fluctuations in market prices that we cannot control. Global prices are something which we have no control over and, therefore, this may affect some of the decisions that we make. But we will continue to explore these options.

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang (Aljunied): I would like to seek clarification from the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. Does it mean that NEA will from now on just only upgrade the existing hawker centres and will never consider building new hawker centres for the existing housing estates or any other new housing estates that will be built?

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: I think the mantra is never say never. But, at the moment, there is no plan to build new hawker centres. But I suppose going forward, you really have to look at the demands and needs of the population.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether efforts can be made to energy mark our water pumps for aquariums, waterfalls and koi ponds. As many believe in nian nian yu yue , there is the extra consumption of energy in homes and organisations, and these home aquariums and ponds are getting very popular.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I will ask NEA to study that.

Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong (Tanjong Pagar): Sir, in my Budget speech, I asked whether the Ministry will consider to have a certification and tracking system for the recycling bins. I just want to seek clarification from the Ministry whether this suggestion will be taken up.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: We will look into his suggestion with the PWCs. At the moment, it is the PWCs who provide the recycling bins.

The Chairman: Any others? If none, Mdm Lee Bee Wah, would you like to withdraw your amendment?

Er Lee Bee Wah: Sir, I would like to thank the Minister and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their comprehensive reply. With that, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $657,961,900 for Head L ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $348,719,300 for Head L ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.