FIRE AT KAMPONG KOO CHYE, GEYLANG: RELIEF AND RE-HOUSING OF VICTIMS

Tuesday, 22nd April, 1958

Mr Lim Cher Kheng asked the Minister for Labour and Welfare whether he will make a statement on the recent fire at Kampong Koo Chye, Geylang, and what steps have been taken for the relief and re-housing of the victims of the fire.

Dr Lim Yew Hock: The fire at Kampong Koo Chye (Lorong 3) started at about 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, 5th April, 1958 and was brought under control at about 7.30 p.m., by which time over 100 huts had been destroyed, rendering 379 families or 2,050 persons homeless. An emergency feeding scheme was immediately put into operation by the Department of Social Welfare at Sims Avenue Community Centre at 8 p.m. to feed those who were in need of food. Coffee with milk was also served. In the meantime, steps were taken to establish a Relief Centre at Geylang English School to house those who are without alternative accommodation. Blankets from the Civil Defence store were distributed to all the families in the Relief Centre. This Relief Centre is run by the Department of Social Welfare, whose officers are on duty day and night to attend to the needs of the fire victims, such as answering queries or calling for the ambulance in case of sickness or birth. On Sunday, 6th April, 1958 an emergency payment of $5 a person was made by the Department of Social Welfare. A total sum of $10,075 was expended.

The Blue Cross Charitable Institution which has always worked hand in hand with the Department of Social Welfare after a fire, swung into action the next day, that is, Sunday, 6th April, 1958 and assumed full responsibility for feeding the fire victims twice a day. It also supplied tea, coffee and cold drinks to the victims throughout the day and night. In addition, it supplied household necessities such as tooth brush, tooth paste, soap, towels and so on to the victims.

In view of the number of children, nurses from the Health Department of the City Council are on day and night duty looking after the feeding and care of the children. The St. John's Ambulance Brigade (since withdrawn), and the British Red Cross also did day and night duty in the Relief Centre. The Civil Defence personnel helped and supplied the necessary transport during the first and second day. The number of voluntary welfare workers that helped were too numerous to be mentioned.

The response from the public to the appeal for donations in cash and kind was overwhelming. Rice and fresh food continued to be donated to the Relief Centre in large quantities and the amount of clothing received was far more than what the fire victims required. The total cash donations from the public, so far as is known, have reached about $250,000 of which about $150,000 have been distributed by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Singapore Joint Relief Organisation, Nanyang Slang Pau, the Buddhist Association and the Rubber Packers' Association. With the $5 a head from the Social Welfare Department included each fire victim had now received a sum of $82. At present, 296 families consisting of about 1,050 fire victims are accommodated in the Relief Centre at the Geylang English School. Cinema and other variety shows are put on for their entertainment. The Franciscan nuns arranged games and handicraft classes for the children during the day. The fire victims are well looked after and no efforts are being spared to make them as comfortable as possible. They all appear well and happy. Three fire victims gave birth at the Kandang Kerbau Hospital to three babies, two girls and a boy.

The S.I.T. will give top priority to those who wish to have S.I.T. accommodation at the old Kallang Airport site. It is expected that there will be enough flats to house all the families. So far, 196 families or a total of 1,100 persons have registered for such accommodation. Government has made a declaration under section 5 of the Land Acquisition Ordinance in Government Gazette No. 36 dated 16th April, 1958 declaring that the site at Kampong Koo Chye, on which the destroyed huts stood, is needed for public purposes and steps are being taken to acquire the land for the building of low-cost houses. A Committee of Trustees consisting of the Chief Minister, the Mayor of the City Council, with the Director of Social Welfare as its Honorary Secretary and the City Treasurer as the Honorary Treasurer, have been formed. The Trustees will be responsible for the Kampong Koo Chye Fire Fund and for the building of low-cost houses on the old site. The P.W.D. Architect, and City Architect are jointly responsible for drawing up the plans of the building. Those victims who do not wish to have S.I.T. accommodation and who wish to stay in these low-cost houses will be given an option: -

(a) to purchase the houses outright;

(b) to purchase them by easy instalments; or

(c) to pay a low rent for the houses as tenant.