ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS (Continued) TOA PAYOH HOUSING SCHEME

Mr Speaker: Back to questions. Question No. 12* - Mr Tan Kia Gan.

*See col. 1467.

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Those who are not farmers will be given three choices. If they wish to find alternative accommodation on their own, they will be paid compensation for any improvements they have put into the land in accordance with the schedule of approved rates. If they wish to be rehoused by the Housing Board, they will either be given one of the low-cost one-room units now under construction at Kim Keat Road and St. Michael's Estate at rentals of $20 p.m., or any other type of Housing Board accommodation, but they will not be paid any compensation for moving out. Lastly, they can choose to be resettled in one of the resettlement areas, where they will be given a small lot with a free house; they will also be paid compensation where appropriate for any improvements they own on the present land.

Sir, I am, of course, aware that resettlement is a difficult problem and that the persons resettled will experience some initial inconvenience and, in some cases, perhaps some temporary difficulties. It is not expected that cases will arise of persons having to lose their present means of livelihood. Those who are farmers will be given all the facilities for carrying on with farming, whereas the non-farmers can choose, out of three methods of resettlement, the method that best suits their circumstances.

I am afraid that the hon. Member appears to have been incorrectly informed when he speaks of dissatisfaction among those affected by the scheme in Ah Hood Road and Boon Teck Road. The first phase of the scheme will take place in the north-west corner of the Toa Payoh area, behind the Thomson Road Hospital, where there are 100 acres of land available which are sparsely populated. Clearance work here will not affect the Ah Hood Road and Boon Teck Road residents at all.

Mr Thio Chan Bee: Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Minister accept as a basic principle that in any public housing or rehousing scheme the living conditions of the outgoing residents will be improved just as much as the living conditions of the incoming residents?

Mr Speaker: Order. The hon. Member is surely well versed in the Standing Orders. All he can do now is to ask a supplementary question; in other words, a question arising out of the answer given by the Minister. He is now embarking on a proposition which, I think, would perhaps open a lengthy debate on the matter. Mr Thio.

Mr Thio Chan Bee: Mr Speaker, Sir, is it not a fact that the compensation proposed to be paid to those in Toa Payoh is considered inadequate? For example, those staying in attap houses with cemented floor will be paid compensation at the rate of $1 per square foot, which they consider to be inadequate.

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Mr Speaker, Sir, since the Housing Board came into existence, we have resettled people in several areas according to the approved rates. I am quite sure these rates, which were revised towards the end of last year, are better than those that were offered by the former S.I.T.

Mr Rajah: Could the Minister indicate to the House when building operations under the first phase will commence?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the first stage of work in the development of Toa Payoh will begin at the end of this year, and that will involve earth-moving work. When this has been completed, building operations will begin.

Mr Rajah: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Minister has still not answered my question. The question was - when does he hope to start his building operations after he has filled the site in the first phase?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: We expect to start building work in mid-1962.