EAST WHARF DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (Completion date and facilities provided)

Dr Thio Chan Bee asked the Deputy Prime Minister to state if the East Wharf Development project, begun in 1959 and due for completion according to the Development Plan by mid-1962, has now been completed, and whether he is satisfied that the facilities provided are adequate.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, the East Wharf Development project consisting of four new berths has been completed and the berths have been in operation since 25th April. 1962. The facilities provided by these berths are on the most modern scale including four transit godowns, each of 100 feet clear span and each giving 45,000 square feet of covered floor area. There are large open storage and parking areas, road and rail facilities and oil and water bunkering together with other ancillary services provided at each berth.

Dr Thio Chan Bee: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Deputy Prime Minister aware that ships about to unload cargoes in Singapore still have to wait because of a lack of berthing space in that area?

Mr Speaker: The question being?

Dr Thio Chan Bee: Is he aware ---

Mr Speaker: I have already intimated to Members that that is just volunteering, information, it must be followed up by a question. I suppose the obvious question is: does the Deputy Prime Minister intend doing anything about it?

Dr Thio Chan Bee: In view of the reported lack of berthing space, will the Deputy Prime Minister do anything about increasing the facilities there?

Dr Toh Chin Chye: The supplementary question asked by the Member for Tanglin is, of course, unrelated to the answer I have just given concerning the East Wharf Development project. However, he has volunteered the information that there are some ships which have to wait to be berthed. I have had no information that there is a long queue of ships outside the Singapore Harbour Board. Nevertheless, I would like to inform him that we have development plans to build another extra four new berths in the East Lagoon.