T.O.L. fees of Crown land

"Mr Ong Lian Teng: To ask the Minister for Law and National Development whether Temporary Occupation Licence fees of Crown land in the Mandai area have been increased and by what percentage."

Pursuant to Standing Order No. 20 (2), the Minister for Law and National Development supplied the following answers:-

17. "Street lights will be installed at Woodlands Road from Yew Tee Village to Mandai Road by the first quarter of next year."

18. "A total of $207,456 was spent by Government for rural development in the Bukit Panjang Constituency from 1st January, 1964 to 31st December, 1964.

The breakdown of this figure is as follows: $ 1. An agriculture and Veterinary extension Centre which was Completed in December 1964 48,000 2. Road 89,031 3. Drains 14,242 4. Bridges 4,900 5. Lights 36,100 6. Bus Shelters 10,750 7. Miscellaneous (standpipes, railing guard) 4,433 ---------- $207,456" ----------

19. "There has been no general increase of Temporary Occupation Licence fees either in the Mandai area or in any other area in Singapore.

As a general practice Temporary Occupation Licence fees are only revised whenever the licences are transferred to non-relatives or re-instated after revocation for breach of condition(s). In such circumstances, and in cases of the grant of a new Licence the fee is computed as follows:-

(a) Farming Use:

(i) 2 per cent of the market value of land per acre per annum for vegetable cultivation;

(ii) 4 per cent of market value of land per acre per annum for fruit cultivation. An additional fee of $12 per annum is levied for each house erected on the holding and $24 per annum for each shop.

(b) Dwelling Use:

$12 per annum for each house on the holding plus $24 for each shop.

(c) Commercial Use:

6 per cent of the market value per acre per annum. This rate is also levied for houses let out for profit.

Although the revised fee is supposed to be based on the market value of the land, in practice the valuation figure used in the case of licences for farming purposes is very low, being $1,800 per acre (for underdeveloped areas) to $3,600 per acre (for better developed land with good access). `This is a very low valuation for land in Singapore as it is virtually impossible now to acquire land at these prices."

The following Questions for Oral Answers stood on the Order Paper of 17th December, 1965:-