ABATTOIRS IN SERANGOON, KATONG AND BUKIT PANJANG

Mr S. Rajoo asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider setting up Government abattoirs in the Serangoon, Katong and Bukit Panjang Districts to facilitate the slaughter of pigs and other live-stock for the people of those areas for sale at rural markets.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon (for the Minister for Law and National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are in existence three abattoirs in Singapore - a pig abattoir in French Road, a cattle abattoir in Jalan Besar, and a sheep and goat abattoir also in Jalan Besar, opposite the cattle abattoir. The numbers of animals slaughtered in these abattoirs at present are about 1,200 pigs, 200 goats or sheep, and 30 heads of cattle each day.

A new modern abattoir is being built in Jurong. This new abattoir will be highly mechanised and operated on a mechanised system, so that about 200 pigs, 100 goats or sheep and 15 heads of cattle can be slaughtered per hour. The slaughtering and meat inspection in the new abattoir will be of internationally accepted standards so that we can issue veterinary certificates acceptable to most countries to enable Singapore meat products to be marketed in foreign countries.

The abattoir is being constructed at the cost of about $5 million and is expected to be completed in July 1967. On completion, the new abattoir, together with the existing ones, should be sufficient or adequate to meet the needs of the whole island. However, if they prove to be insufficient or inadequate, every consideration will be given to build more abattoirs and to site them in the rural areas.