ADVERTISEMENT ON FOUNTAIN AT AIRPORT

2.39 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Deputy Prime Minister why a firm has been allowed to incorporate an advertisement in the fountain at the approach to the Paya Lebar International Airport; whether the firm pays a concession fee for the advertisement, and what is the fee for a year.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, the decision to allow the firm concerned to incorporate an advertisement in the fountain built and paid for by the company at a cost of $69,000 at the approach road to the Paya Lebar International Airport was approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Transport on the 5th July, 1965, when the Department of Civil Aviation was under its control.

The company does not pay concession fees for the advertisement, but it is responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the fountain, estimated to cost $5,000 a year, in addition to the cost of electricity and water consumed. At the end of five years, from 1st January, 1966, the fountain and all its fittings will become the property of the Government. As advertising on the fountain has drawn unfavourable comments from visitors to the Airport, negotiations will be taken up to transfer the fountain to the Government within the contract period.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, can I raise a supplementary question?

Mr Speaker: Yes, certainly.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): I would like to ask the Minister concerned, since this is a place which many tourists will be visiting, whether we can take immediate steps to remove this advertisement and, instead, other advertisements, posters, or slogans of a national nature be posted there. For instance, we can publicise that we want to build a multi-racial society, or that we welcome all international tourists to come to Singapore.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, as I have pointed out just now, there is a contract by which the Singapore Government has to abide. And as I have indicated to the House, we are now negotiating with the company concerned to transfer the fountain to the Government within five years as soon as possible, and until we do so we are not in a position to control any advertising slogans which are now located on the fountain itself. However, I am quite certain that the company, being a longstanding company in Singapore, will co-operate with the Government, and I am certain that there will be no difficulties when we come to negotiate with them by which such a transfer can be made to the Government.