BUKIT HO SWEE FLATS (Conversion into self-contained flats with toilet facilities)

Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will request the Housing and Development Board to consider the possibility of converting the existing 900 Bukit Ho Swee flats, which have common lavatory facilities, into self-contained flats each with its own toilet facilities, or alternatively, the reduction of the rent of such flats.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Mr Ho Cheng Choon) (for the Minister for Law and National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Housing and Development Board has considered the possibility of converting the existing Bukit Ho Swee one-room units with communal facilities into self-contained one-room or two-room units.

There are altogether 904 units of one-room service communal flats sited in five blocks. The conversion will involve making structural alterations and substantial foundation costs, the cost of which will be prohibitive and not economically justifiable. The rent of these flats is already low - $20 per month - and it is not economically feasible to reduce the rental.

The Government subsidy for these one-room units already averages as high as $17 per month per unit. Any further reduction in rental will therefore require a corresponding increase in subsidy.

Madam Chan Choy Siong: (In Mandarin): I would like to ask the Minister whether he has given some thought to the residents of the 900 flats in this area. I would also like to ask him whether he is aware that there are three urgencies in life. The first urgency is beyond control, and that is one must go to the lavatory. The lavatories are situated in a common corridor. So the women who want to go there must be escorted by their husbands, otherwise they have to use a spittoon as a temporary lavatory.

I would like to find out from the Minister whether he remembers that last year there was an unfortunate incident relating to a small girl in this area because there are no self-contained lavatories. This child was victimised and killed after having gone to the common lavatory.

In view of the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, I would like to ask him whether he is prepared to convert the existing flats for the use of male residents only, or as quarters for men, and the present tenants may be given some other accommodation with self-contained lavatories and kitchens.

An hon. Member: Provide separate lavatories.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Delta has mentioned just now three points relating to one-room units which have given rise to some inconvenience and possible trouble.

We are all aware that the one-room units are rather crowded in space, which is very limited. So certainly this will give rise to some inconvenience at times.

As to the other point about converting the present structures, I have already said that it would cost about $½ million for the reconstruction of existing units into some other kind of units. In other words, the Government has to spend $500 on the reconstruction of each unit. If the Government really desires to spend this additional sum of money, it will mean that the subsidy will have to be increased. At the present moment, it is most uneconomical to spend $½ million. It is also unrealistic because this sum of money could be put to better use elsewhere by putting up more units of houses for other people. Regarding the present residents who may have to face unpleasant inconveniences, I think this is not the responsibility of the Housing Board.

Madam Chan Choy Siong: (In Mandarin): I have just now asked a question which has not yet been answered. That question is this: if he cannot do any of these two things, whether he is prepared to do this within the shortest possible time, that is, to allow the present tenants to have fair treatment by moving them into alternative accommodation so that they can get away from the inconvenience and other unpleasant incidents.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, at the present moment, applications for Housing Board accommodation in Bukit Ho Swee amount to about 8,000; that means to say, there are still 8,000 applicants on the waiting list for accommodation in Bukit Ho Swee. The request to transfer existing tenants to some other place within Bukit Ho Swee is impossible because there is no available accommodation at the present moment.

Mr S. Rajoo (Farrer Park): We understand that the Singapore Government is trying to improve the living and economic conditions of the people. The answer from the Parliamentary Secretary seems to be that he does not consider human beings as human beings.

Mr Barker: On a point of order, Sir. If the Member is asking a supplementary, I think he should get on to it. We have had many a supplementary in this House preceded by a long speech.

Mr Rajoo: Yes, Sir. My supplementary question is this: the Parliamentary Secretary has not clearly answered whether he is prepared to convert these flats into better living quarters for human beings.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think my Parliamentary Secretary has made it quite clear. He says that it cannot be done because it is too expensive and we are not going to do it.