RECLAMATION AT TANJONG RHU/ESPLANADE

4.22 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion standing in my name,

That this Parliament in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the foreshore and sea-bed containing an area of approximately 306 acres from the location of the Singapore Swimming Club at Tanjong Rhu to the Esplanade as delineated on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/67", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

This is the third phase of the scheme for the reclamation of the foreshore and sea-bed along East Coast Road. The first phase of the reclamation scheme of foreshore and sea-bed along Upper East Coast Road from the junction of Bedok Road was a pilot scheme completed in late 1963 and realised a surveyed area of 37 acres. Work on the second phase, the 1,000-acre reclamation of foreshore from Bedok to Tanjong Rhu approved in 1965 by the then Legislative Assembly, is progressing satisfactorily according to schedule and is expected to be completed by mid-1970. The Government now proposes to reclaim a further 306 acres of foreshore from the Singapore Swimming Club right up to the end of Tanjong Rhu and from Nicoll Highway to Elizabeth Walk, near the Singapore River mouth. A copy of the reclamation plan is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of Members.

Mr Speaker, Sir, this phase of the reclamation, which will also be undertaken by the Housing and Development Board acting as agents of the Government, will, it is envisaged, be undertaken in two parts. The first part will comprise the reclamation of 80 acres from the Singapore Swimming Club to the end of Tanjong Rhu. The fill will come from Bedok where there is sufficient earth for this reclamation as well and will be transported by an extension of the present conveyor belt system already in use. The second part will consist of the reclamation of 226 acres along Nicoll Highway up to the Singapore River mouth. The fill will come from excess earth from the development at Seventh Precinct No. 1, Erskine Hill, the balance of the Tiong Bahru fire site, Queenstown neighbourhood. 6 and 7, and Telok Blangah New Town. It is anticipated that the whole project will be completed by 1971.

No firm decision has been made on the utilisation of this land. However, the first public project to be undertaken will be the construction of a coastal highway from Bedok to the city.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Mr Tang See Chim: Mr Speaker, Sir, we all know that Singapore is a very small island and that the only way to increase its size is to reclaim the fore-shore and the sea-bed. In this respect, I heartily support the motion of the Minister to reclaim the foreshore and sea-bed from the location of the Singapore Swimming Club at Tanjong Rhu to the Esplanade as delineated on the plan which is at present deposited at the Land Office.

Mr Speaker, Sir, while we appreciate that using modern machinery to reclaim land is very efficient as evidenced by the present reclamation at Bedok, I was wondering whether, in view of our large pool of unemployed labour, the Minister could consider the possibility of employing more manual labour in reclamation rather than having it all done by machinery - capital-intensive - just conveyor belts, cutters and special machines for filling. Ordinarily it is no doubt more efficient and much quicker, possibly even less expensive, to do it by machinery, but there are special circumstances in Singapore and I would commend to the Minister for his attention my suggestion on using more labour.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, on principle, I support the Minister in his policy to reclaim more land for development purposes. However, I am afraid that because of this massive programme of reclamation we will have to suffer a great loss in our natural sea-bed and foreshore. This will, of course, mar our reputation as a beautiful island State. This will affect indirectly our tourist trade.

I would like to put forward to the Minister my suggestion that when reclamation work is undertaken in future the location should be diverted, that is to say, instead of reclaiming the sea-bed, we should level off the hills and use the earth to fill in the marsh lands and swampy areas. This will certainly go towards increasing our land area and, at the same time, preserving the beautiful view of the horizon from our seashore. This will give an impetus to tourism.

Mr Barker: If I may deal with the Member for Choa Chu Kang who has suggested that we employ more labour. The answer, for the present contract, is a big "No". The reason is that the first part of the reclamation has been let out by tender to a Japanese firm of contractors and we are, of course, bound by that contract. And it is up to this firm to decide whether or not they want to use their machines or use more labour. But for future contracts in respect of land reclamation, perhaps consideration can be given to the suggestion of the Member for Choa Chu Kang.

Mr Tang See Chim: On a point of clarification, Mr Speaker, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Mr Barker, are you prepared to give way?

Mr Barker resumed his seat.

Mr Tang See Chim: Will the Minister inform us whether the contract for this reclamation has already been awarded to the Japanese firm, or is it going to be awarded only after the reclamation has been approved by this House and only then a call for tender will be made?

Mr Barker: I did not say that tenders have been called for and accepted. In fact, we cannot reclaim any part of the foreshore without first seeking permission from the House. I refer to the reclamation which is at the moment taking place, for which approval has already been given by the House, and for which the tender has been given to a firm of Japanese contractors. For that I have said it is up to the Japanese firm to decide whether or not they want more labour or they want to use German machines and Australian ---

Mr Tang See Chim: On a point of clarification again, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Mr Barker, are you prepared to give way?

Mr Barker: If the Member will sit down and let me finish, and then I will be prepared to clarify. But I am not prepared to make a clarification whilst I am in the middle of the first clarification. And I have said that for future reclamation, the one for which I now seek the permission of the House, consideration will be given to the Member's suggestion. I am now prepared to clarify.

Mr Speaker: Mr Tang.

Mr Tang See Chim: Mr Speaker, Sir, I was talking about the contract for the reclamation that we are going to approve, if it is at all to be approved, this afternoon and not about the contract that is now being carried out by the Japanese at Bedok. Surely I realise that that contract has already been awarded and it is not up to us now to say whether they should engage more labour or use more machinery.

Mr Speaker: Mr Barker.

Mr Barker: I have made it quite clear that for future contracts we will consider the Member's suggestion. I have said it twice. I say it once more.

Mr Lee Teck Him rose -

Mr Barker: I have not finished with Mr Teong Eng Siong.

Mr Speaker: Mr Lee, the Minister is in the course of answering questions raised by Mr Tang and by Mr Teong in their speeches. I only allowed Mr Tang's intervention on a point of clarification. I have called the Minister to reply to the motion and I will not take any new matter at this stage. Mr Barker.

Mr Lee Teck Him: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I heard the Minister say that he is prepared to make any clarification which the Members wish to ask for. Can I raise my doubt and seek clarification?

Mr Speaker: Will Mr Lee resume his seat and let Mr Barker finish?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am prepared to listen to the Member for Tiong Bahru if you will allow him to speak after I have finished with the Member for Sembawang. His grouse is that we are reclaiming land from the sea and, as a result, he says we have lost our seashore. I really do not understand how we lose the seashore. When you reclaim a coast, all you are doing is to push the seacoast back but it is still there. He suggests that we reclaim swamps and low-lying land in Singapore. I can assure him that that is being done and has been done in the past. The outstanding example is Jurong which was reclaimed from a swamp. Another bright example is the reclamation which is now taking place at Kranji. But the land along East Coast Road is a valuable strip and will provide Singapore, which is only 224 square miles of land, with another two square miles of land. I say two after 224 is well worth having.

Mr Speaker: Mr Lee, the Minister has indicated that he will deal with any points you have and I am prepared to let you address the House.

Mr Lee Teck Him: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister said a few moments ago that reclamation work has produced good results. But I have been given to understand that for this reclamation project we have to pay about $50 million to a Japanese firm. We do not know how much has been paid to this firm. But so far the money paid can almost be said to have been thrown into the sea. We have not seen any concrete result yet. So what are the achievements? In my view, the money should have been spent on building more houses to resolve the housing shortage, or building more factories or setting up vocational schools. What are the good results the Minister is talking about? I do not see any.

Mr Speaker: Before the Minister replies, may I find out if there are any other Members with any other queries to raise? There are none, Mr Barker.

Mr Barker: The Member is right when he referred to the previous reclamation which cost about $50 million. But two square miles of land which will be worth probably about $5 per square foot is well worth reclaiming. We will get more than $53 million back. We are not throwing the money into the sea. We are reclaiming the sea. Otherwise we will reach a position where the price of land will reach a fantastic level in Singapore. Our buildings are already going up higher and higher and every available space of land is certainly well worth having on a small island like ours.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 foreshore and sea-bed containing an area of approximately 306 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the acres from the location of the Singapore Swimming Club at Tanjong Rhu to the Esplanade as delineated on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/67", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

Mr Speaker: I think it will be convenient to take the suspension now. I will suspend now and take the Chair again at 5.15 p.m.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 4.41 p.m. until 5.15 p.m. Sitting resumed at 5.15 p.m.