UPPER THOMSON ROAD (Effect of widening on residents and shop-keepers)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Law and National Development (a) when work will commence to widen Upper Thomson Road between 4¾ m.s. and 6½ m.s.; and (b) what measures he proposes to take to safeguard the interests of the residents and shop-keepers who will be directly affected by the project.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, work on the widening of Upper Thomson Road between 4¾ m.s. and 6½ ms, has been carried out up to the maximum possible width. Further widening can only be carried out when the existing shops and houses which line both sides of the road are demolished.

The Housing and Development Board plans to construct two shopping centres with residential flats to re-site the occupants of the shops and houses along this stretch of road. One centre will be built at the 4¾ m.s. Thomson Road, near the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and the other near the junction of Thomson Road and the Island Club Road. In order to build these two centres, a few structures will have to be demolished and their occupants resettled.

The occupants of the other structures along both sides of this stretch of road will only be resettled when the building of the two centres is completed, after which Upper Thomson Road will be widened into a dual carriage way.

Mr Ang Nam Piau (Thomson): Can the Minister tell the House how many residents and shop-keepers will be directly affected by this project?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, a survey carried out has shown that there are 124 shop-houses and 211 residential homes along this stretch of road. I cannot say exactly how many persons will be affected.

2.41 p.m.