SEMBAWANG/WOODLANDS AREA (Development into industrial complex)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the Government's plan to develop the Sembawang and Woodlands areas into an industrial complex.

Mr Tang See Chim (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, approximately 6,000 acres of land in the Sembawang/Woodlands area, with existing housing, industrial and other facilities, together with waterfront land with access to a deep-sea channel, will be available for civilian use when the British withdraw from the Naval Base by 1971. These facilities, with suitable development and conversion, can provide sub stantial infra-structure for a potential industrial complex which would generate new activities to replace the old military activities and to absorb the labour force formerly employed in the military establishment.

A naval dockyard has already been converted for civilian use. And a preliminary study is being conducted with the view to drawing up a master plan for the development and conversion of the area for civilian use according to the phased withdrawal of the military base and according to the estimated requirement of industrial land.

At the present time, approximately 390 acres of swampy land within the Naval Base situated west of the Naval Dockyard are being surveyed and tenders for earth works in this area will soon be called.