CHIEF BUILDING SURVEYOR'S DEPARTMENT (Revision of house plan No. 2A)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he is aware that persons intending to use the standard type house plan No. 2A of the Chief Building Surveyor's Department usually make certain alterations to the plan before adopting it; and if steps will be taken to make available a revised plan 2A incorporating the alterations generally made.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the standard type house plan No. 2A of the Chief Building Surveyor's Department is meant to serve as a guide to those intending to build a simple house and who cannot afford to employ an architect to design his house. Minor alterations to the standard type plan are permissible if such alterations are within the provisions of the building regulations, and often applicants do make such alterations to suit their individual tastes. But to revise this standard type plan to incorporate all the alterations generally made will not prevent further requests for alterations to the plan, as individual requirements and tastes differ widely. It is far better, therefore, to allow a certain degree of flexibility in the design of a house plan by retaining the standard plan as a guide and allowing alterations than to have a plan that attempts to represent all requirements and individual tastes and that allows for no changes.