HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Resettlement of motor industry at Serangoon Road and other areas)

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board whether and what plans the Board has to resettle persons engaged in the motor industry at Serangoon Road and other areas.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Housing and Development Board proposes to develop a 60-acre site off the 5½ milestone Upper Thomson Road into an industrial estate for the resettlement of small industries affected by Government's development projects. In addition, residential units will also be built in the proposed estate. The motor industries at Serangoon Road and other places that are required by Government to make way for development will be offered alternative sites in the proposed industrial-cum-residential complex.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Mr Speaker, Sir, will the complex include spray-painting, battery and spare-parts shops and other divisions of the motor industry?

Mr Barker: The answer is, yes, they will. If the Member is interested in further particulars, the proposed complex will comprise the following: about 194 units of two-storey garages-cum-flats; about 33 units of industrial shops with living quarters on the second storey; about 28 units of shops with living quarters on the upper storeys; about 170 units of improved three-room flats and four units of eating houses. In addition to motor garages, there will be space for bus companies and also the Registry of Vehicles.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Mr Speaker, Sir, how long has the Housing and Development Board been studying the plans to re-locate motor repairers and other divisions of the motor industry, and how long will it take to complete this study?

Mr Barker: Sir, part of the land affected does not belong to Government, and that land will have to be acquired and the squatters evicted. This will take a little more time. It has already taken some time, as the Member has pointed out. But if all goes well, construction work should begin towards the end of this year.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Sir, when is the target date for the completion of the complex?

Mr Barker: The complex will be completed within two years of the commencement of building operations.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Mr Speaker, Sir, if it takes two years for the complex to be completed, will motor repairers and others affected by development clearance schemes be evicted now before they can be allocated a place to carry on their trade?

Mr Barker: Sir, this is a general question which I find difficult to answer. But every case is treated on the merits of the particular motor industry, where it is situated, and whether or not we will be able to site it either at the proposed complex or elsewhere.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Sir, will the motor repairers at Serangoon Road, Boon Keng Road and Lavender Street be evicted before the completion of the complex?

Mr Barker: I would say that it is highly unlikely.