HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Alternative sites for occupiers of cleared or demolished stores and warehouses)

Mr Low Yong Nguan asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board (a) how many premises under the category of stores or warehouses have been cleared or demolished under the urban renewal programme up to the latest convenient date; and (b) whether alternative sites have been allotted to the occupiers of those premises, and, if not, if he will consider making the necessary changes to the rules governing the provision of alternative sites for such premises for the Board to offer alternative accommodation to those occupiers.

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, up to the 31st December, 1969, 174 stores and warehouses had been cleared or demolished to make way for urban renewal. It was not possible to provide alternative accommodation as the Housing and Development Board has not built any store or warehouse. However, most of those evicted have found their own accommodation.

The State and City Planning Office has conducted a survey of stores and warehouses to gather data for the proposed construction of a warehouse complex to be developed on the reclaimed land at Pasir Panjang. When this complex is completed, occupiers of stores and warehouses evicted in the future under urban renewal programmes can and will be given alternative accommodation.

Mr Low Yong Nguan (Crawford): Sir, what is the Minister's attitude towards occupiers of stores and warehouses who have been evicted and are unable to find legal structures for their stores? Probably they have moved to places which are illegal as storehouses.

Mr Barker: As I have pointed out, most of them have found their own accommodation. But if such accommodation infringes planning rules or regulations, then further action will be taken against them.

Mr Low Yong Nguan: Sir, will the Ministry encourage these occupiers to participate in urban renewal projects that are meant for building warehouses and stores, etc.?

Mr Barker: If by participation the Member means tendering for urban renewal sites which are offered to the public, I would say yes.

Mr Low Yong Nguan: Will the Minister consider giving them special incentives?

Mr Barker: No, I will not.

Mr Lee Teck Him (Ulu Pandan)In Mandarin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has said that he cannot give concessions to those who are evicted. This is wrong. We must give them concessions because they are Singapore citizens. If we give concessions to foreigners -

Mr Speaker: Order. Mr Lee, this is Question Time. Have you any supplementary question to ask the Minister? This is not debating time, please.

Mr Lee Teck Him: (In Mandarin): Sir, we should give concessions to our people.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, perhaps the Member has misunderstood my answer, probably because I speak English and he speaks Mandarin. I did not say that we would not give any concessions. In fact, we compensate those people whom we evict from urban renewal sites, and, as far as possible, if we can, we provide alternative accommodation. So there is compensation plus accommodation where possible. But when it comes to tendering for public sites which are offered for urban renewal, these public tenders will be treated equally. We cannot give special incentives to anyone tendering for these sites.