CLEARANCE AND RE-SITING OF HAWKERS (Particulars)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Health how many hawkers were cleared and re-sited in 1969; which are the areas involved; whether any expenditure has been incurred by the Hawkers Branch; what and where are the areas, if any, at which his Ministry intends to re-site those hawkers; and whether any assistance will be given, and in what form.

The Minister for Health (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, a total of 1,689 hawkers from 22 different areas were re-sited in 1969. I have a list* showing the areas and the number of hawkers involved. As it is a rather long list, I propose, Sir, with your permission, to circulate copies of it among the Members of this House. [Copies of list handed in to the Clerk and distributed to Members.]

(* See appendix, cols. 595-8.) Appendix to Question 8 (col. 565) (Cols 0595-0598)

Mr Speaker, Sir, the expenditure incurred in preparing the various sites to re-site these 1,689 hawkers totalled $10,750. Most of the expenditure was in respect of wages for labourers and workmen of the Ministry of Health. Nearly all the material used, that is, cement slabs, etc, was obtained from Government stores. The only material purchased was cement.

It has not been firmly decided what are the areas from which hawkers will be resited this year. In general, the areas will, however, be:

(a) those under immediate urban renewal clearance;

(b) those involving main traffic routes where there is serious obstruction; and

(c) where and when suitable alternative accommodation is available.

By "suitable alternative accommodation", I do not mean the nearest backlane or sidelane, for it has been decided that hawkers should henceforth be re-sited only in proper sites. Not every hawker will get direct Government assistance, but deserving hawkers will be considered for subsidised rental when they are re-sited into proper premises to enable them to cater just as cheaply as they did when they were conducting business on the street.

For the information of the Member for Punggol, I would like to state that hawkers and stallholders inside and outside markets in 1969 cost the Government a total expenditure of $397,060.69 made up as follows: (a) $265,396.74 for tap water (b) 79,129.10 for electricity (c) 17,217.00 for installation of standpipes (d) 899.50 for maintenance of and repair of standpipes (e) 34,418.35 for Government tax on P.U.B. bills ----------- $397,060.69 =========== Mr Speaker, Sir, it must be appreciated that the assistance given to hawkers by Government is by no means small.