DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1970, TO 31ST MARCH, 1971

Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [Allotted Day].

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

2.36 p.m.

The Chairman: Development Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1970, to 31st March, 1971, contained in Paper Cmd. 5 of 1970. Before I go further, I must remind Members that the debate on these Development Estimates will proceed purely on the basis of development and principles concerning development. Members will therefore confine their remarks to the development aspects of the items they propose to discuss, and I intend to be strict on this.

I might add that the amount of time requested by Members for the discussion of their various amendments exceeded the time available by almost four times, and it was necessary, therefore, to curtail Members' requirements by about three-quarters. I hope Members will have this in mind when they speak on their amendments and will be as brief as possible in their speeches in order that all, or, failing that, as many as possible, of the amendments standing on the Order Paper Supplement can be taken.

For the convenience of Members, I intend taking the total for each head of expenditure as it appears in the last column of Summary of Estimated Expenditure on pages 5 and 6 of the Paper.

I shall deal first with the heads of expenditure in respect of which amendments stand on the Order Paper Supplement.

Head 10 -

Mr Lim Cheng Lock (Kampong Kapor): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 10 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 001 of subhead 101.

Mr Speaker, Sir, it is acknowledged that over the past ten years, Singapore has made considerable progress politically, socially, industrially and economically. New laws have been introduced and passed and existing laws have been revised and brought up to date. But I must say that reasonable and suitable accommodation for the administration of justice does not keep pace with other fields of progress that we have made. I refer to the Criminal District and Magistrates' Courts at South Bridge Road. It is stated in the Memorandum on the Development Estimates (Misc. 2 of 1970) that the building is very old and dilapidated. In fact, the conditions are considered unsafe and also overcrowded.

Sir, although the total expenditure for the construction of a new building is estimated to cost $6.4 million, only a sum of $750,000 is to be voted for this year and that is also subject to Treasury's sanction. According to the Estimates (Cmd. 4 of 1970), the revenue derived from these courts during the past year amounted to about $3 million for fines in the subordinate courts, and about $2 million in the traffic courts, making a total revenue of about $5 million. I am sure, Sir, that the Minister for Law will agree that even the offenders should expect reasonable accommodation when they appear in these courts. Furthermore, the judges, magistrates and the staff who work in these courts should be provided with more reasonable and suitable accommodation.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, the need for a new building to house our subordinate courts, i.e., the Criminal District and Magistrates' Courts, the Traffic Courts and the Civil District Courts, have been felt since 1963. However, for one reason or another, it was not possible to implement the proposal until now, when opportunity has been taken, with the proposed redevelopment of the areas adjoining and surrounding the existing Criminal District and Magistrates' Courts in South Bridge Road under the urban renewal scheme, to provide a site approximately 92,000 square feet in area for this new building opposite the present Ministry of Labour within the area bounded by Park Road, Pearl's Hill Road, Havelock Road and New Market Road. The new building will be a 14-storey one designed to cope with the needs of the next 50 years. It will have a floor area of about 200,000 square feet, of which a little more than half will be air-conditioned. Besides 25 court rooms, there will be chambers, ante-chambers, witness rooms and a big general office.

The building, which is estimated to cost $6½ million - and this excludes furniture and equipment is expected to be completed within a period of three years. It is hoped to be able to commence construction work in July this year. The provision of $750,000 now provided under Head 10, subhead 101, item 001, is required to meet the cost of initial work for the foundation, piling and likewise. In fact, the sum has received the approval of Treasury.

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Sir, in view of the explanation. I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $750,010 for Head 10 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

2.45 p.m.

Head 11 -

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 11 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

It is noted that a sum of $300,000 has been provided in the two items under the above subhead for improvements to the National Museum (Works and Buildings - $200,000) (Furniture and Equipment - $100,000), and I wish to take this opportunity to praise and thank the Minister concerned for his keen interest shown in this respect. My suggestion made last year that the names of the various categories of exhibits in the National Museum be written in four languages has been accepted and implemented. This is confirmed by my visit to the museum recently.

Now, I wish to ask the Minister the following four questions:

(i) What improvements will be made to the National Museum?

(ii) What type of equipment will be purchased for the museum, and what is the estimated cost?

(iii) What was the sum incurred in the purchase of curios last year?

(iv) During the past year, how many persons visited the museum and what was the percentage of visitors who were students?

Mr Speaker, Sir, may know whether the National Museum arranged for students to visit museum, because I think this increase their cultural knowledge?

The Minister for Education (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, following the Government's decision in 1968 to convert the museum into a natural history museum, it was decided that the reorganisation be held in abeyance pending the recommendations and costing by a U.N.E.S.C.O. expert for whose services the Ministry of Science and Technology had requested. The expert, Mr James Gardner, a designer, arrived in late January 1970 for a short stay of ten days. He advised that the present taxonomic arrangement was out of date and that, instead, the approach should be one that would lend itself to lively presentation.

He recommended that a far greater sum of money than the amount provided for is required for the reorganisation. He recommended to the Museum Board and the Minister for Science and Technology that a pilot project be implemented. The pilot project, which will set the trend for future reorganisation of the museum, will depict the ecology of a tropical rain forest. It will cover about 5,000 square feet and will cost about $300,000. Action has been taken with Mr Gardner, now in London, for the preparation of a new brief with detailed costing for submission to the Ministry of Finance. As for equipment, we are now awaiting detailed costing of the items from Mr Gardner. The items will include modern show-cases with internal light fittings for all the exhibits pertaining to the rain forest. The exhibits will comprise insects, large and small mammals and birds, as well as fabricated interiors of the various habitats these animals occupy.

Last year, 304,000 persons, the majority of whom are students, visited the museum as against 342,000 in 1968. However, for the first two months in 1970, a record number of 221,000 persons visited it. Arrangements are being made for school children to visit it on conducted tours. I think at the moment there are two teachers attached to the National Museum.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his answer. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong (Mountbatten): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 11 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201*.

(*The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting.)

Sir, our young people today are more inclined to the study of science than art. This is borne out by the fact that there is an increasing enrolment for the science stream at the pre-university level. It is from this pre-university level that the students branch out to specialise in chemistry, physics, engineering, medicine, etc, when they enter the universities or other institutions of higher learning.

Sir, in the process of industrialisation, there is a great need for more and more science graduates and other professionals to man the essential posts in all fields. It is, therefore, important for our young people in schools as well as the general public to have a good understanding of what science can do for mankind in general, and how it can help our society in particular to achieve success in our industrialisation programme. In this respect, the Government has not lost sight of the need to build a Popular Science Centre for this purpose. It has already been explained in the Memorandum on the Development Estimates (Misc. 2 of 1970) that the building of this Popular Science Centre is to give the people of Singapore a better understanding of the role of science and technology in the Republic's industrialisation programme.

Sir, in the Minister's reply to the Member for Telok Blangah earlier on, when the House discussed the Ordinary Estimates, he told us what he proposed to do and what he wished to achieve with this Popular Science Centre. Can he again elaborate on this subject for the benefit of the Members in this House?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Popular Science Centre project has been quite adequately explained by my colleague. I do not think there is any need for me to add to his explanation.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Before I withdraw my amendment, I would like to ask the Minister when this Popular Science Centre will be set up.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, at the moment we are looking for a suitable site for this centre. When it is available, further publicity will be given to this project. The Member for Mountbatten will then be duly informed.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Is it in the Mountbatten Constituency? On that note, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $1,800,030 for Head 11 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 21 -

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 001+.

(+ The same amendment also stood in the names of Mr Ho Kah Leong and Mr Lim Soo Peng.)

Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand that $50 million has been provided to expand Jurong Town. I think this expenditure is important and can benefit our country. However, I wish to ask three questions. First, for what purpose is this large sum of money intended? Secondly how many acres of land have been used for building factories in Jurong Town? Thirdly, how many applications for factories have been deferred?

Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the Member for Sembawang for being very concerned about the affairs in Jurong.

The reason why I move this amendment is that I would like to seek information on two points. First, can the Minister tell us whether the provision of this $50 million also includes provision for the setting up of a community centre? We all know that in the last few years the development in Jurong has been very rapid and there are now more than 20,000 residents there.

3.00 p.m.

At present there is a community centre housed in flat premises. It does not meet the needs of the residents there because it is quite far away from the main residential area. I would like to ask the Minister whether a community centre located in a central point in Jurong Town will be built.

The other question is whether this $50 million provision includes the building of a secondary school in Jurong Town. I ask this question because at present there is only one primary school there and it is overcrowded. Therefore, many secondary school students living in Jurong Town have to go to schools at distant places. Can the Minister tell us whether the Jurong Town Corporation intends to build a secondary school in Jurong Town?

Mr Lim Soo Peng (Havelock): Sir, in providing facilities and amenities, the Jurong Town Corporation appears to have forgotten a very important need - there is no fire station in this industrial area. A fire station is the back-bone of our industrial system. The nearest fire station is miles away, and at present even without a traffic jam a fire engine takes 15 to 20 minutes to reach a factory in the Jurong industrial estate. If it is not the responsibility of the Jurong Town Corporation to provide a fire station, will it not at least make available a piece of land for a fire station, and get the proper authorities to put it up? After all, the Jurong Town Corporation has to protect its own interests as well.

The Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Sir, this loan of $50 million will pay for a wide range of development projects which the Jurong Town Corporation intends to carry out in this fiscal year. It includes land development, both in Jurong estate as well as in other areas of Singapore. It is also proposed to extend the deep-water wharves, and the total cost of this wharf extension will be $10 million. Standard factory buildings, as well as flatted factory buildings, are expected to come to nearly $13 million. A total of $8.8 million will go towards the construction of workers' houses in Jurong, and $1.5 million in housing for other industrial estates. Then, of course, a substantial amount will be spent on social amenities, such as the park, the aviary, a sports complex, and a public jetty to facilitate transportation between Jurong and some of the southern islands which have been developed for industrial purposes. These, broadly, are the main purposes for which the loan money will be used.

The Member for Sembawang asks for details of the acreage of land opened for industrial use, as well as the number of outstanding applications. The land in Jurong available for industrial use now stands in the region of 4,000 acres. The number of outstanding applications varies from time to time. I cannot give the exact figure off-hand, but I think it is probably between 40 and 60 applications which need to have their land requirements fulfilled.

The Member for Jurong wants to know whether this $50 million loan will include expenditure on a community centre. There is an item here with the heading, "Mosque, community centre, etc." at Kampong Java Teban, and a sum of $20,000 has been set aside for this.

As regards a secondary school for Jurong, no secondary schools will be built there. Most of the workers there are not married, and those who are married have very young children. In fact, even the primary school in Jurong has not been filled up. So it will be many years before we need secondary schools in the estate itself. But there are secondary schools quite close by, for instance, the Jurong Integrated Secondary School at 12¼ m.s. Jurong Road, the Yusof Ishak Integrated Secondary School in West Coast Road, and the Toh Tuck lntegrated Secondary School in Toh Tuck Road. These three secondary schools are well under capacity, and they may serve the population of Jurong for some time.

As regards a fire station, no fire station will be built in the Jurong industrial estate. There is a fire station in Queenstown, and there is another fire station in Bukit Timah. So the necessity of having one in Jurong is not all that urgent. In fact, when the fireworks factory in Jurong blew up about a year ago, the fire brigade got there in a very short time - five minutes, I believe; in any case very much less than 15 minutes. In fact, in the Development Estimates in one of the previous years, a sum of $1.5 million was provided for a fire brigade. My officials had a look at it and wondered whether there was any justification for spending this large sum of money for a fire brigade. Most of the money spent on this fire brigade would be to provide quarters for the firemen. This is one of the extraordinary features about Government development projects - the money is not spent on items that one would conclude from reading the title of the project. For instance, $5 million is to be spent on, say, building a prison. You will find that $4 million will be spent not on housing the convicts, but on housing the prison staff. It is the same with this vote. I hope we can develop a system where the firemen will go to the fire brigade station according to a duty roster, but go home after that. I do not understand why we have to provide accommodation on the site of the fire brigade station. Certainly in other countries they do not have this. So if the Member for Havelock wants to have a fire station there, but without firemen's quarters, then I think my Ministry will be more willing to consider this proposition than otherwise.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I have a point to clarify. The Minister for Finance just now mentioned the building of a community centre and also that provision is ear-marked for the building of a mosque at Kampong Java Teban. I would like to point out that the place is not in Jurong Town. I would like to know whether he intends to build a community centre in the centre of Jurong Town.

As regards the Minister's reply that there is no need for a fire station in Jurong Town, I wish to say that I had an argument with the Minister for Social Affairs on this question. The Finance Minister says that it takes a fire engine only five minutes to reach the site of the fire. The Minister for Social Affairs did say that the firemen would take about one minute to be ready to leave the fire station. If that be the case, I think it is incredible that the journey from Bukit Timah to Jurong could be made within four minutes. In view of this, I feel that perhaps the Minister for Finance will reconsider the need for a fire station in Jurong.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Not for $1.5 million. If the residents in Jurong are prepared to have fire services on a more modest scale, where you park one or two engines with the crew on a rotating basis, then perhaps I might think it over. This sort of arrangement will be more reasonable and will be sufficient to deal with small outbreaks of fires in the factories. I do not think we need a large fire station such as we have in Queenstown or elsewhere.

As regards the community centre, I do not make the decision. I think it will be fairer if I do not decide such matters. It is best that the Member take it up with the Jurong Town Corporation. I believe the N.T.U.C. is represented on the Board of the Jurong Town Corporation, and maybe the N.T.U.C. representative will listen sympathetically to what the Member has to say.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the Minister's satisfactory reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The Chairman: Amendment (2)* has been cancelled. Amendment (3)+, Mr Ng Yeow Chong.

• Amendment (2), standing in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong, reads as follows:

That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 002.

• The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs, Teong Eng Siong, Ho Kah Leong and Lim Cheng Lock.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 003+.

(+ The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs. Teong Eng Siong, Ho Kah Leong and Lim Cheng Lock.)

Sir, when the Committee of Supply discussed the Second Supplementary Development Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1st January, 1969, to 31st March, 1970, I did raise the subject of building warehouses for the relocation of warehouses which are in acute shortage as a result of urban renewal schemes. The Minister for Finance then replied that warehouses were not the responsibility of the Jurong Town Corporation. I hope he will not say again that warehouses are not the responsibility of the Housing and Development Board.

Sir, in this respect, I would like to refer to Hansard, Vol. 26, col. 158, dated 7.9.67. The Minister for Law and National Development, in his written answer to my question, said, and I quote:

'I would like to assure the Honourable Member that my Ministry has indeed been looking into various possibilities of providing more warehouse facilities both in the suburbs and near industrial areas to enable commercial houses and distributors of merchandise to relocate warehouse affected by urban renewal.'

In the same Hansard, col. 159, the Minister continued:

'More investigations and feasibility studies are being undertaken by the Urban Renewal Department. Eventually, land may have to be reclaimed from the sea along Pasir Panjang to provide a warehouse zone that will be generally acceptable.'

More than two years have passed, and the shortage of warehouse facilities has not been solved. In fact, it has now become more acute, as more and more areas are being decontrolled for redevelopment. May I, therefore, ask the Minister concerned what plans have been made to solve this shortage of warehouses in the near future, and what is the progress of sea reclamation along Pasir Panjang for the warehouse zone?

3.15 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, in moving this amendment, I wish to raise three questions. Firstly, I have received complaints from some tenants of the Housing and Development Board flats that some of the staff of the Housing and Development Board are discourteous in that when the tenants (probably they are hawkers) pay their rents, they use silver coins - either ten cents or twenty cents coins - and these coins are not accepted.

The Chairman: Mr Teong, are you dealing with the right subhead or not?

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): It is subhead 003 "Loan to Housing and Development Board".

The Chairman: Yes, and please concentrate on subhead 003 "Loan to Housing and Development Board".

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, if I do not raise this matter about silver coins not being accepted by the H.D.B. staff now, then I will not have the opportunity to do so, because in the Development Estimates there is no such item.

As regards the H.D.B. officers refusing to accept silver coins from these tenants, I think there is no reason why they should not. Since silver coins are issued by the Government, why should they not be accepted by the H.D.B. staff? The only reason is that these officers are either discourteous or lazy.

Secondly, the complaint is on cleanliness in H.D.B. flats. As far as I know, the Government receives $10 from each unit of flats as maintenance for its cleanliness. Very often I discover that the sweepers do not do their sweeping every day. I would ask the Minister concerned to see that the sweepers do their work conscientiously.

Thirdly, I wish to know where the flats will be built with this loan.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two suggestions for the Minister concerned. Firstly, can flower troughs be made for the tenants of Housing and Development Board flats to put flowers along the public corridors in order to beautify the surroundings? At present they do not have a place to put their potted plants except along the public corridors. However, this will be interfered with by the officers of the Housing and Development Board. In order to solve this problem, I hope that the Minister concerned will take positive measures to enable tenants of H.D.B. flats to grow potted plants along the public corridors.

The second suggestion is this: Will a swill chute be provided by the H.D.B, for the tenants to throw away their swill? At present, they pour their swill into empty tins or cans and leave them in the common corridor, thereby raising a stinking smell. As a result, inspectors from the Housing and Development Board will interfere with them, saying that this method of disposing of their swill is not clean and healthy. In order to solve this problem, I would ask the Minister concerned whether he can consider erecting a chute or special container so that the tenants will be able to pour their swill down it. It will be more hygienic and will not raise a stinking smell this way. At the moment, the Housing and Development Board is charging the collectors of swill 10 cents per unit for the collection of swill. Some farmers who rear pigs will come and collect it. If there are no containers for the swill, the farmers will not be able to collect it.

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Mr Speaker Sir, under subhead 003, a sum of $100 million will be provided to the Housing and Development Board. I believe this sum will be provided at an interest rate of 7¾ per cent. The Housing and Development Board, in assisting persons who wish to own Housing and Development Board homes, gives loans to persons purchasing H.D.B. flats at an interest rate of 6¼ per cent. I wonder whether the Minister for Finance is aware of this subsidy that the people in Singapore who purchase H.D.B. homes are receiving. I am quite sure many persons in Singapore who purchase these homes do not realise the subsidy they are receiving from the Housing and Development Board.

I also wish to find out from either the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Law and National Development whether, in addition to this subsidy of $15 per $1,000 loan, the houses are sold at cost or at a profit?

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, if I may first deal with the queries of the Member for Mountbatten. Up to the 31st December of last year, 174 stores and warehouses had been cleared or demolished to make way for urban renewal. It has not been possible to provide alternative accommodation as the Housing and Development Board has not up to date built any store or warehouse for resettlement purposes. However, most of those evicted have found their own accommodation.

The Member will be interested to know that the State and City Planning Office has conducted a survey of stores and warehouses to gather data for the proposal to develop a warehouse complex at Pasir Panjang. The Port of Singapore Authority is also making investigations into the possibility of constructing warehouses within their property. If implemented, store and warehouse clearance cases can be offered alternative accommodation at the proposed complex. The Member also asked how far work has progressed. The answer is that the survey has just been completed and work has not started.

If I may deal with the Member for Sembawang and the Member for Jurong. Somehow the questions they asked me now should have been directed at me yesterday. Anyhow, I will deal with them.

The Member for Sembawang complains of discourtesy - silver coins not being received. Silver coins are valid tender and they should be received. If the Member knows of any particular case, he should give the particulars so that the matter can be investigated. As for cleanliness, it is agreed that the standard of cleanliness could be further improved. The Board is now exploring the possibility of establishing block and floor representatives to improve the management and to bring about a higher standard of cleanliness in the Housing and Development Board estates.

The Member for Jurong made remarks about providing a swill chute in flats to get rid of the swill. The problem of collecting swill led to some difficulties some time ago, but the matter has been satisfactorily resolved by the appointment of registered farmers as swill collectors. I understand that the collection of swill is done by means of proper containers and under controlled conditions.

As for planting flowers, substantial numbers of flower troughs have been provided in Housing and Development Board estates for landscaping and beautifying. The tenants are also encouraged to keep potted plants to make their flats more pleasant, so long as the potte4 plants do not fall down to the flat below.

I believe the Member for Sembawang wanted to know where we are going to build more flats. The answer is in several places in Singapore - Queenstown, Toa Payoh, Telok Blangah and even on both sides of Farrer Road.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: The Naval Base?

Mr Barker: No, I am afraid it will take some time before we reach the Naval Base.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am sure the Minister is fully aware that a lot of businessmen store their goods in their own private houses in the residential areas and even in flats or apartments. Will the various authorities like the Chief Building Surveyor's Department, the Ministry of Health, the Fire Brigade and the Planning Department be lenient with them in view of the shortage?

Mr Barker: I am afraid I cannot speak for the Fire Brigade. If there is a fire hazard, the Fire Brigade will ask them to move out. There have been cases of residential premises being used as warehouses. Depending on the type of goods stored, the vicinity and the particular circumstances temporary approval has been granted in many cases.

3.30 p.m.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Sir, can the Member for Kampong Kapor quickly recapitulate his questions?

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Sir, very briefly, what I wanted to find out from the Minister is whether he is aware that the sum of $100 million is being provided to the Housing and Development Board at an interest rate of 7¾ per cent, whereas the Board is giving loans to purchasers of flats at an interest rate of 6¼ per cent, which means that the Government is subsidising $15 per $1,000. In addition to this subsidy, can the Minister say whether the flats are sold by the Board at cost or at a profit?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Actually, the Government loan to the Housing and Development Board takes two separate forms: one is a 60-year loan at 7¾ per cent, and the other is a 10-year loan at 6 per cent, which is to finance houses put up for sale under the home ownership scheme. The Board itself lends money to purchasers at 6¼ per cent for 15 years. This has been extended to 20 years. Government, of course, has been subsidising this scheme all along. It is in the general interest that we should provide housing on the best possible terms.

As regards the sale of flats, the Housing Board is not a profit-making body and it sells at cost, taking into account administrative and other overheads. Indeed, because the Housing Board has been able to buy land in the past at very low rates, my guess is that if you value these properties at current land values, the purchasers would be getting very good value for their money.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 004*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting)

Sir, I have some questions on the National Stadium Corporation for the Minister. What is the object in setting up this Corporation? How will the provision of $7.8 million be utilised? What is the National Stadium Corporation's relation to the National Sports Promotion Board which has yet to be established? Will the Kallang Park Sports Complex be managed by the corporation? Will the Corporation also manage other sports stadiums elsewhere in the Republic, such as the Jalan Besar and Farrer Park Stadiums? Finally, will the Corporation run and manage small gymnasiums in various parts of the city for the benefit of our workers?

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, I seek somewhat different information from my colleague, the Member for Mountbatten. I remember that the National Stadium Complex was supposed to get its financial support from profits derived from the setting up of Singapore Pools (Pte.) Limited. In this respect, I shall be grateful if the Minister for Finance will disclose to this House how much has been collected by Singapore Pools (Pte.) Ltd, in respect of the two lotteries they run - Toto and the Singapore Sweep. How much of the collections have been ploughed back into the National Stadium? As the Member for Mountbatten has mentioned, I believe the Corporation has not been set up. In fact, the Bill is still with the Select Committee. How much will it cost us when the National Stadium Complex is completed? Can the Minister assure this House that it will not be another white elephant?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Sir, I hope I can remember all the questions that have been raised. First, what is this National Stadium Corporation? This has yet to be set up and the Corporation will look after the National Stadium. Whether it will look after other stadiums and whether it will establish gymnasiums I will not venture to predict. But the Corporation is quite different from the National Sports Promotion Board which is to promote sports. The Corporation will manage the National Stadium and one hopes that it will prevent the stadium from becoming a white elephant. It might well become a white elephant, as the Member for Punggol has said, but one hopes that that would not be the case.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I hope so!

Dr Goh Keng Swee: How much has been paid for this project from Singapore Pools? A sum of $4.2 million was contributed from Toto operations and $1.8 million came from the profits of the Singapore Sweep. This gives a total of $6 million. The stadium will eventually cost $18 million and the first stage of the project will be completed by the middle of 1972. Whether Singapore Pools will make profits fast enough to pay the contractors, I would not know.

3.38 p.m.

The Chairman: Time is up, Dr Goh.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The time allotted for Head 21 having expired, the following amendments were not proceeded with:

Mr Ng Yeow Chong:

Mr Lim Cheng Lock:

Mr Hwang Soo Jin:

Mr Ng Kah Ting:

(5) That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

Mr Ng Kah Ting:

(6) That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong:

Mr Lim Cheng Lock:

Mr Hwang Soo Jin:

Mr Ng Kah Ting:

(7) That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301.

The sum of $232,749,810 for Head 21 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates

Head 22 -

The following amendments stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting-

(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 22 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 22 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 404.

The Chairman: Mr Ng Kah Ting.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I am not moving the two amendments.

The sum of $1,233,800 for Head 22 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 31 -

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Mr Speaker. Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 31 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 001 of subhead 101.

Sir, the provision of over $1.7 million is for the construction of a luxury hotel adjacent to the Hotel and Catering Training Centre. In view of the overbuilding of private hotels, I wish to ask the Minister for Labour whether it is prudent for the Government to go into the hotel business on a commercial basis in competition with the other hotels.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour (Mr S. Rajaratnam): Mr Speaker, Sir, I presume that what the Member for Kampong Kapor wants to find out from me is whether it is prudent for the Government to go into the hotel business. Sir, anything that the Government does is always prudent. In this particular case, this is a hotel-cum-training centre. If we have to provide some 10,600 persons who will be required to service our fast-expanding hotel industry by 1972, then it is necessary that there should be some systematic training of staff. And this hotel - it is to be called Hotel Premier - is mainly for training people. We are not going into competition with the private hotels. I mentioned this project to some of the hoteliers and they were quite grateful that the Government is undertaking the task of providing a school and a hotel where potential hotel staff will get in-service training while they are on the job. At present, they are trained and have to learn their business in established hotels which sometimes do not add very much to the prestige or the efficiency of the hotels. Therefore, there is no question of Government going into the hotel business. After all, there are only 30 bedrooms in this hotel. In fact, far from offering competition to the private hotels, this hotel will enhance the efficiency and possibly the profits of private hotels.

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the names of Mr Ng Yeow Chong and Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 31 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

The Chairman: Mr Ng Yeow Chong, amendment (2).

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: I am not moving, Sir.

The Chairman: Mr Ng Kah Ting.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving, Sir.

The sum of $2,192,000 for Head 31 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 41 -

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Tay Boon Too -

(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

The Chairman: Amendment (1), Mr Tay.

Mr Tay Boon Too (Paya Lebar): I am not moving, Sir.

The Chairman: Amendment (2), Mr Ho Kah Leong.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 he reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 203*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon.)

Sir, as a graduate of Nanyang University, I am glad to see that more and more financial assistance is being given to the University. Under this item. the Government intends to spend about $700,000 on the sports complex, and this is heartening news.

3.45 p.m.

With regard to the building of this complex, I recall that it began when I was still in the University. At that time, only the land was levelled. The complex is about to be completed. I hope the students will make use of its training facilities and build up their bodies.

I would now like to ask a few questions on the development of Nanyang University. We read from the press that a College for Post-Graduate Studies was set up on the 20th of this month.

The Chairman: We are on the sports complex and not on the development of Nanyang University. Will the Member please confine himself to the sports complex?

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): I crave your indulgence and I hope you will allow me to ask certain questions on the development of Nanyang University. I think it is quite proper for me to talk on the development of Nanyang University since we are discussing the Development Estimates.

The Chairman: The $700,000 provision in the Development Estimates is for a sports complex and not for Nanyang University.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, apart from the sports complex, may I range over other topics regarding the development of Nanyang University?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member should have spoken on the item "Grants to higher education" as appeared in the Ordinary Estimates.

The Chairman: I agree with the Minister. The Member for Jurong should have done that. Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon (Tiong Bahru): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am having the same problem as my colleague, the Member for Jurong.

The Chairman: I am afraid you have submitted the wrong amendment. You should confine yourself to the sports complex.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: In that case, Sir, I am not moving.

The Chairman: Does the Minister wish to reply on the sports complex?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, there is nothing for me to reply. I think the Member for Jurong was praising the Government's decision to allocate a sum of $700,000 for the construction of a sports complex.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, since the Government has been giving a lot of assistance to Nanyang University, I would like to know whether it intends to help in its development. I hope the Minister will let the House know what other schemes the Government has in mind to develop Nanyang University.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: I am not sure whether the Member has finished asking what he wants to ask.

The Chairman: All these questions should have been asked during the debate on the Ordinary Estimates which we have been discussing for the last five days. The Member has moved an amendment to a subhead which concerns the sports complex, and yet he wants to ask about the development of Nanyang University. My ruling is that he is out of order. Will he withdraw his amendment?

Mr Ho Kah Leong: I withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(3) That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 205.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301.

This subhead concerns new primary schools. That the Government has not made proper plans for building new schools can be seen from the fact that in Tiong Bahru places for children in the primary schools are not sufficient. As a result, many pupils are being sent to distant schools. This is causing a lot of inconvenience to the pupils as well as the parents. We know that the Government is providing $100 million to the Housing and Development Board to build high-rise flats in the Tiong Bahru, Delta and Alexandra areas. After the Housing Board has built the flats, there will be more people staying in these areas. There will then be a serious problem of finding school accommodation for the children. I wonder whether the Government has any plans to build more schools in these areas.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not true that the Government has not properly planned its school building programme to cater for the new housing estates that are springing up all over Singapore. It is a case of financial stringency rather than poor planning. In fact, in many of the new Housing Board estates, school sites have been reserved but we have not been able to build schools because of financial reasons. There are enough school places in Singapore to cater for all children of school-going age. The problem is that there have been such a lot of population movements from the centre of the city to the new Housing Board estates that the schools in the centre of the city have vacancies, whereas in the Housing Board estates there are children of school-going age but no schools. I am afraid this problem will persist for quite a long time to come unless funds are available. As I said just now, in view of the financial stringency which my Ministry is required to exercise, new primary schools will only be built in areas where there is very extensive resettlement or the building of new flats by the Housing and Development Board or where replacement schools have to be provided because of urban renewal.

Members of the House are no doubt aware of the very small provision allocated for the development of new primary schools in this year's estimates. The provision is sufficient for the construction of only one primary school, which is now being built in MacPherson Housing Estate where an acute shortage of primary school places is being experienced largely because of intensive building by the Housing and Development Board in this area during the last couple of years. With no funds being made available to us, and as there has been no substantial building of new Housing and Development Board flats in the Tiong Bahru area, there are no immediate plans for the building of primary schools in that constituency.

However, Mr Speaker, Sir, a 10-storey primary school with an enrolment capacity of 2,800 is now being built in Chin Swee Road in Havelock Constituency to replace two very old schools, Sepoy Lines Malay School and Pearl's Hill School. They will soon have to be demolished to give way to urban renewal.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: (In Mandarin): I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ho Kah Leong

(5) That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 502.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: I am not moving amendment (5), Sir.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 601.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the title under this subhead is "Land Acquisition for Technical Education". There is a provision of $500,000 and, of course, as usual it is subject to Treasury sanction. I notice also that there is a revote of $311,800. I would like to seek clarification on the location of the land which will be required for technical education purposes.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Dr Lee Chiaw Meng): Mr Speaker, Sir, this sum is provided to pay for the land which belongs to the Housing and Development Board. It has been taken over by the Ministry of Education for the development of the Vocational Institute at Bukit Merah.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I have been told - rightly or wrongly - by the Parliamentary Secretary just now that this provision is for the Vocational Training institute. Would he care to elaborate further on the term "Vocational Training Institute"?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, actually I used the term "Vocational Institute" and not "Vocational Training Institute". With the introduction of the modular system of training at the beginning of this year, all the various types of training institutes have become unified into one type. In fact, all of them will henceforth be referred to as vocational institutes where instruction in a vocation will be given to the trainees.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, in that case, what is the difference between a vocational institute and a technical institute? In other words, what is the difference in the level of instruction between the two types of institute?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Sir, the vocational institute will teach more "how" and the technical institute will teach more "why". They differ in the skill and theoretical content of a particular trade. The technical institute will train craft technicians at a level which is slightly below that of a technical college and the vocational institute is for the training of craftsmen.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I am satisfied with the Parliamentary Secretary's reply. I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 701.

Sir, with your permission, may I, in my discussion, range over amendments (8)* and (9)+ which stand in my name?

The amendments read as follows:

*(8) That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 702.

+(9) That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 703.

The Chairman: Yes.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, this concerns the conversion of schools. Under these subheads one can see the following titles: subhead 701, "Construction of Centralised Workshops for Academic Schools"; subhead 702, "Modification of Multi-Purpose Schools Workshops"; subhead 703, "Conversion of Academic/Vocational Schools into Bilateral Schools"; and subhead 704, "Modification of Technical School Workshops". I have been trying to find out more about these titles from the Memorandum on the Development Estimates of Singapore for the financial year 1st April, 1970, to 31st March, 1971 (Misc. 2 of 1970), but I have not been able to get any clear picture of the type of conversion or construction. I hope the Parliamentary Secretary will elaborate further and inform this House of the exact nature of the work to be undertaken this year and next year.

4.00 p.m.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not surprised that explanatory notes on this conversion are not found in the Development Estimates, because they are all contained in a booklet which was tabled in Parliament last year. In this booklet, entitled One Year of Technical Education, we did lay down the proposed reorganisation whereby all boys and 50 per cent of the girls in Secondary I and II are required to go for three hours' training per week in metal work together with either woodwork or basic electricity. As such, we have to provide sufficient workshops to cater for this new subject that has been introduced for the first time in the secondary school curriculum. As most of the academic schools do not have a work. shop, and as this subject requires only three hours per week of training, we find it is better to locate all the facilities in one central place to be known as a centralised workshop to cater for a cluster of schools in that area. There are some 14 administrative units of centralised workshop, each of which will consist of four metal, two woodwork and two electricity workshops, and will cater for some 3,200 students.

The same set-up goes for the Multi-Purpose school which was first established in 1964. This, school provides, in addition to a classroom and science laboratory, facilities for art and craft work, domestic science teaching and technical education. This will enable all students to be educated according to their interest, ability, and aptitude.

With the introduction of this new workshop training in Secondary I and II curricula, it was decided that the technical workshop at these Multi-Purpose schools should be converted into a centralised workshop to cater for Secondary I and II academic school students living in that area.

In the case of academic/vocational schools, the conversion is of a slightly different nature. Since 1969 we have abolished all vocational schools and integrated them with the neighbouring academic schools into a bilateral school, which is a school consisting actually of two streams, one technical and the other academic. This will allow both streams of education to come under the same administrative head. And the vote asked for is to provide additional facilities to enable the student to go right up to Technical III and IV levels in the technical stream.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, in that case, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001.

This subhead concerns the Singapore Technical Institute, and Parliament is asked to vote for a provision of $300,000. I would like to know the location of this Institute, and what courses of study leading to what level it provides. I would also like to know the student enrolment, and whether the Minister or his Parliamentary Secretary can indicate the number of students who have passed out from this Institute.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Technical Institute will provide courses at craft-technician level, which I have explained earlier: there will be courses in mechanical engineering practice, applied electronics, furniture production, electrical craft technician, refrigeration, air conditioning, and engineering drawing. All these courses leading to the award of a Craft Technician Diploma which, as I have explained earlier, is slightly lower than that of a Technical College. Polytechnic and the Ngee Ann Technical College, in the sense that the courses that these Colleges conduct have a slightly higher theory content than those of the Singapore Technical Institute. The Singapore Technical Institute at the present moment is functioning temporarily in the Singapore Vocational Institute at Balestier Road. Proposals for its future development have been finalised, and it has been decided to house the Singapore Technical Institute permanently at a site provided near the MacPherson Housing Estate, which was formerly earmarked for the MacPherson Vocational Institute. Within this same complex, it will also house the Technical Department of the Teachers' Training College.

As the Singapore Technical Institute was only established at the beginning of 1969, it has not produced any graduates yet. The present enrolment is 240, and when the Institute is fully operational on completion of the new building, it will have a maximum enrolment of 1,000 full-time and 1,000 part-time students.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, in that case, when will the Institute be completed?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, the building for the Institute will be completed by April next year.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(11) That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1101.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I am not moving amendment (11).

The Chairman: Amendment (12) then, Mr Ng.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1202.

Sir, I believe this is a contribution to the Polytechnic. For last year there was only a token contribution of $10, but for this year a sum of slightly more than $1.5 million is asked for Works and Buildings and Furniture and Equipment. Will the Minister kindly indicate to this House what sort of Works and Buildings will entail such a high cost?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Sir, to meet the increasing demand for technicians as a result of our industrialisation programme, there is a need to expand the School of Industrial Technology at the Polytechnic. As we are all aware, the Polytechnic is at present sited at Prince Edward Road, and it has no room for expansion. The only alternative is to put up additional buildings to cope temporarily with the increasing intake of students. Consequently the Polytechnic obtained permission to use the land opposite its present site for the purpose of putting up additional temporary structures for a workshop, draughting room, offices, and lecture rooms.

The Polytechnic has agreed that emphasis in the teaching should be aimed at practical application rather than theoretical principles. This has resulted in the introduction of a new course known as the General Certificate of Industrial Technology. The intake for this particular course has increased substantially for the coming year. This has necessitated the provision of additional workshop and laboratory facilities, and additional equipment will be required for the new course. It is estimated that about $1.5 million will be required for works and buildings, and another $1 million approximately will be required for furniture and equipment. In addition, a sum of about $76,000 is needed to compensate the Ministry of Interior and Defence for vacating the land opposite the Polytechnic.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary has mentioned just now that the works and buildings will be of a temporary nature to cope with the increasing demand for places in the Polytechnic. I believe that the additional buildings for the Polytechnic on its present site will not be sufficient and there is contemplation to re-site the Polytechnic. Therefore, this being the case, can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether or not the Polytechnic, together with the Singapore Technical Institute which will be completed by 1971, could provide sufficient places, in spite of the present crash programme of building additional works and buildings? Under these circumstances, Sir, I would be grateful if the Parliamentary Secretary could also indicate where the new Polytechnic will be sited.

Mr Lim Kim San: In Punggol.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Certainly, Sir, not in Punggol. I would rather prefer Punggol to be a peaceful area, without all the banging going on in the machinery workshops. Anyway, my question is this: with the re-siting of the Polytechnic, the emphasis on technical education will inevitably be greater. So should we not start off on this new site rather than spend more than $1 .5 million on these works and buildings as a temporary measure?

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully agree with the Member for Punggol. Unfortunately we cannot yet locate an ideal site for the Singapore Polytechnic. Of this $1½ million, not all will be lost when the Polytechnic moves to the new site - if we ever locate one - because the present facilities are of a movable nature.

Incidentally, there is a vocational institute in Punggol Constituency.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I beg to correct the last sentence. The vocational secondary school in Punggol does not exist any more. It is now known as the Punggol Industrial Training Centre.

Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary has not given me a satisfactory reply with regard to the re-siting of the Polytechnic. He says that he has not been able to locate an ideal site for the Polytechnic. But can he assure this House that vigorous steps will be taken to ensure that the construction of the Polytechnic will not be too far into the future?

Mr E. W. Barker: If I may reply, Mr Speaker, Sir?

The Chairman: Yes.

Mr Barker: Sir, if plans for moving the University of Singapore to Kent Ridge are implemented, then the Polytechnic may move to the present site of the University. When the University moves, we must find a use for the present building and grounds. In my view, the present University site would be the best site for the Polytechnic.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I wish to thank the Minister for Law and National Development for his intervention and very good suggestion. And I hope the Minister for Education will take this into serious consideration. Under the circumstances, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

4.15 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the total sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $100*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting.).

Mr Speaker, Sir, the provision for this Head exceeds $22 million. Some of this money will be used to build technical schools and buy equipment and machinery. Such a big provision is necessary because we are now in the midst of expanding our technical education so as to train more and more technical personnel. I would like to ask the Minister a few questions.

Firstly, I have received complaints that the machinery in certain vocational institutes breaks down very often. This machinery is all very new but it breaks down after a short time and is left unattended to for a long period. This is a very grave defect. The Minister should see to it that his Ministry rectify the defect of not repairing machinery immediately it breaks down. I think it is not only a waste of public money, but it is also obstructing the studies of the students.

Secondly, the teaching aids and other equipment in the vocational schools are always missing. It seems that the administration of these schools is not very satisfactory. Teachers are not able to take care of this expensive equipment. This is another example of waste of public money.

Thirdly, as we have so many technical and vocational institutes, we must also have a sufficient number of teachers. The teachers in these institutes have to teach their subjects through the medium of English, as many of the terms are in English. Therefore, these teachers must have a high standard of English so that they are able to communicate to the students what they teach. I do not know whether the Technical Education Department has any plans to improve the standard of English of these teachers so that they will not be faced with difficulties when they give instruction to their students.

Fourthly, inspectors from the Technical Education Department seldom visit these technical institutes. Therefore, if the teachers are faced with difficulties, they are not able to get proper help and guidance from them.

Lastly, does the Minister intend to build a vocational or technical institute at Sembawang? This is because there is a naval base and a shipyard there. As the Government intends to build factories there, the building of a vocational or technical institute will facilitate the training of skilled workers to man these factories.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister several questions regarding Nanyang University.

From press reports, we know that a College for Post-Graduate Studies was set up on the 20th of this month. It is a milestone in the development of Nanyang University. We welcome the setting up of the college because it will help to train more professional people to serve our country. This college requires a big sum of money to carry out its activities. For example, it must at least have a good building. However, in the Development Estimates of 1970-71, I have not been able to find a provision for this College for Post-Graduate Studies. I would like to know what steps the Government intends to take towards the expansion of this College for Post-Graduate Studies.

In his financial statement, the Minister for Finance says the Government intends to recruit overseas scholars and professional people to work here. Of course, the material incentives here are not comparable to those abroad. However, if these scholars want to come and serve here, they do so with a sense of dedication. We should therefore provide them with suitable living accommodation.

Ever since the setting up of Nanyang University, many of the quarters for the teaching staff have not been renovated. For example, the dormitories have not been renovated. I think it is time they should be renovated. With the setting up of the College for Post-Graduate Studies, this renovation should be undertaken now. I hope the Minister will ask for more money from his colleague, the Minister for Finance. From the financial policy of the Minister for Finance, we know that, because of the rapid industrialisation programme, we need not only technicians but also managerial and high executive personnel to man our industries. There is a great shortage of such talents. Many of our graduates who have gone abroad for higher studies have not come back. We should adopt the policy of using local talents to teach in Nanyang University. What plans does the University have to encourage its own graduates who have gone abroad for higher studies to come back and take over the key positions in Nanyang University?

A year ago the Minister, in answering my question, stated that Nanyang University asked for $20,000 to improve its ventilation facilities. I do not know whether such a provision has been made to improve the ventilation facilities at Nanyang University.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the query by the Member for Sembawang regarding the damage to the machinery at the vocational institutes, I would like to say that the technical education programme has expanded so rapidly that we find it a bit difficult to maintain the machinery which happens to break down almost at the same time. Formerly, the minor maintenance of machinery was done by our own craft teachers and workshop instructors, and major faults were repaired by the P.W.D. Owing to the sudden increase in machinery in our technical institutions and its intensive usage, the P.W.D. has not been able to cope with the requests for repair immediately. As a result, the Ministry has set up a maintenance unit to relieve some of the burden on the P.W.D.

As for the Member's query regarding the language of instruction, I am quite sure he is fully aware that even in secondary schools, Mathematics and Science are being taught in English. Therefore, it is reasonable that technical subjects should be taught in English. As I said just now, when answering a query from the Member for Punggol, in the technical institutions the instruction is more in the acquisition of skills and therefore the language of instruction is not a crucial point.

The Member for Sembawang also raised a query about inspectors from the Technical Education Department not visiting the technical institutions as often as the other academic schools. I think this will be much to the relief of the Member for Paya Lebar, who is rather worried about - the frequent visits of these inspectors to the schools in his constituency!

Our Technical education is managed in a different way. The Principal of the Singapore Technical Institute, who is a professional officer, has an almost autonomous say in the running of the Institute. The Education Ministry is presently running a management course for all principals of vocational institutes.

If the demand for skilled workers arises in Sembawang, we will look into the establishment of a vocational institute there.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry has supported the setting up of a College for Post-Graduate Studies because it will provide proper research facilities for the staff. Only a small establishment will be required because research will be done by the academic staff from other departments who will be attached to the college as Senior Fellows or Fellows. The number of post-graduate students is expected to be small, and admission will be very selective. A sum of $46,000 has been included in the $3.5 million Government contribution to Nanyang University for this purpose. This will cover the honoraria for the Dean of the college, for the four heads of the institute, and remuneration for technical and general staff.

As far as capital development of the College of Post-Graduate Studies is concerned, it will be carried out in two phases, and a sum of $1.2 million is required. So far, Nanyang University has raised $300,000 for the first phase. Meanwhile the University has asked Government for a dollar-for-dollar grant.

It has always been the accepted policy of Nanyang University, since reorganisation began over five and a half years ago, to build up a corps of local academic staff so that the University can be fully developed to fulfil its role as a national university. What Nanyang University will become in the years ahead depends largely on the calibre of the academic staff. This policy has not been changed. I am sure that the administrators of Nanyang University are implementing this policy with understanding and vigour.

In last year's Estimates, Government provided $3.89 million to Nanyang University. This grant included a sum of $220,000 for repairs and renovation to student hostels and staff quarters, including replacement of furniture. Another sum of $220,000 for a similar purpose is included in the Government contribution of $3.5 million this year.

With the installation of ten additional exhaust-fans and numerous wall-fans early last year, the ventilation of the auditorium has improved and it is tolerable under normal conditions. The University authorities are now considering improving the ventilation of the stage. The Hokkien Huay Kuan contributed $100,000 in 1968 for the improvement of the auditorium.

The Chairman: You have one more minute left, Mr Ong.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: The expenses for improvement of the auditorium are not paid out of the annual budget of the University.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, since there is no time left, I would like to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn,

The sum of $22,134,310 for Head 41 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

4.30 p.m.

Head 51 -

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 302*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting.)

Sir, the provision of $3 million is for the redevelopment of the passenger terminal building, and I think this project is very necessary for the development of tourism, because the number of tourists coming to Singapore is increasing year by year. I have several questions to ask. Firstly, when will this project be completed? Secondly, what are the facilities that will be provided in this building? Thirdly, how many passengers can the building accommodate? Fourthly, what are the improved services that will be provided for the tourists?

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully agree with the proposal to redevelop the passenger terminal building. I believe that the number of passengers entering and leaving Singapore is increasing. Hence there is a need to redevelop the building which, I understand, will be completed in late 1971. In this respect. I would suggest to the Minister for Communications that in redeveloping the passenger terminal building, consideration should be given to the improvement of the transit lounges. In other words, we should provide better facilities for passengers in transit.

Furthermore, can the Minister say whether there is an intention to develop the terminal building in the same way as in some other countries where the planes are parked just next to the terminal building and the passengers can simply walk down the gangways right into the terminal building? For example, like the terminal buildings in New York and Schipol in Amsterdam. This would more or less relieve the passengers from having to come down from the plane, get into buses or coaches and be transported to the terminal building. In other words, we want a modern passenger terminal building.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Yong Nyuk Lin): Mr Speaker, Sir, as explained in the Memorandum on the Development Estimates of Singapore (Misc. 2 of 1970) which was tabled by the Minister for Finance on the 5th of March, 1970, at page 4, Head 51 -Civil Aviation - the second paragraph says:

'The major project will be the redevelopment of the Passenger Terminal Building, for which $3.0 million is provided. This project is scheduled for completion by late 1971.'

That is in reply to the first question posed by the Member for Sembawang.

As regards the facilities which will be provided when the extension to the present passenger terminal building is completed, we hope to have approximately double the present floor space, and the biggest increase will be in the arrival area which will comprise two floors. There is provision for two jumbo-jets - the 747s - to nose into the building so that passengers will just walk out of the plane on to the landing. In addition, of course, there will be other facilities like conveyor belts for baggages to be conveyed to the customs hail on the ground floor. I think all this while there have been a good number of complaints about the delay in baggage handling and we are making an effort to modernise the handling of baggages with the extension to our passenger terminal building. In all, there will be five new conveyor belts installed with the possibility of another two being added on at a later stage.

Coming to the arrivals wing, there will be a roof-top waving deck for people to say "bye bye" to those taking leave or on their arrival which will be an improvement over the present waving gallery. This will be a roof-top waving deck and I think they will be able to enjoy a panoramic view of our airport, and also have light refreshments and meals as we intend to have a partial open-air restaurant at this place.

We are hoping that this improved passenger terminal building will be able to handle three million passengers per annum, which is three times the present number of one million per annum.

All in all, when this project is completed, we shall have a very much improved international airport.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, since the Minister has fully answered my questions, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 911*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Hwang Soo Jin)

Sir, in moving this amendment, I wish to seek information from the Minister for Communications as to whether he proposes to introduce a television information system at the passenger terminal building in addition to the public address system.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Sir, we shall try to introduce this system subject to Treasury's approval.

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Sir, in view of the assurance, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $6,678,110 for Head 51 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

The Chairman: I propose to take the suspension now.

Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.

Mr Speaker: I suspend the sitting now and shall take the Chair again at 5.10 p.m.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 4.40 p.m. until 5.10 p.m. Sitting resumed at 5.10 p.m.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Debate in Committee of Supply resumed.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Head 52 -

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Lim Soo Peng -

That the total sum to be allocated for Head 52 be reduced by $100.

The Chairman: Mr Lim.

Mr Lim Soo Peng: I am not moving,

The sum of $522,400 for Head 52 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 53 -

The Chairman: Amendment (1). Mr Ng Yeow Chong is not here. Mr Teong Eng Siong.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 53 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 404.

Sir, the provision of $10 million is for the setting up of a Satellite Earth Station, which is an important project because we are now entering the space age. And there is a need to set up a Satellite Earth Station in Singapore so as to keep Singapore in touch with other countries. In this connection, I would like to raise four questions. First, why are we so slow in establishing this station? Second, when will it be completed? Third, when it is completed, what benefits will it provide for Singapore? And, fourth, who is building it?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, in answer to the Member's first question why we appear to be so slow in establishing this Satellite Earth Station, I would like to assure him that the sum involved is $10 million and one does not try to spend $10 million rather quickly, at least not in Singapore. As there are lots of technical details involved in the building of a highly technical project like this, it is better to hasten slowly.

As regards the date when we expect to have this station completed, I would like to say that public tenders for the building of this station closed in November last year and it has taken the last three months to evaluate them. The official evaluation is now complete and the file is now in my office. As and when the Senior Tenders Board has made its award, we hope to have the station completed within a year. That means it will be by April 1971.

5.15 p.m.

Regarding the Member's third question as to the benefits that will accrue from building this station, I would like to say that although at present Singapore has a very efficient telecommunications system, we are beginning to find that our facilities are not quite able to cope with the demands required of them. Therefore, it is necessary to have this modern earth satellite station. We believe that it will bring us a lot of benefits in that the most modern method of telecommunication will be made available to the commercial world as well as to members of the public. We expect the returns will be of a sizable amount. We estimate that during the first year of operation we might make as much as $70,000 net profit. In the second year it would be $970,000, which is almost a million dollars, and the third year over $2 million. The benefits, from the point of view of financial gain will be considerable.

The Member's last question is, who will build this earth satellite station? That will be determined by the Senior Tenders Board. When the award is made, we will know which company has been successful in the tender. It is a bit early for me now to disclose the name of the successful tenderer.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, since the Minister has explained that this will be a profitable project, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 53 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 502.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving, Sir.

The sum of $15,178,560 for Head 53 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 55 -

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting

That the total sum to be allocated for Head 55 be reduced by $100.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving, Sir.

The sum of $194,600 for Head 55 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 61 -

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 61 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

The provision for this subhead is about $51 million. This is for the expansion of our Armed Forces and Police. We are now strengthening our defence establishment in order to ensure our independence and security. This is very important. Can the Minister tell the House how this vote is to be spent?

The Acting Minister for Culture (Mr Wee Toon Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the Member, I can briefly give an explanation of the proposed expenditure for this vote.

(a) The construction of new camps, renovations and alterations to existing army camps, and British bases that will be made available to the Ministry of Interior and Defence, the cost of land acquisition and compensation to squatters.

(b) The construction and renovation of police projects and land acquisition for station sites.

(c) Purchase of weapons for the Singapore Armed Forces and the Police.

(d) Purchase of ammunition and demolition materials for unit holding.

(e) Purchase of heavy plant, engineering equipment and bridging equipment for the Singapore Armed Forces.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $51,033,100 for Head 61 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 62 -

The following amendments stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting

(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 302.

(3) That the total sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $100.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not moving all my three amendments.

The sum of $330,500 for Head 62 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 71 -

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 71 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting.)

Sir, this vote involves a sum of $1,250,000 for "Works and Buildings" and "Furniture and Equipment" for the "New Radio Studios and Office Buildings". Can the Minister answer the following questions: (1) When will the construction of the buildings be completed? (2) What kind of facilities will be provided in these buildings? (3)Will there be any improvement in the broadcasting services after the completion of these buildings?

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Sembawang wants to know when the construction of the buildings will be completed. It is planned that the project will take two years to complete.

He has also asked what facilities will be provided. Provision is made for the construction of new radio studios and office buildings. The facilities that will be provided are those connected with radio studios. Therefore, they are factors involving special accoustic treatment required for broadcasting studios; that is, there will be sound-proof doors, accoustic treatment of walls and ceilings, cables, ducts and air-conditioning requirements and also broadcasting studio equipment of professional standard. Then there will be an auditorium, five continuity studios for the four language-channel service and a F.M. stereophonic service, three "talk studios" and four general purpose and music studios for the production of local programmes and also for the Master Control Room. The last project that will be required is the transfer of telephone lines and cables which are used to send programmes from Broadcasting House studios to the transmitting station in Jurong and the purchase of a diesel stand-power generating plant.

The Member's last question is whether these new projects will increase efficiency. Mr Speaker, Sir, of course, the additional facilities will provide a bigger-sized auditorium which will seat 350 people for audience-participation shows and there is an increase in size for music studios. There will be technical improvements and the introduction of new systems designed to facilitate production work. Planning for the project will also take note of future development; that is to say, there will be one additional continuity studio for news service and one additional music and general purpose studio. The increase of operational efficiency and improvement of technical standards will no doubt assist the programme staff in producing better programmes.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has explained the projects and also promised to improve the programmes. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendments stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 71 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 302.

(3) That the total sum to be allocated for Head 71 be reduced by $100.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving my two amendments, Sir.

The sum of $1,595,840 for Head 71 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 81 -

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 81 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

Sir, this subhead concerns the Junior Approved School. I believe I have another amendment* on Head 141 - U.K. Financial Assistance Schemes. This refers to the same topic I am going to discuss now. I will not be moving my amendment to Head 141.

• The amendment reads as follows:

That the sum to be allocated for Head 141 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 401.

Sir, I would like to seek further clarification on the type of Junior Approved School that is to be constructed and which is expected to be completed either this year or next year. This work will be undertaken with financial assistance amounting to $175,000 from the United Kingdom. Perhaps the Minister for Social Affairs will elaborate on what this Junior Approved School is. I find that what it says on page 7 of the Memorandum on the Development Estimates of Singapore is not very clear to me.

The Minister for Social Affairs (Inche Othman Bin Wok): Mr Speaker, Sir, this Junior Approved School will be sited at Clementi Road, next to Ngee Ann College. It will comprise two units of building. The first unit is the Junior Approved School which will replace the existing Welfare School for Boys at Keppel Road. It is the one that we have at the moment. It will consist of a two-storey building with dormitory accommodation and toilet facilities on the first floor for 80 boys using double-decker beds. The offices, stores, workroom, kitchen and dinning room facilities will be on the ground floor. We are not giving any facilities for staff quarters, but there will be a night duty room for the watchman there.

5.30 p.m.

The second unit will be a remand home which will replace the present very inadequate remand facilities in the Gimson School for Boys. This remand home will be built adjacent to the approved school and will consist of a single-storey building with accommodation for 32 boys in two dormitories separated by a multi-purpose hall. If necessary, the accommodation could be increased to 64 by again using double-decker beds. There will also be four individual cells for difficult cases, and a small office with quarters attached for one residential staff.

Why is it necessary to build this school? The reason is that there is a need to provide separate training facilities for young offenders below 14 years of age and also older ones between the ages of 14 and 19. Each of these two groups requires a different type of training, and the Department's efforts to rehabilitate delinquents would be seriously jeopardised if relatively young offenders were to be accommodated and trained in the same setting as the older hard-core offenders.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, just one more question. Will the Minister consider accepting into this Junior Approved School, when it is completed, not only delinquents referred to the juvenile courts, but also those children whose parents have no control over them?

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Those admitted to this school are delinquents taken off the courts. For the other categories of boys, there are other homes which can accommodate them.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, in view of the answers given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 81 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 103.

Sir, it is noted that a sum of $80,000 is provided for the building of a creche at Taman Jurong, i.e., Jurong Town. In moving this amendment, Sir, I merely want to seek information from the Minister as to how and when this creche will be constructed.

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Sir, this sum of $80,000 as stated in the Development Estimates is a provision to be released by Government on a dollar-for-dollar basis towards the cost of the proposed Taman Jurong Creche. A tentative site measuring about 210 feet by 146 feet at Taman Jurong has been earmarked for this project. The site is ideal, as working mothers may walk to the creche, leave their children there to be taken care of, catch a bus and go to work. And on their way back, they can stop there, fetch their children and go home.

As to when the creche can be completed, I have not seen the money yet and, therefore, I am not able to say. But as soon as we get the money, we will start building.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: Sir, I thank the Minister for his explanation, and I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $204,000 for Head 81 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 83 -

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong

That the sum to be allocated for Head 83 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 102.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: I am not moving, Sir.

The sum of $98,000 for Head 83 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 90 -

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 90 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.

Sir, it is noted that the vote for this subhead amounts to $540,000. This is a new vote, and I would like to ask the Minister why there is a need for it and for what purpose it will be used. Moreover, in what way will the use of this vote by the Survey Department benefit our country?

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, national mapping is a Government responsibility and compatible with our independent status. It is essential that we have at our disposal facilities for such mapping work. Hitherto, Singapore maps were produced by the Surveyor-General, the Director of National Mapping, Malaysia, and, to a lesser extent, by the Assistant Director of Surveys of the United Kingdom Services, as we did not have these facilities. This arrangement was expedient so long as the Singapore Survey Department was pan-Malaysian and came under the Surveyor-General, Malaya, and as a Federal department when Singapore was a constituent state of Malaysia.

On separation from Malaysia, the responsibility for the production of all Singapore maps fell on the Chief Surveyor, Singapore. However, since our Survey Department did not have the necessary facilities, both in respect of equipment and personnel, all Singapore maps have been printed by the Malaysian Directorate of Mapping on a commercial basis. This arrangement is clearly unsatisfactory.

The current demand for mapping from numerous departments and statutory bodies, such as the Planning Department, the Public Works Department, the Ministry of Health, the Land Office, the Housing and Development Board, the Economic Development Board, the Jurong Town Corporation, the Public Utilities Board, the Bases Economic Conversion Department, and the Ministry of Interior and Defence, has come about as a result of the accelerated rate of planning and development in various fields. Maps are a prerequisite for all planning and development projects and for effective and efficient administration. The setting up of the Mapping Unit in the Survey Department is, therefore, a vital necessity.

The sum of $540,000 represents the full capital cost of the purchase of comprehensive equipment needed to operate an independent Mapping Unit. The various items, if the Member is interested, are: $ Printing machine 135,000 Camera 84,000 Automatic proofing press 102,000 Guillotine 20,000 Kern stereoplotter 45,000 Wild plotter 45,000

Negotiations are in hand to obtain some of the equipment at the Dover Road Mapping Unit of the British Services when their facilities are transferred to the Singapore Government at the end of this year. If the Member is interested, the establishment of the Mapping Unit will require a staff of 57 under the Chief Surveyor.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I thank the Minister for his detailed explanation, and I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $753,100 for Head 90 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 91 -

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ho Kah Leong

(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 91 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

The Chairman: Mr Ho Kah Leong.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: I am not moving, Sir.

The following amendment stood on the Order Paper Supplement:

Mr Ng Yeow Chong:

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon:

Mr Lim Cheng Lock:

Mr Ng Kah Ting:

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 91 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.

The Chairman: Mr Ng Yeow Chong.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 91 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.

In moving this amendment, Sir, I am trying to seek information from the Minister as to the intention of the Land Office to purchase Chip Bee Gardens, Married Quarters Estate. What does Government propose to do with this estate in the future?

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not speaking, Sir.

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, Chip Bee Gardens is an estate along North Buona Vista Road and Holland Road, near Holland Village. It comprises terrace houses and shophouses with flats above. In 1963 the United Kingdom Services Authorities obtained permission from the Singapore Government to negotiate with the developers for a lease of a portion of this property when built, with the option to purchase it if the owners declined to lease.

The estate was developed by the owners, the United Development and Finance Co. Ltd., under the terms of agreement between the company and the Services Lands Board, as a housing estate for Service families. However, before formal conveyance and transfer of this property to the Services Lands Board was completed, the pull-out was announced. The Service authorities then considered reverting to a hiring agreement which would have left the property in the legal ownership of the United Development and Finance Co. Ltd.

Following discussions, the Singapore Government decided to enter into financial arrangements with the Service authorities, so that the transaction could be completed and the estate transferred to the Singapore Government. Provision has accordingly been made for acquisition of this property at a cost of $6,770,000. The total cost to the British Exchequer, if the transaction had been completed, would have been about $l5½ million. Under the present arrangements, for a payment of $6,770,000 the transaction would be completed and the property would vest in the Singapore Government.

Service families would be allowed to continue in occupation of the premises till the end of 1971 at the latest. If the Member wants to know what use could be made of these premises, there are a number of possible uses. The estate is ideally situated and can house many visiting foreign experts advising Government and statutory boards and other agencies of Government. These foreign experts are at present housed either in hotels or in quarters provided by Government and statutory boards, and they are housed in quarters which are large colonial type bungalows in areas which can be more intensively developed or better utilised. If we can find no use for Chip Bee Estate, we can let it out quite easily.

5.45 p.m.

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: In view of the explanation, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $11,770,000 for Head 91 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 92 -

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 001 of subhead 201.

Mr Speaker, Sir, a token vote of $10 has been entered in this item for the development of an underground car park at the Padang. In view of the importance of this piece of land which is being used from time to time for national purposes, I wish to seek information from the Minister as to how he proposes to develop the Padang into an underground car park.

Mr E. W. Barker: Sir, only $10 has been provided and it is a token vote. Studies are being made and further studies will have to be made with regard to the proposed car park. The object, if it is feasible, is to construct a car park under the Padang. Cars will go in from both sides of the road so that you can carry on with your National Day parade, football games, hockey, cricket and tennis on the Padang. The Padang has become a part of Singapore. It has been a part of Singapore for so long that I think our planners would be mad if we did anything else with it; but I have been told that they can build a car park underneath the Padang without affecting the grass and we will have to wait and see whether or not their plans are feasible. Hence the token vote.

Mr Lim Cheng Lock: In view of the explanation, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 202.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I am not moving.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301.

This sum of money is to be used for the East Coast foreshore reclamation scheme. This scheme is a very farsighted one, because Singapore is short of land. That is why we have to extend our land by reclaiming from the sea. I would like to pose a few questions to the Minister.

Firstly, in respect of the present East Coast foreshore reclamation scheme, how many acres of land have been reclaimed?

Secondly, how long will it take before we can use this reclaimed land?

Thirdly, what plans does the Government have and what buildings will be built on this reclaimed land?

Mr Barker: Sir, the earthworks for the reclamation of about 1,000 acres of land from Bedok to the Singapore Swimming Club under Phase One of the East Coast reclamation scheme was completed in January this year. However, work on the drainage system has yet to be done.

Under Phase Two, about another 125 acres will be reclaimed from the Singapore Swimming Club to the end of Tanjong Rhu. About 30 of the 125 acres have so far been reclaimed. It is hoped to complete the second phase of the reclamation by the end of the year.

The reclaimed land is earmarked for housing, tourist projects, commercial shopping centres, light industries and parks for recreational purposes. It will have a five-mile long beach and a marineland complex which is being planned by the Primary Production Department.

As to how long before the land can be used, we will have to wait. This really depends on what particular use the land will be put to. As for the marineland complex, if we are ready we can go ahead tomorrow. If buildings are to be put on, we will have to wait a little time for the earth to settle. And if piling is needed, piling will have to be done.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his detailed explanation and I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 302.

This is also a provision for the reclamation of land from the Singapore Swimming Club to the end of Tanjong Rhu. I would like to ask the Minister two questions.

Firstly, how many acres of land will be reclaimed under this reclamation scheme?

Secondly, are there any plans to build a road stretching from Tanjong Rhu to Clifford Pier? If there are, when will the plans be implemented?

Mr Barker: Under this scheme, 125 acres of land from the Singapore Swimming Club to the end of Tanjong Rhu will be reclaimed. So far, about 30 acres of land have been reclaimed. The first project that will be completed along the whole East Coast reclamation is a road from Bedok right up to the end of Tanjong Rhu. If we are to cross from Tanjong Rhu into town, we will either have to build a bridge which will be too long, or reclaim some more land, and that will be a possible third phase and it will take a very long time.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon -

(5) That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 401.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: Sir, I am not moving.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 403.

The provision for subhead 403 is a big one. It amounts to $11 million. I would like to know what the Government intends to do with this big sum of money. What purposes will this money be used for? Why should there be such a big vote? What are the uses when the plans are completed? Has the Government any plans to build houses or residential estates or other types of buildings on this land?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, with the successful completion of two urban redevelopment pilot schemes - Precinct North One and Precinct South One - the additional section of the urban area which has been divided into a number of precincts, collectively termed as "Other Precincts", will now be implemented. Some of these areas have already been acquired for redevelopment, and even private developers and landowners will be encouraged to redevelop in accordance with guide plans prepared by the Urban Renewal Department.

Any urban renewal scheme needs a lot of money. If the Government acquires land, it has to pay for it. Land in the city is expensive. After having paid money for the land to the owners, Government has also to compensate the occupiers - tenants, sub-tenants, licensees, and sometimes trespassers. All this takes a lot of time and, in the final result, a lot of money.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): From the Minister's explanation, does it mean that our urban renewal scheme will be unprofitable?

Mr Barker: We are not going into urban renewal for profit, but neither can we afford to lose on it. The object of urban renewal is to renew the town, otherwise we will have old houses and dilapidated buildings - and eyesores.

6.00 p.m.

Some of our houses were built 50 or 60 years ago for those times. They are falling apart now. I have not come here to speak about control of rent. But one major factor which has prevented development in this city is the fact that we have the Control of Rent Ordinance, and because of this, landlords cannot obtain possession of their property from tenants. Hence the experimental scheme under the Control of Rent (Special Provisions) Act. We have demarcated about 80 acres in the centre of the city for redevelopment. Without that amending Act, no development can take place. And it would be for the Government to evict everybody and sell the property. We do not lose money. In fact, we make money. But the money we make is used to provide better housing for the poorer sections of the population.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I am satisfied with the Minister's explanation and I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 In respect of subhead 406*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting.)

Sir, what I wish to raise under this amendment is purely a question of technicality. According to my view, this subhead, which involves a sum of $1.8 million, should be more appropriately placed under Head 1207 - National Development Division - in the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure and not in the Development Estimates. If this is done, the details of the various posts of officers in charge of administration of urban renewal schemes and the various items of Other Charges Annually Recurrent can be shown in the Estimates and subject to scrutiny by this House. May I ask the Minister for Law and National Development to give his comments to this House?

The Chairman: Mr Ng Kah Ting.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not speaking, Sir.

Mr Barker: Sir, the Member has made a good point. There is no special reason for this. But the urban renewal programme was started as a development project. We are discussing the Development Estimates and, therefore, all items of expenditure, including Personal Emoluments, Other Charges Annually Recurrent, together with other items of development expenditure such as Land Acquisition and Resettlement, were lumped together for budgetary convenience. That is all. But the Member has made a point that it should be elsewhere.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendments stood in the names of Mr Ho Kah Leong and Mr Ng Kah Ting respectively -

(8) That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 501.

(9) That the total sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $100.

The Chairman: Mr Ho, amendment (8).

Mr Ho Kah Leong: I am not moving, Sir.

The Chairman: Mr Ng, amendment (9).

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving, Sir.

The sum of $47,145,650 for Head 92 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 93 -

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 102.

Sir, this provision of $25,500 is for the Poultry Broiler Research Unit. Firstly, I wish to know what kind of research work this Unit will carry out. Secondly, will it be useful for the development of agriculture in our country? Thirdly, will the farmers benefit from the research? And, fourthly, how many employees are there in this unit?

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, like the Member for Jurong, the Member for Sembawang has always asked the Primary Production Department to help farmers more and more. This is one way in which the Department is positively helping farmers.

Sir, a pilot project of broiler production has been carried out in the Sembawang Research Station in Sembawang in the last two years.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: No, it is in Nee Soon.

Mr Barker: I am sorry. Broiler production is processed to rear large numbers of poultry for poultry meat. Poultry reared under this intensive production system reaches marketing weight in nine to ten weeks instead of the usual three to four months. In other words, the chickens grow faster. This pilot project has been successful and the information and techniques gained have been disseminated to the farmers. Nowadays, many farmers have already started, to produce broilers and the Poultry Section in the Sembawang Research Station is continuing its investigations to improve the techniques and to solve any problems that may arise. The unit is not very big and it consists of a dozen or so employees.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, does this unit provide free services to the farmers?

Mr Barker: The unit does not charge the farmers. It teaches them the methods and the techniques.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: Free of charge?

Mr Barker: No fees are charged. But if a farmer, after having learnt the techniques, wants his chickens to grow faster, then he must spend money.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, since this is a project to help farmers, it deserves praise. Therefore, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin (Jalan Kayu): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 104*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting.)

Sir, I stand to be corrected, but I seem to remember that during the debate on the Development Estimates in December 1968, the Minister told the House that when the pig section of the Central Abattoir in Jurong was ready, he would give consideration to building a few rural abattoirs. But I have been looking through the Development Estimates and subhead 105, which is in respect of rural abattoirs, has been taken off. Can the Minister tell the House whether it has now been decided not to go ahead with the building of rural abattoirs? And, if so, why is this so?

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I share the same sentiments as expressed by my colleague, the Member for Jalan Kayu. In fact, a couple of years ago, I brought up this question of rural abattoirs. There was then a token provision of $10 in respect of several rural abattoirs in the Development Estimates. I feel that there is a need for the construction of such abattoirs in centrally located rural areas to help pork sellers get their supply of meat and arrive at the markets in the rural areas as quickly as possible. Sir, I have brought up this point because I have received complaints that the Central Abattoir is too far from areas like Jalan Kayu, Punggol or Upper Serangoon.

Mr Sim Boon Woo (Changi): Changi!

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Yes, Sir, Changi and also Tampines. We have a sizable population in these areas. Under such circumstances, will the Minister for Law and National Development sympathetically consider the building of rural abattoirs? And, if not, whether he will look into the prospects of awarding tenders for the construction of rural abattoirs with a view to getting private organisations to run them?

Mr Barker: Sir, the Member for Punggol practically took the words out of my mouth! Government's thinking on the need for rural abattoirs has not changed. But Government's thinking on who should run these abattoirs has changed. In view of our experience at the Jurong Abattoir, we are thinking of letting private enterprise run even the Jurong Abattoir - in other words, a statutory board or a public company and we are inviting the private sector to come in. We do not want just the civil servants to run the abattoir if it is converted into a public company.

As far as rural abattoirs are concerned, no provision is made this year for the simple reason that Government, by itself, does not intend to build abattoirs in the rural areas. That does not mean to say that we have abandoned the idea of building abattoirs in the rural areas. But as the Member for Punggol has put it, we think that the abattoir could be run better if it was built by private enterprise.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

6.15 p.m.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 202.

Sir, I would like to have some information on the intensive farm improvement scheme. May I know how far the scheme has progressed and whether the farmers are taking part in it?

Mr Barker: The intensive farm improvement scheme has been implemented in the last two years in the Sembawang Research Station with the object of developing intensive farming techniques and finding solutions to some problems related to this form of farming, in particular pest and disease control. The construction of laboratory facilities has been completed, technical personnel have been recruited, and the project is just getting off the ground with the assistance of horticulturists from New Zealand under the Colombo Plan.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): The Minister seems to have forgotten another question which I have raised. May I know whether there are any farmers taking part in this scheme?

Mr Barker: No, not yet.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 203.

Sir, I am moving this amendment in order to obtain some information from the Minister. Can he inform the House what is this provision for? I see that there is a vote of $50,000 now as against a token vote of $10 for last year.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government proposes to carry out a pilot scheme on factory farming, that is to say, to rear animals in confined spaces and, if possible, in multi-storey livestock houses. The objective of the scheme is to intensify the use of land and increase production per unit area in view of the shortage of agricultural land in Singapore. Under the scheme, it is proposed to rear poultry, pigs and goats in multi-storey livestock houses and to assess the technical as well as the economic feasibilities of such a project.

The factory farming pilot scheme is, therefore, at present only in its initial stages. It is a plan awaiting the approval of the Government.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: I beg to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 206*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the names of Mr Hwang Soo Jin and Mr Ng Kah Ting.)

Can the Minister inform us how the Agricultural Statistics Unit is carrying on its work? In what way are the statistics on the farmers collected by this unit used to assist the farmers?

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I know what has accounted for the delay in carrying out the agricultural survey?

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I just wish to ask one question. I notice that under this subhead, a "Farm Licensing, Agricultural Survey and Agricultural Statistics Unit" will be set up. Can the Minister disclose to this House how many licences have been issued up to the latest convenient date? I welcome the proposal to set up this unit and I hope it will assist the farmers in every possible manner, because I feel that the agricultural produce supplied by the farmers in Singapore has contributed in no small measure to our economy.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the data collected under farm licensing will be used to ascertain the existing state of agriculture in Singapore and to assess future potential and development, thus enabling the Government to plan for agricultural policy on the basis of the kind and amount of services needed by the farming community. Unless we know how many and what type of farmers there are, we will not be able to know what sort or what amount of help they would need.

It may be possible that, with adequate information available, even farmers may be advised to plan their production targets in relation not only to domestic needs but also to the export market demand for agricultural produce. This was only recently the subject of a question from the Member to me in this House.

As for the agricultural survey, there has been no delay. At the moment, we are ready to go on but we are awaiting approval from the Ministry of Finance. In all, 20,357 farm licences were issued for the year 1969. A report on farm licensing, giving various details based on information provided by the farmers, has been prepared and, if any Members are interested, I can easily send them a copy of the report.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his explanation and beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 207.

Mr Speaker, Sir, last year the Minister very kindly explained to us what hydroponics involved. I should appreciate it if the Minister would inform us to what extent progress has been made in experimenting with hydroponics. When can the knowledge and experience gained by such experiments be passed on to the private sector for commercial exploitation?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Member has pointed out, the hydroponics scheme is new to Singapore. But the Member can see from the amount of money which has been provided that more is needed. Facilities for carrying out the projects are being organised, equipment is being purchased, and more staff is being recruited. Hence the bigger vote. I am not very optimistic that we can help the farmers very soon, but it is estimated that within two years, after results of certain findings are made available for dissemination to the farming community, and if the Department is satisfied that the information released would enable the farmers to operate hydroponics on a profitable commercial basis, then hydroponics will have come to stay with us. I am afraid that at the moment it is still very much in the experimental stage.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301.

Sir, I just wish to seek further information on the question of providing the necessary fishing training facilities by the Fishing Training Centre. How many courses have been conducted and how many trainees have passed out to date? Has the Fishing Training Centre encountered any difficulties in recruiting the necessary trainees?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, two training courses have so far been completed at the Fishing Training Centre at Changi. The first course was from August to October 1969, and the second course was from December last year to February this year. A third course will be started in April this year, that is to say, next month.

There has been no difficulty in recruiting students. There were 60 places for the two courses - in other words, 30 places for each course. More than 400 youths applied for training. To date, 42 trainees have completed the course successfully, and 75 per cent of them have already found jobs on fishing vessels. The rest are likely to be taken up for employment by fishing companies in the near future.

Reports received show that the fishing companies are satisfied with the work of the trainees.

6.30 p.m.

In addition to these three-month courses to which I have referred, the Fishing Training Centre conducted a one-week course in January for captains of small trawling vessels to give them some up-to-date knowledge of navigation and chart reading, as well as modern fishing methods and use of fishing gear. Forty-five persons applied for the course, but only 38 were taken. Thirty-five completed the course and are now back on their jobs.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has mentioned just now that there were 400 applicants for 60 places. In view of the large number of applicants for such a training course, I would enquire of the Minister if he would consider taking in as many applicants as possible for such courses, because at the moment we have quite a large number of fishing trawlers. Some time ago the Minister for Finance made a remark in this House that our youths could not withstand the training at sea. Therefore, in view of the, large, number of applications for these courses, would the Minister not. consider opening the door wider so that more youths could come forward to play their part? And what future prospects do these trainees have in this respect?

Sir, I also feel that more publicity should be given to this matter as I strongly support the setting up of such training facilities.

Mr Barker: Sir, we would be happy to take more on if we could take more on. But the facilities are limited - one training vessel - and hence only 30 have been taken per course. The course is for three months only. But if that is the way we carry on, all the 400 who applied will have to wait a few years before they get in. I do not know the exact details, but I will look into the suggestion of the Member to see whether more courses can be conducted or more trainees will be allowed to attend per course.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I must thank the Minister for his kind consideration, and I do beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(8) That the total sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $100.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving, Sir.

The sum of $2,457,020 for Head 93 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 94 -

The following amendments stood on the Order Paper Supplement:

Mr Ng Yeow Chong:

(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 94 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.

Mr Ng Kah Ting :

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 94 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 211.

(3) That the total sum to be allocated for Head 94 be reduced by $100.

The Chairman: Mr Ng Yeow Chong, amendment No. (1).

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: I am not moving, Sir.

The Chairman: Mr Ng Kah Ting, amendment No. (2).

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving both amendments Nos. (2) and (3), Sir.

The sum of $1,703,300 for Head 94 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 95 -

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 95 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.

Sir, this item concerns the Pan-Island Expressway, and I have only one question to ask. Will the Minister consider developing a coastal road round the island?

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker. Sir, the whole transport system in Singapore is at present being studied by a team of United Nations consultants and our local counterparts at the State and City Planning Department. There is no plan for a coastal road right round the island. All I can offer the Member is a plan for a new coastal road linking the east coast to the city. This is the only positive proposal under active consideration.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 95 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 206.

Sir, one item of this vote is for Sembawang Road Improvement (10 m.s. to 13 m.s.). I think this stretch of Sembawang Road includes a road in the Nee Soon area. Since this road improvement project involves two constituencies, I think the Member for Nee Soon, who is now here, would also like to express his views on this project.

Sir, I have several questions to ask and I would like the Minister to pay special attention to what I am going to say. This project for extension of roads has affected 40-odd shops and private houses. May I ask, when will this project start? The second question is: how does the Government propose to deal with the shops and dwelling houses affected by this project? The third question is: what compensation is the Government prepared to pay them, and in what form?

Mr Barker: Sir, the Member can rest assured that I pay particular attention to his remarks. I always do!

The Sembawang Road to City System is divided into two sections: (1) a proposed improvement of the road from 10 m.s to 13 m.s. The project costs about $560,000. (2) The proposed improvement and widening of Upper Thomson Road - from Braddell Circus to the 6½ m.s. Upper Thomson Road. The project costs $800,000.

In view of the increasing industrial expansion in Sembawang, proposals are under consideration to make Sembawang Road into a major dual carriageway to serve the future development in that area. A census is now being taken of the number of families that will be affected, and a preliminary estimate is that about 476 families may be affected, of whom about 100 are shopkeepers. How do we resettle them and where will we resettle them? How? With the help of the Member for Sembawang. Where? We are building a housing estate complex along Thomson Road where we hope to rehouse persons occupying houses along the road, whether residents or shopkeepers. At the moment, the housing complex is not ready. Perhaps in two years' time, when the complex is ready, we may be able to house all, if not most, of the Member's evicted constituents in this housing complex. When the time comes, I will need the help of the Member for Sembawang.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, of course, if the Minister's request is reasonable, I will lend my full support. But I would like to raise two further questions. The Minister seems to have omitted answering my question: when will this project start? The Minister has also mentioned the housing complex at Thomson Road, and I think the Member for Thomson will be interested in this. My second question is: when will the resettlement of the affected residents and shopkeepers take place? Will it be before or after the completion of this housing complex at Thomson Road?

Mr Barker: I am sorry for not answering all the Member's questions. He asked so many questions that I am afraid I forgot to answer some of them. The Member can rest assured that most of the occupants will not have to move until we have alternative accommodation for them.

The complex I referred to is a complex which is to be built on a piece of land near the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Work has begun and most of the complex should be ready by the end of this year; but this is an estimate.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I am satisfied with the answers given, but I hope that the staff concerned with this project will also pay attention to the answers given by the Minister. I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(3) That the sum to be allocated for Head 95 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 302.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving, Sir.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon -

(4) That the sum to be allocated for Head 95 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 306.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 95 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 310.

In moving this amendment, Sir, I am referring to item 007 - not James Bond, of course - which concerns Bus Bays, Shelters, Vehicle Parks and Roadside Kerbs. This item has a provision of $300,000. I would be grateful to the Minister if he could inform this House whether any bus shelters will be put up along Punggol Road this year. I have made representations on this before, and was told no funds were available and that I was to be patient.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, the programme for 1970-71 for the construction of bus shelters is now under study. The need for more bus shelters in Punggol will be investigated in consultation with the Registrar of Vehicles, the Omnibus Services Licensing Authority, and the P.W.D. At the moment, I cannot promise the Member more bus shelters. All I can say is that any application from Punggol will be given every consideration.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: In view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

6.45 p.m.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting

That the total sum to be allocated for Head 95 be reduced by $100.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I am not moving.

The sum of $13,272,300 for Head 95 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 96 -

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the total sum to be allocated for Head 96 be reduced by $ 100*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting.)

Mr Speaker, Sir, $2.3 million of the nearly $4.2 million provision under this head will be required for the Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation, Phase I, project. Under this head, it is very much regretted that no provision whatsoever has been made for Changi Constituency. As the Minister is aware, Changi is a flood-affected area, especially the Koh Sek Lim area. I think there is unfairness in the allocation of funds under this head.

I know that many rich people live in the Bukit Timah and Ulu Pandan areas. I also know that a number of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries live in these areas too. We are a socialist government and surely, whilst looking after the rich people, we should also look after the poor country folk and the farmers.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I share the sentiments expressed by the Member for Changi. At the same time, I wonder whether the Minister is aware that the drainage and flood alleviation system in certain areas in Punggol needs to be attended to.

Sir, I bring up a somewhat new subject under this topic "Drainage and Flood Alleviation". Whilst the Government is taking steps to introduce schemes to alleviate floods, etc., the private developer also presents this problem. I have noticed two projects in my constituency, at about the 6¾ milestone opposite Upper Serangoon Road. They have their own drainage systems in the private housing estates. Very often the drains are constructed in such a way that, instead of the outlets facing the main road, they face inwards, towards low land. Consequently, all waste and water just simply run on to somebody else's land, and, worse still, the residences in the neighbouring lands are affected. I hope the Minister will look into this problem of drainage and see what steps the private developers have to take to ensure that the water in the estate does not drain into someone else's land, This will prevent houses in the lower area from being subject to flood hazards.

Mr E. W. Barker: Firstly, may I correct a misapprehension which the Member for Changi appears to be under when he refers to the Bukit Timah scheme on which we are spending a total of $2,330,700 for the first phase, the misapprehension being that the richer people live in Bukit Timah and under that heading he includes a few Ministers who are not rich. But there are many kampongs in Bukit Timah, and when the Bukit Timah canal floods, the rich people are all right because they have two houses - one in Tanglin and the other in Changi - and they move to Changi. But it is the poor people who are affected and it is these people that we have to rescue. Hence, this big canal scheme diverting waters of the upper Bukit Timah Canal to Ulu Pandan. As I have said before in this House, work is in progress and it is anticipated that this scheme will be completed by the end of this year. It will not eliminate flooding in Bukit Timah, but it will alleviate flooding along Bukit Timah. There is no provision for Changi, and unless my experts are wrong, there is no need to provide for Changi. Changi had a bad flood on the 10th December, 1969, but that was because a bund built as part of a drainage system to hold water broke and, as a result, the water flowed down a valley causing floods.

As for Punggol, no provision has also been made because flooding in Punggol is really very minor. There is nothing serious - occasional minor floods in certain lands at the 8th m.s., Punggol Road, owing to the very low-lying nature of the land. You have the Serangoon River and the swamps around it. Occasionally flooding in such low-lying areas is, I am afraid unavoidable.

As to complaints against private developers, any private developer who constructs or builds a housing estate must have his plans approved by the Chief Building Surveyor. Many Members have complained of delays in the plans. One reason why it takes a little time is that the plans have to go to various departments - the Ministry of Health, the Fire Brigade and, in the context of what the Member for Punggol seeks, the Drainage Department of the Public Works Department. So any, developer must have had his plans approved, including plans for his drainage. So if water flows into someone else's land, the appropriate remedy is a complaint to the Drainage Department of the P.W.D. Alternatively, an action at law in our courts.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Point of clarification, Sir. The drainage problem in one of the two places where these new housing estates are coming up was attended to by the Drainage Department of the Public Works Department quite some time ago. The point I am trying to drive home is whether the Drainage Department of the Public Works Department studies the drainage problem pertaining to a proposed housing project. Will they not consider this aspect that drains in the housing estate should not divert into someone else's land? When complaints come up, the private developers just keep the matter in abeyance. Meanwhile, they go on building houses, and who suffers? It is the residents. In other words, it is the Drainage Department of the P.W.D. that has to make sure that the developers do not allow the drainage outlet to go into someone else's lands which are low-lying.

Mr Barker: If the Member is speaking of the development of the Hai Sing estate, as the Member himself has put it, the matter has been settled. If I have to repeat myself, water flows downhill and not uphill. Sometimes with the permission of adjoining landowners, drains are built But where a housing estate is built and, as a result of the bad drainage system, the water flows into and floods someone else's land, he has a good cause of action in law. If he cannot obtain sufficient satisfaction from the drainage engineer of the Public Works Department or from the developer, my advice to him would be to bring an action in court for damages, for trespass and nuisance.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I was not very expressive in explaining to the Minister, but my question was whether this drainage outlet should be allowed to divert into someone else's land by the Drainage Department of the P.W.D. My point was that this should not be allowed, and therefore the drainage outlet should be diverted outwards, even though there are low-lying areas. Certainly you should have a system whereby you allow a drop of so many inches per length of, say, a hundred feet outward onto the main road. Further, we have a scheme along Tampines Canal. That area of Punggol which I am discussing is rather low-lying, and all drainage outlets that are directed to that area will definitely flood it.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid I cannot help the Member further, unless I visit the place with him. But there are big drains, monsoon drains, into which water from houses flow. There are plenty of these drains in Tanglin. I do not know the details of the cause of the complaint, and I think it would be pointless carrying on this debate here. The only thing for me to do would be to visit the place with the Member and see whether he or the Public Works Department or the developer is right.

7.00 p.m.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to know whether the Minister agrees that the poor people in Bukit Timah should be looked after. I also hope that the villagers in Changi are also looked after. Therefore. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $4,184,670 for Head 96 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 97 -

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 97 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 104.

Sir, there is a provision of $1 million for the Serangoon sewerage scheme. What I am going to bring up is nothing new, because it is stated in the Memorandum on the Development Estimates that the project will have a capacity to serve 77,000 persons. I shall be grateful if the Minister will enlighten this House on which particular area in Serangoon will benefit by this project?

Mr E. W. Barker: Sir, the area approved for provision of sewerage facilities in the Serangoon sewerage scheme is approximately 1,300 acres bounded by Upper Serangoon Road, Yio Chu Kang Road, Braddell Road, Sungei Kallang and Serangoon Gardens Estate, which means that Punggol is out. There is no immediate plan to serve the Punggol area because of its low density of population. But I have said before in this House that the object of the Government in the long-term is to provide sewerage facilities throughout the island as far as is possible. The day will come when we will reach Punggol.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, the Minister has taken the question out of my mouth. He mentions an area of 1,300 acres bounded by certain roads. In fact, I notice that there are many septic tanks in a few places within the area mentioned by the Minister. In other words, there is already provision of modern sanitation. With the extension of sewerage facilities to Serangoon, can it not be extended to Upper Serangoon? The Minister says that Punggol will have sewerage facilities later on. But the area mentioned by the Minister is a congested area and quite a number of housing estates are coming up there There are septic tanks in this area. Are we doing away with septic tanks and having the houses connected direct to main sewers?

Mr Barker: No, we are not getting rid of septic tanks. Obviously, the Member for Punggol cannot take "No" for an answer. But I cannot say "Yes" if the P.W.D. is not as yet ready to move into Punggol.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I can always take "No" for an answer and can assure the Minister that the answers given by him are satisfactory. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $12,061,480 for Head 97 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 98 -

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 98 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 001 of subhead 101.

Sir, since 1966, about 82 miles of agricultural and kampong roads have been constructed. I note that only $400,000 is allocated for the financial year 1970-71. Members who represent the rural constituencies will agree with me that this amount is inadequate, especially when kampong and agricultural roads which were built two or three years ago are now in a very deplorable condition.

Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (National Development Division), who is the Chairman of the Urban and Rural Services Committee, has gone round Pulau Tekong Besar with me, and he agrees that the roads there are in a deplorable state. Sir, $400,000 will not be enough to build even one-quarter of the roads. Therefore, I hope the Minister will consider asking the Ministry of Finance to allocate more money for the construction, improvement and maintenance of agricultural roads in the rural constituencies.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law and National Development (National Development Division) (Mr Ho Cheng Choon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I quite agree that the amount of $400,000 provided for the financial year 1970-71 for the construction, improvement and maintenance of agricultural and kampong roads is not enough. But from past experience, the Urban and Rural Services Committee has decided that when a kampong road is to be repaired and it costs a lot of money to do it, then it should be done in two or three stages. This has been the practice in the past few years. In the financial year 1970-71, if the amount provided for the construction, improvement and maintenance of kampong roads is not enough, there are many items under this subhead which are transferable. For instance, if the provision for extension of electricity supply has not been spent, we can transfer this amount and use it for the repair of kampong roads.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Sir, I hope my suggestion will be seriously looked into. And in view of the Parliamentary Secretary's explanation, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 98 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 011 of subhead 101*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ho Kah Leong.)

Sir, with the removal of public stand-pipes in the rural constituencies, I hope that the Ministry concerned can give immediate approval for the laying of water mains so that the people living there can have their own supply of water. When a project for the laying of water mains costs over $30,000, it is the usual practice of the Urban and Rural Services Committee to defer it. And their excuse is that there are not many houses in that particular area to justify the laying of water mains.

Sir, I wish to state one case in Kampong Darat Nanas in Jalan Bena in my constituency. My Citizens' Consultative Committee and I made a request five years ago for the extension of water supply to this place. But to date, the request has still been deferred. We agree that public stand-pipes should be removed and the people should know that water means life. But if we are to remove something from the people, we have to substitute another thing in place thereof. Therefore, it is a matter of how we should implement the policy. I hope the Ministry concerned can give consideration to my suggestion.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully support what the Member for Changi has said, because a supply of water is very essential to the people in the rural areas. The Member has said that if there are few dwelling houses in a remote rural area, then the Urban and Rural Services Committee does not consider it worth while to lay water mains in that area. In the Development Estimates, there is a provision of $1 million for the extension of water supply. I hope the Parliamentary Secretary will consider extending the supply of water to remote rural areas.

7.15 p.m.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the Member for Changi, I wish to say that it is true that two requests for the laying of water mains have been made and that the matter has been deferred for quite some time. However, I can assure him that we have been provided with more money for the supply of water mains this year. His request will therefore be given due consideration.

Sir, I explained yesterday the procedure regarding the removal of stand-pipes. Perhaps I can explain further how the position stands at the moment. On 31st December, 1966, there were 2,471 stand-pipes. By 31st December, 1969, there were only 1,088 stand-pipes left. Therefore, within a period of three years we have removed 1,383 stand-pipes. From this figure, Sir, it can clearly be seen that we have spent quite a lot of money on the laying of water mains in order that the rural people can connect water mains to individual households. Since we have been provided with more money for the supply of water mains in this year's estimates, more and more of them will be laid, especially in the rural areas.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Mr Speaker. Sir, I just do not understand the Parliamentary Secretary when he said just now that by cutting down the number of public stand-pipes, a greater amount of money has been spent. What is the logic behind this statement? Can he clarify?

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: To give an example, Sir, I have a list of requests for the laying of water mains in the rural and urban, or suburban areas which have not been approved by the Urban and Rural Services Committee. For instance, there was a stand-pipe at Jalan Darat Nanas in Changi. After its removal, we have to lay a water main there at a cost of $12,000. This is a bigger main than the one available to supply water to the individual households in that area. The water main for ordinary stand-pipes is only two inches in diameter. We have to change it to four or six inches in diameter water mains in order to supply more water to the individual households.

The Chairman: Do you understand now, Mr Sim?

Mr Sim Boon Woo: I still do not understand the way it is answered. I stand to be corrected, Sir, but is it correct to say that by cutting down the number of public stand-pipes and putting bigger water mains in, a lot of money is spent?

An hon. Member: I think you have got it right!

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Sir, this is not the point which I raised. When you take something from the people, you must substitute another thing in its place.

The Chairman: That is what the Parliamentary Secretary has said, Mr Sim. He says that more water mains have been laid so that more houses will now get water.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not very happy with the answer. I am not withdrawing.

Question on the amendment put, and negatived.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 98 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting.)

Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a provision of $2.3 million against the title "Urban and Rural Services". I would like to ask a few questions. It seems that there is a reduction in the provision for the rural areas. If we compare the provision made for Sembawang Constituency a few years ago and the sum allotted now, we see that there is a reduction of about 80 per cent in the provision. I believe this is true for all the rural areas, for example, Changi, Nee Soon and Thomson Constituencies. We must provide an adequate amount of money for facilities in the rural areas. Amenities of many kinds are provided in the city area and we should not spend too much money there. I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to make more provision for the rural areas.

Under item 011 there is a provision of $1 million for the extension of water supply. Many stand-pipes have been removed by the Government. However, before they were removed, water mains should have been laid so that the installation of waterpipes to the individual households would be facilitated.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: Mr Speaker, Sir, on a point of order. I have already replied to the question on water mains.

The Chairman: Have you finished, Mr Teong?

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Not yet, Sir, I have another question. Although the Parliamentary Secretary may have answered the question raised by other Members, I am concerned with Sembawang Constituency. It is a different proposition. There is a road called Jalan Pasar Sembawang. About 100 families live along this road. The people here used to have stand-pipes, but these have now been removed. We have made representations to the U.R.S.C. but approval has not been given for their replacement. The residents have complained to me about it. I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to pay special attention to their request and that it will be approved by the U.R.S.C.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not speaking, Sir.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Sembawang has said that the provision allocated to the rural constituencies has been reduced. In the past, before the number of constituencies was increased, there were only the following constituencies: Bukit Panjang, Bukit Timah, Changi, Choa Chu Kang, Jalan Kayu, Jurong, Nee Soon, Punggol, Sembawang and Tampines. But after changes in the constituencies were made, Kampong Chai Chee also joined their ranks. The allocation for the constituencies is made on this basis: 10 per cent for 32 urban constituencies, 35 per cent for 15 suburban constituencies and 55 per cent for 11 rural constituencies.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: It is not enough.

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: If the Member concerned says that it is not enough, the right thing to do is to complain to the Ministry of Finance.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Come on, do not pass the buck!

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: Sir, on this basis of allocation, only 10 per cent is for 32 constituencies. It is true that quite a large sum of money was not spent during past years. However, beginning from this financial year, we are trying to divert this money into beautifying the urban areas and also the rural areas if applications are submitted for this purpose.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: We are not interested!

Mr Ho Cheng Choon: Regarding the laying of water mains in Sembawang Constituency, as mentioned by the Member just now, the matter may still be in the hands of the Public Utilities Board. I have not received the application yet.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I am not quite satisfied with the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary. I would like to give an example and I wish him to explain the position. Three years ago the vote for Sembawang Constituency was about $100,000. Last year the vote was only $18,000. This is a reduction of 80 per cent. I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to make a calculation himself and see how much reduction in the provision has been made.

The Chairman: The Member will notice that the 12 months' provision for 1970-71 adds up to more than the 15 months' provision for 1969-70. On that issue, will the Member withdraw his amendment?

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): I am not prepared to withdraw my amendment.

Question on the amendment put, and negatived.

The sum of $2,300,000 for Head 98 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 101 -

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 101 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

Sir, I am glad to note that the Institute of Medical Specialities has passed through Phase I and that the Centre is now in operation. But then Parliament is being asked to provide for Phase II of the project which costs slightly more than $200,000.

7.30 p.m.

Sir, I would be grateful if the Minister for Health could elaborate on the type of specialized units that we are going to set up in Phase II of the Institute of Medical Specialities. Sir, I am told that some specialists are fighting over the question of priority of specialization. If this is true, can the Minister say whether his Ministry has encountered any difficulties in setting up this Institute?

The Minister for Health (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Sir, as the Member for Punggol has said, Phase I of the Institute of Medical Specialities has been completed, and it was officially opened by me on 23rd February, 1970. That is the Radiotherapy Isotope Centre consisting of two cobalt units.

The Member has asked me about Phase II of the Institute of Medical Specialities. May I say that Phase II consists of the main building which will house other specialities. Building plans have been drawn up and estimates, of course, made. Planning approval, however, is still awaited, and this is not expected to be given until the concept and cost of the Institute is reviewed.

The Member might have heard that I have appointed a Ministerial Committee on Medical Specialization, which will be making its recommendations on the priorities of the specialities to be established. Before this Committee makes its recommendations, I would not like to say in this House what the specialities are that will be established, as it will only prejudice the work of this Committee on Medical Specialities.

The Member also did say that he had heard that there are difficulties because the specialists are fighting among themselves over the question of which speciality should be developed first. I would like to put it this way. It is only natural that every specialist would like his speciality to be developed first. That is one of the reasons why I have appointed this Committee on Medical Specialization. It will make recommendations to me on the order of priority of the specialities to be developed in Singapore.

Perhaps, Sir, it will interest the Member for Punggol if I say something about this Committee on Medical Specialization. May I refer him to its terms of reference? Its first term of reference is to investigate the extent of development of medical specialization in the hospitals and, after consideration of such development, to recommend a programme of development or the creation of a few specialities, listing them in order of priority for selection. The basis of selection is as follows:

(a) that the specialities should meet the needs of Singapore;

(b) that they can be developed to achieve eminence, so that Singapore will be recognised regionally and internationally as a centre of treatment, training and research.

The Committee's second term of reference is to estimate the cost of development or creation of some specialities and the personnel required. First, let me explain that the development of medical specialization in Singapore is a costly business. Funds will not only be needed for the training and employment of the necessary staff, but also for the acquiring of more up-to-date equipment. The maintenance of this modern and sophisticated equipment is just as costly. It is therefore obvious, Mr Speaker, Sir, that it is beyond the resources of a small country like Singapore to develop the entire range of specialities. The Committee has therefore been asked, in its terms of reference which I have mentioned just now, to select a few specialities, listing them in order of priority for all-out development. As its terms of reference specify, the Committee in making the selection must bear in mind two factors: (1) that development of such a speciality will meet the needs of Singapore; (2) taking into consideration our existing and projected resources both of staff and finance, and whether or not the development of the specialities recommended can reasonably achieve a level of eminence so that Singapore can be recognised regionally and internationally as a centre of treatment, training and research. In other words, with such development, Singapore will be recognised as one of the world's centres of excellence in medicine.

I must say here, Sir, that the task of the Committee is certainly not an easy one. It has to make a difficult choice in listing the priorities from among the competing claims for support for future development among the many specialities. It will have to exercise impartial and objective judgment in making its choice, bearing in mind the terms of reference.

The Member has perhaps seen the membership of the Committee. But what I would like to say is that the members of the Committee have been very carefully selected, so that those who are on the Committee will not have a vested interest in development of any particular speciality. Moreover, the membership also brings with it a wide range of expertise of various backgrounds, talents and interests. Besides medical men, they also include businessmen, administrators and economists.

Lastly, may I say that this Committee has so far made good progress, having received numerous memoranda from our heads of units and members of the medical profession. Sir, here I would like to refer to the Budget statement made by the Minister for Finance on 9th March, 1970, and I quote from Hansard, Vol. 29, col. 496, first paragraph, last sentence:

'A committee is investigating and identifying those areas of medical specialisation in which Singapore could achieve pre-eminence by providing available medical expertise with the latest in equipment and facilities.'

This statement of the Minister for Finance, Sir, is indeed most encouraging. For the doctors and specialists in my Ministry, this statement clearly indicates that funds will be forthcoming from the Treasury, when the recommendations of the Committee are adopted.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, this is indeed a very encouraging reply, and I must admit that I have no knowledge of what the composition of the Committee is like. In any case, I must say I am very happy with the detailed reply given by the Minister, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 101 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 605.

Sir, this subhead concerns "Refuse Treatment and Disposal Plants", and there is a token provision of $10 as against nil for last year. I wish to bring to the notice of the Minister for Health that the Tampines dumping ground is a very unsatisfactory place. No doubt it has been the refuse dumping ground for several years. I wonder what steps the Minister will take, with only a token provision of $10, in regard to refuse treatment and disposal plants. I assume his Ministry is exploring the possibility of buying some disposal plants, so that the disposal of trade refuse and other rubbish can be done in a much more hygienic way than the present measures taken at the Tampines dumping ground.

I bring this matter up because I have received many complaints from my constituents that all manner of rubbish is being dumped there. This causes a stench in certain areas in Punggol, and during the recent drought there were some outbreaks of fire. In this respect, Sir, I would be grateful if the Minister could indicate to this House what his plans are for the treatment of refuse and disposal plants.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, I fully sympathise with the Member for Punggol because the biggest dumping ground in Singapore is situated in his constituency. Sir, in the nature of human activity, there is always garbage to be disposed. That cannot be helped, and therefore a method must be evolved by the community to dispose of its garbage. To quote one good example of the presence of garbage whenever there is human activity. Last year man first landed on the moon and, as you know, when the astronauts left the moon they also left some garbage behind.

I agree with the Member that the site of the refuse dumping ground at Tampines is unsatisfactory, especially because of its nuisance potential. The method of refuse disposal at that site by dumping refuse directly into the swamp not only causes water pollution but also a smell nuisance due to the decomposition of the refuse. Hence the complaints from his constituents. Flies and other vermin breed in the refuse and insecticides have to be used to control such breeding. From the big mass of rotting refuse, various gases of decomposition evolve, including methane gas which is highly inflammable when mixed with air. As a result of such mixture of methane gas and air you get instantaneous combustion and fires consequently break out. That, I think, is the reason for the fires in the dumping ground, as complained by the Member for Punggol.

There are newer methods of refuse disposal, and my Ministry at the moment is considering the following ways of handling the 1,200 tons per day of refuse currently produced in Singapore. First, to acquire an incinerator to dispose of 900 tons of refuse per day, and ancillary equipment to utilise the waste heat to produce high pressure steam for generating electricity, thus providing some economic return from the burning of refuse.

7.45 p.m.

The second method is to build two refuse compaction plants to handle the remaining 300 tons of refuse per day by compressing the refuse into high-density bales measuring about one cubic yard each, which could be used for reclaiming swamp land. The ground thus reclaimed can be developed for use by light-weight structures. In order that there will be an alternative refuse disposal method available should any of the aforementioned plants break down, we have also to provide a disposal area for the ash and clinker from the incinerator, and an adequately equipped refuse dumping ground properly operated on the sanitary land-fill method will also have to be maintained. This will, however, be a very small one. I do not know where it will be - perhaps Punggol or somewhere else. As I have said, it will be a small one and it will be more hygienically operated. I hope that will satisfy the Member for Punggol.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am indeed satisfied with the Minister's reply and I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 101 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 703.

Sir, in moving this amendment, I wish to seek clarification on the development of and improvement to markets and hawkers' sites. Will the Minister for Health indicate the sites where such development of and improvement to markets will take place?

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, yesterday I asked the Minister two questions on the vote for hawkers, but the Minister did not reply to one of my questions because of the lack of time. Therefore, I feel that since the question I raised yesterday has some relationship to this vote, i.e., "Development of and Improvement to Markets and Hawkers' Sites" --

The Chairman: If questions during the last few days were not answered because of "guillotine" time, and Members want them answered today, the debate on this vote will never end.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, what I want to ask is quite relevant to the item here.

The Chairman: We have another few more minutes. If you like, you can carry on but the Minister will not be able to reply.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, what I want to say is that the Hawkers Department and the Housing and Development Board have been discussing the question of taking over of hawkers' sites. I hope they have come to some agreement on the matter.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not that I did not want to reply to the Member for Tiong Bahru yesterday, but I was "guillotined". May I say that the Member has brought up a quite relevant question. The matter is under consideration between my Ministry and the Housing and Development Board. We are quite willing to hand over the markets in the Housing and Development Board estates to the Housing and Development Board, but there are certain snags. For example, the Ministry of Finance will want the markets to be sold to the Housing and Development Board. Of course, it simply means transferring money from one pocket to another, but certain arrangements will have to be made between the Government and the Housing and Development Board before the control of these markets can be taken over by the Board.

The Member for Punggol wants to know about the plans for resiting, and development of and improvement to hawkers' sites, for which a sum of $150,000 has been provided under this subhead 703. Of this sum, $50,000 is a revote in respect of projects planned but not implemented last year, owing to funds being made available late.

First, the resiting of hawkers. Part of the revote will be used for resiting of hawkers planned last year in respect of the following areas:

(a) Cluny Road;

(b) Yew Tee Village, that is the side-lanes;

(c) Clemenceau Village-Bukit Timah Road;

(d) Onraet Road; and

(e) Jalan Mat Jambol, off Pasir Panjang Road.

In addition to this, a sum from this year's vote will be used for the resiting of hawkers in 12 constituencies. These constituencies will be chosen on the basis of the urgency with which the hawkers there need to be resited, i.e., how much obstruction they are causing, and under what sanitary conditions they are currently operating, etc.

Concerning the development of hawkers' sites, I wish to say that new hawkers' sites will be developed, if necessary. As I have mentioned earlier, if land is available in the 12 constituencies, the funds allocated for the resiting of hawkers will be used for that purpose.

As regards the improvement of hawkers' sites, the funds remaining in the revote will be used for the improvement of:

(a) Geylang Serai Market; that is, (1) covering of pitches; and (2) improvement to lighting;

(b) Seng Poh Market; that is, improvement of bin compartments; and

(c) Taman Jurong Market; that is, washing platforms.

The funds provided in this year's vote will also be utilised to:

(a) cover pitches at

(1) Bukit Ho Swee - four.

(2) Queenstown - three.

(3) Queenstown - four.

(b) carry out improvements to markets as follows:

(1) Upper Serangoon Market. Provision of stalls for pork and fish licences and chain link fence and gates.

(2) Jalan Eunos Market. Paving of open areas for licensed pitches.

(3) Cambridge Road Market. Repairing poultry slaughtering yards and bin compartments.

(4) Jalan Kayu Market. Repairs to office and stalls.

(5) Bukit Panjang Market. Repairs to office and poultry slaughtering yards.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the summary of development costs under this subhead for 1970-71 is estimated to be: (a) Revote 50.000 (b) Resiting of hawkers 120,000 (c) Covering of pitches 42,350 (d) Improvement to markets 36,150 -------- Total: $248,500 ========

As the Member for Punggol will have noted, the funds allocated for this subhead will be $98,500 short of what was requested. Several of the improvements that I have earlier enumerated may have to be shelved.

7.54 p.m.

The Chairman: It is "guillotine" time now, Mr Chua.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The time allotted for Head 101 having expired, the following amendment, standing in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting, was not proceeded with:

(4) That the total sum to be allocated for Head 101 be reduced by $100.

The sum of $3,834,830 for Head 101 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 141 -

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

That the sum to be allocated for Head 141 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 401.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving, Sir.

The sum of $230,200 for Head 141 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

The Chairman: The remaining heads of expenditure in respect of which no amendment stands on the Order Paper Supplement are Heads 54, 72, 73, and 82. I propose to take those heads of expenditure en bloc.

Question, "That the sums stated for those heads of expenditure which appear in the last column of the Summary of Estimated Expenditure on pages 5 and 6 of Paper Cmd. 5 of 1970 stand part of the Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1970, to 31st March, 1971," put, and agreed to.

Question, "That the sum of $438,556,420 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1970, to 31st March, 1971, contained in Paper Cmd. 5 of 1970," put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported.

Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has come to a certain resolution.

Resolution reported -

That the sum of $438,556,420 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1970, to 31st March, 1971, contained in Paper Cmd. 5 of 1970.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament doth agree with the Committee on the said resolution."

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution accordingly agreed to.