KAMPONG TIONG BAHRU ESTATE (Larger accommodation for families living in one-room flats)

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board (a) how many families, who are living in the one-room emergency flats in Kampong Tiong Bahru Estate, have registered for transfer to, and have not yet been offered, larger accommodation; and (b) when those families can expect to be offered larger accommodation.

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 189 families living in the one-room emergency flats in the Kampong Tiong Bahru Estate who have registered for transfer to but have not yet been offered larger accommodation.

The majority of these families have requested for transfer to one-room improved and two-room flats in Kampong Tiong Bahru and Redhill Estates. Most of the available flats in these estates will, however, be offered to re-settlement cases who are required to vacate their present premises to make way for development projects.

However, the Housing and Development Board is now embarking on extensive development schemes in Henderson Road, Tiong Bahru and Telok Blangah and a substantial number of flats will then be available for allocation when these new housing estates are completed. However, this will take some time, at least three years.