RAYMAN MARKET (Smaller stalls and resiting of stallholders)

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Health (a) whether he considers the unilateral action of the Hawkers Branch of his Ministry in reducing the sizes of the stalls at the Rayman Market and charging the same rental justified, in view of the fact that stallholders at the Market have been and are suffering loss of business ever since their customers who used to stay at Jalan Kebun Limau were evicted; and (b) when and where those stall-holders will be re-sited after the Market is demolished and if he will ensure that suitable alternative stalls be found for all the stallholders concerned as a proof of his Ministry's concern in looking after the livelihood of its licensees in the Market.

The Minister for Health (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the question as it stands is rather long-winded. I shall try my best to answer it in parts.

First of all, the allegation that the Hawkers Department is taking unilateral action to reduce the sizes of the stalls is a misrepresentation of the true facts. What is being done is to require the licensees to remove the unauthorised extensions, structures and obstructions that have been made to their original stalls. The standard size of a stall has always been 6 feet by 4 feet as stipulated in the Environmental Public Health (Markets) Regulations. I would advise the Member for Kallang to read these regulations, in particular, the Third Schedule on licence fees. Not only should the stalls be of standard size, but the fees are also fixed at a minimal sum. Looking at the licence fees, he can see that they are a highly subsidised form of rental charged by Government for a market stall or site.

Sir, on the second part of the Member's question, my Ministry has been assured by the Housing and Development Board that the existing Rayman Market will not be demolished until the new market to be built nearby is completed. All licensed stallholders will then be given suitable stalls inside the new market. In fact, I gave this assurance in writing in November 1969 to the Member.

Further, the Member knows that it is Government's policy to resite unlicensed hawkers from roadsides and unauthorised places in indoor accommodation and markets. Rayman Market can accommodate 236 stalls and pitches, of which 101 are vacant. The Hawkers Department thus propose to license and resite by ballot the 115 unlicensed hawkers now carrying on business near the market and along Balestier Road into the market. This will not only minimise competition from the unlicensed hawkers outside but will also bring people who buy from them to the market.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): Mr Speaker, can the Minister assure me in this House that both the old and new licensees will be given places in the new market to be built by the Housing and Development Board?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not quite get the point the Member for Kallang has raised. But I believe I have answered the question -all the stallholders in the present market will be given stalls.