URBAN RENEWAL AND GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, 1969-1970 (Housing Board premises for shopkeepers affected)

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Law and National Development (a) if he will give figures of shop-houses which have been affected by urban renewal and Government development projects in 1969 and 1970; and (b) if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board (i) the number of shopkeepers affected by urban renewal and Government development projects who have vacated the Board's shop premises allocated to them during 1969 and 1970; and (ii) if the Board will consider allowing two shopkeepers, who have been affected by urban renewal and Government development projects, to share shop premises of the Board.

Mr E. W. Barker: Sir, the number of shop-houses affected by urban renewal and Government development projects and cleared in 1969 and 1970 is as follows: 1969 1970 Urban renewal 212 97 Other projects 172 174 The number of shopkeepers so affected, who have vacated Housing and Development Board premises allocated to them during these two years, is as follows: 1969 1970 Urban renewal 4 9 Other projects 13 3

As to the last and third part of the question, Sir, two shopkeepers are allowed to share one shop of the Board. In fact, in the Board's housing estates, it is quite common for a barber to share a shop with a hairdresser, and a Chinese medicine dealer to share a shop with a cosmetics dealer.