ST. MICHAEL'S MARKET (Accommodation for unlicensed hawkers and staircase to upper storey)

Dr Augustine H. H. Tan asked the Minister for Health (a) if he has plans to enlarge St. Michael's Market to accommodate the unlicensed hawkers who are presently hawking in the concourse outside the Market; and (b) if it is proposed to provide a staircase leading directly from the concourse to the upper storey of that Market, so as to bring better business to the stall-holders upstairs.

The Minister for Health (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are no plans to enlarge St. Michael's Market. All unlicensed hawkers plying in the concourse in the vicinity of the market were resited and given a place within the market on 18th November, 1970. Subsequently, through lack of firm enforcement, more unlicensed hawkers have gathered there. There are 42 vacant stalls and pitches in the market. It is not possible, therefore, to resite within the market all the unlicensed hawkers outside.

The Housing and Development Board has, however, prepared plans for the construction of a new hawkers' centre at Jalan Tenteram. Those hawkers who cannot be resited in the existing market will be moved into this new market.

There are two existing staircases within St. Michael's Market which already afford access to the upper storey. It is, therefore, not proposed to provide a staircase leading directly to the upper storey of the market.

Dr Augustine H. H. Tan (Whampoa): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister what will happen to the unlicensed hawkers in the meantime, before the completion of the proposed hawkers' centre?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, it is proposed to license them, which means that they will have to pay licence fees. These fees are at the moment being paid by the hawkers or stallholders inside the market, and therefore the present unlicensed hawkers, when licensed, will not have an unfair advantage over those inside the market.

Dr Augustine Tan: Sir, in view of the numerous complaints that I have received regarding the high rentals of the market stalls, will the Minister consider lowering them not only for the present stallholders but also for the unlicensed hawkers who will be given licences?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, sir, as far as I am concerned. I have not heard of complaints of high rentals in the market. But I am hearing this for the first time in this Chamber from the Member for Whampoa. May I say that the rentals in Government markets are highly subsidised. They are very reasonable.

As far as St. Michael's Market is concerned, I think the major complaint is the unfair competition which the unlicensed hawkers are giving to the stalls inside the market. I remember my visit to the market - you will be surprised, Sir, that I myself do visit markets - during the last "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign. The stallholders came out to see me and their main complaint was, "We, the stallholders inside the market, pay licence fees and it is unfair of you to allow these unlicensed hawkers in the concourse outside the market to get away without paying any fees at all. Therefore, there is this unfair competition." In fact, that was the major complaint they made to me, but they made no complaint about high rentals.

Dr Augustine Tan: Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister consider allowing the market stallholders to pay their rentals on a monthly basis, as they did some time ago? They have to make quarterly payments right now, and this constitutes quite a burden on them.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, when we introduced these quarterly payments for market stallholders at the beginning of last year, there were complaints and grumblings about it. But these complaints have stopped now. It is quite human for people to grumble when there is some change. But may I say that if there are any genuine cases of hardship, we do consider each case on its merits or demerits.

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee (Toa Payoh): Sir, is the Minister aware that this market is within a Housing and Development Board estate? It is not the policy of the Hawkers Department of the Housing Board to license unauthorised hawkers outside or within the concourse of the market. If it is, this will create a problem for me.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the question is very relevant, The problem with this market is due to the division of jurisdiction. In fact, the market comes under the control of my Ministry, but the concourse outside is under the control of the Housing and Development Board. Anyway, since both of us are on the same side, the Ministry of Health and the Markets Department of the Housing Board will jointly decide on the policy. But if the Member has problems, perhaps he can convey them either to the Hawkers Department or the Housing and Development Board, as we do have liaison with them, and we will take joint action.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): Sir, when all the unauthorised hawkers in the concourse outside St. Michael's Market have been licensed and resited in the new market at Jalan Tenteram, will the Minister allow more unlicensed hawkers to come along?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker. Sir, my common sense tells me no. I think I shall follow my common sense.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Mr Speaker, Sir, if that is the Minister's common sense, why does he allow the present unlicensed hawkers to trade outside St. Michael's Market, as a result of which there is unfair competition between them and the licensed hawkers? Is that common sense?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I did explain in my answer that it is because of the lack of effective enforcement that the unlicensed hawkers have gathered in that area. May I say that common sense is wanting, but perhaps the hawker inspectors did have a heart and so they did not take effective action. That is why this problem has arisen.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim: Will the Minister explain whether the Hawkers Department will continue to have a heart when dealing with all the unlicensed hawkers at that particular market?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Common sense again tells me that they will continue to have a heart!