MINISTRY OF LAW AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Public housing

More than 125,000 units of public housing have been completed. More than 700,000 people (about 35 per cent of the population) now occupy Housing Board flats.

The target is 100,000 units for the period 1971 to 1975, one flat every 26 minutes. Another half a million people will be accommodated in public housing by the end of 1975.

The Government's policy of allowing the use of Central Provident Fund credits for the purchase of flats has made it possible for more citizens in the Republic to own their flats. Today 34,812 families own the flats they occupy.

As from 1st July 1971, the family income limit for the purchase of H.D.B, flats was raised from $1,200 per month to $1,500 per month. For them a larger type of 5-room flat is being built to improve the quality of public housing.

Costs of land have gone up and will now go up further by the increased compensation and ex gratia payment rates for resettlement. Building material prices have also gone up. The H.D.B, has so far managed to maintain rentals and selling prices of public housing fixed many years ago by increasing the subsidies. The provision of children's playgrounds, sports complexes and planting of shrubs and trees within housing estates have not led to any increase in service and conservancy charges. Again this has meant increasing the subsidy for public housing. East Coast Reclamation

In the East Coast Reclamation, 1,125 acres of land have so far been reclaimed. Work has already begun to reclaim another 165 acres of land from Tanjong Rhu along Nicoll Highway to the mouth of the Singapore River, and 1,350 acres of land from Bedok to the foreshore of Nicoll Drve.

The reclaimed area is magnificently sited. It will make residential and commercial development by both the public and the private sectors possible on a comprehensive basis under a development master plan. It will give Singapore a new skyline viewed from the sea and open up miles of beaches and acres of parkland for our people. Hence we must fight pollution from the rivers, canals, and oil and other spillage from ships.

Urban renewal

Three sales of 41 urban renewal sites have been successfully launched. The projects range from office buildings, shops, hotels and entertainment centres to housing.

An important aspect of urban renewal is environmental improvement. The provision of roads, drainage, car parks, modern sanitation, open spaces and landscaping of the city centre are necessary for a gracious environment. The possibilities in this direction can be seen in the development programme in Precinct South I where New Bridge Road, Outram Road and Havelock Road have been widened and a large and attractive city park at Pearl's Hill is nearing completion.

Many large projects now under construction or recently completed, in the city centre, have benefited from the basic planning and architectural concepts under the urban renewal programme. Our aim is to build not only a more functional but also a beautiful and gracious metropolis.

Public works

The Public Works Department completed projects costing about $64 million, between August 1970 and July 1971, compared to $53 million for the corresponding period the year before.

Development included construction and improvement of roads, bridges, sewers, drainage and flood alleviation schemes, parks and playgrounds.

Roads

Singapore's first flyover, across Clemenceau Avenue, was opened to traffic in mid-1970. By the end of the year, another two flyovers were opened for use.

Work on the Pan-Island Expressway has been started. Sections of the Expressway from Whitley Road to the Turf Club, from Paya Lebar to Jalan Eunos, and the extension to Sims Avenue are nearing completion.

Drinage

The Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme, a major drainage project, has progressed satisfactorily. The diversion canal, which will carry storm water runoff from the 2,670.acre Upper Bukit Timah Catchment, is already in operation. The whole length of Sungei Whampoa has been concrete-lined. The lining of the Bukit Timah Canal is progressing. Stamford Canal has been chosen as the pilot project for antipollution and purification of river and canal waters. The results will begin to be seen by 1972.

Sewerage

Our sewerage network at present covers 447 miles of sewers serving over one million people. This network must in 10 years be extended so that every home on the island can reach a main sewer economically. All bath, kitchen, and dirty household or industrial wastewater must go into the sewers. Then we shall be able to extract more and more of our average of 750 million gallons a day.

Parks and trees

The pace of planting and landscaping has been accelerated. Twenty-three gardens and 23 small roadside parks have been created since the "Garden City" campaign got under way 18 months ago. One major project was the completion of Orchard Park in the heart of the city. The existing Mount Faber Scenic Park has been extended and will be further improved to provide more walks and recreation in scenic surroundings for our people.

City planning

A comprehensive physical development plan has been drawn up by the State and City Planning Office. It provides policy guide lines for the location and phasing of major projects in public housing, industrial estate development, transport and public works. The plan has been prepared with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme. The recommendations of the U.N.D.P. /S.C.P, study are expected to be submitted by the U.N, to the Government by the end of the year.

Primary production

In spite of limited land resources, good progress has been made in primary production. With help and advice from Primary Production officers, farms have been modernised and production made more efficient. Singapore is now self-sufficient in pork, poultry meat and eggs, which are also exported. The thriving export trade in ornamental fish and orchids has further increased.

Legislation

Six volumes of the 1970 Revised Edition of the Statutes of Singapore have already been published and brought into force; the two remaining volumes will come into operation shortly. On completion, we shall have a new Manual of Laws, consolidated and amended, and brought up to date, so that looking up the law will be a simpler process.