DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973

Debate in Committee of Supply resumed

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

5.37 p.m.

Head 72 -

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 72 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 004 of subhead 201.

Sir, the provision of lorry parks by the Ministry of National Development is indeed a welcome move. Many lorries and trailers are parked along roadsides, causing unnecessary traffic hazards. I would suggest that legislation be introduced to compel these drivers to park their lorries and trailers and heavy-duty lorries in parking bays designated for them. I would also like to ask the Minister what is the capacity of the lorry park that is proposed to be built at Lorong Kebun Limau?

Mr Barker: Sir, the Car Parks Division has proposals for the development of a centralised lorry park initially at Lorong 1, Geylang, to accommodate the lorries at present parked in season car parking places in the City centre. If this lorry park is inadequate, the development of another lorry park at Lorong Kebun Limau will be considered later. The Singapore Lorry Owners' Association feels that as there are 4,000 lorries in Singapore, the proposed parking sites will be insufficient, and they have asked for more sites at Newton, Redhill and Pasir Panjang.

As for legislation, although it is proposed to amend the Motor Vehicles (Parking Places) Rules, 1959, in due course to prohibit the parking of heavy lorries (especially lorries with cranes) in any parking place in the City area throughout the day and night, it is not the intention to prevent lorries from parking in other places, such as private compounds, garages, Housing Board estates, or even the Jurong Town Corporation's industrial estates.

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee: Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 72 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 205.

Sir, in moving this amendment, I merely wish to seek clarification from the Minister for Law and National Development. Although the purpose of this pro-vision is to resite the motor repair shops, which are now scattered in the City area and along trunk roads, may I know whether the intention is to centralise the motor repair workshops located in this area? Furthermore, will those workshops, which are unaffected by public projects, be allowed to apply for sites in the centralised motor repair shop area, when completed?

Mr Barker: Sir, a census taken last year revealed that there are about 70 workshops, engaged in motor repairing, located at Bukit Timah Road, Sembawang Road, Jalan Pandu and Jalan Pasar. Their operations have contributed quite a great deal to the problems of noise, air and water pollution. They have also contributed to traffic obstruction and, in some cases, have even caused accidents. It is, therefore, proposed to resite some of these workshops on a four-acre site off the 12th milestone Woodlands Road. After the acquisition of land and resettlement, the actual construction work will take about one and a half years.

The Housing Board is also developing a centralised motor workshop complex at the Thomson Road industrial estate for the purpose of resettling motor workshops affected by public schemes. Initially, these two centralised workshop areas will be allocated to clearance cases only. But it is hoped eventually to resite all such shops, which now operate along main roads and in the Central area, to several centralised motor repair shops away from the City.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, can the Minister say whether the motor repair shops affected by clearance will be given priority of place at the centralised motor workshop complex at Sin Ming Road?

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, though I do not qualify to take the place of the Minister to answer the Member for Sembawang, I am quite positive that this must be so. Perhaps the Minister will bear me out on this.

Sir, in view of the very detailed reply given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn

5.45 p.m.

Mr Sim Boon Woo (Changi): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 72 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 304.

Sir, this amendment concerns reclamation work, Phase IV, taking place from Bedok to Tanah Merah Besar. I would like to request the Minister to bear in mind the following factors. Most of the residents living in Bedok, Padang Terbakar, Kampong Ayer Gemuroh and Tanah Merah Besar are fishermen and farmers. Consideration should be given to see that no hardship or inconvenience is caused to these farmers, fishermen, or the residents due to reclamation works. If any land is to be acquired, the affected families should be fairly compensated. Of course, the purpose of reclamation work is to add some more land to our Republic, but if it is carried out without sufficient foresight and due attention to the existing conditions of the area, this may cause untold hardship to the residents in that area. There are many small canals in this area earmarked for the reclamation project. These canals serve as outlets to the sea for the fishermen. When these canals are filled up, the fishermen will not be able to push their sampans out to the sea nor will they be able to berth their fishing boats or sampans.

Sir, as it is, the area between Bedok and Telok Mata Ikan is low-lying and often gets flooded when heavy rain falls or when the tide is high. The filling up of these canals will, therefore, be another cause for floods in this area. I am told, Sir, that floods bring untold damage and misery to the residents in the affected area as a whole. It is hoped that the Minister will give full consideration to these problems before the actual reclamation work commences.

Mr Barker: Sir, Phase IV of the reclamation scheme from Bedok to Tanah Merah will cause some inconvenience to the people living along that part of the coast. With reclamation, inconvenience is unavoidable. However, every effort will be made by the Housing and Development Board to minimise the inconvenience and to prevent any hardships to those affected. In its experience in reclaiming land from Bedok to Tanjong Rhu, the Board has learned from its few mistakes, and I am sure they will be more careful with the second stretch.

The Member will be pleased to learn that there is no proposal to acquire the land along the coast above the high-water mark. This reclamation will only be confined to the coastal foreshore.

As for the danger of flooding, the major canals serving the area, namely, Bedok canal, Sungei Mata Ikan and Sungei Ayer Gemuroh, will be extended across the reclaimed land into the sea so that the existing stretch in the area will not be affected. During the progress of reclamation, the Board will also construct more drains to facilitate the flow of rain-water from the foreshore to the sea.

As for the fishermen living along the coast, they will be able to retain the use of these canals as an access for their boats. From our experience in reclaiming the coast along the Siglap area, the fishermen are, in fact, now using the new foreshore for pitching their boats. All they have to do is to walk the additional distance of the reclaimed land in order to get to the sea. This takes about five minutes.

I would urge the Member himself to let my Ministry know if there is any part of the reclamation work which leads to the inconvenience of the residents there or if any canals are blocked, thus causing floods.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: In view of the assurance given by the Minister that the Board will minimise any inconvenience or hardship, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

That the sum to be allocated for Head 72 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 501.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I am not moving, Sir.

The sum of $43,569,610 for Head 72 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 73 -

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 104.

Sir, a few days ago we have been debating on the fact that the prices of agricultural produce have dropped to a very low level recently. Even the price of pigs has been going down sharply, causing heavy losses to the farmers. According to a general investigation, one of the reasons is that the Central Abattoir in Jurong has adopted a working system of one rest day every week. Because of this, the usual number of pigs sent on that particular day was not slaughtered. According to calculations that number will total up to 5,000 pigs per month owing to rest days. I believe the Minister is as concerned as Members on this side about the interest and welfare of the farmers. I appeal to him to reconsider the matter of allowing the Central Abattoir to close for one rest day every week. This should stop, and the Abattoir should be opened throughout the whole week.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin (Jalan Kayu): (In Mandarin): Sir, I rise to support the motion moved by the Member for Jurong. The request he has made is also the request and the fervent hope of the people in Jalan Kayu. To my mind, the 7-day working system as adopted by the Central Abattoir until now was a very practical one, even in respect of administration. The question of a rest day can be easily solved in other ways.

This problem also relates to the question of rural abattoirs. I remember two years ago in this House I made a request for the setting up of rural abattoirs in the rural areas. Two years have elapsed, and I still cannot find its inclusion in the Development Estimates.

Mr Barker: Sir, the weekly rest day on Mondays for butchers slaughtering pigs at the Central Abattoir in Jurong and the French Road Abattoir was introduced last year after representations were made to the Government by the Singapore Pork Merchants Association. But if all concerned feel that the rest day is not necessary, the existing arrangements can be reviewed.

As for the price of pigs, I believe it is influenced by more important market factors than just having another working day for the butchers. As an indication of this, the total number of pigs slaughtered in both abattoirs has maintained its steady normal increase since the implementation of the rest day. My Ministry itself would prefer to have a 7-day week, but we cannot force people to work for seven days. A 7-day week means you get good fresh pork for seven days of the week. It is not a question of the farmers as against the butchers. But somehow the question of farmers and butchers went on to the abattoir.

As for rural abattoirs, recent studies have shown that there is no immediate need for rural abattoirs. But it is not a lost hope or a lost cause. It is still very much in the mind of my Ministry, .but there are no immediate plans for their implementation.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): In view of the fact that the Minister has said that he will review the matter of getting the Central Abattoir to carry on business for seven days a week, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 202*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong)

Sir, this vote is for Intensive Farm Improvement Schemes. I have noticed that this year's vote is a mere sum of $6,100. As compared with the provision for last year, this is a huge reduction. I do not know whether the programme has been well implemented and achieved success, or whether there is no need to further this scheme.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I merely want to raise one question under this subhead. I feel that the vote of $6,100 for this year for Intensive Farm Improvement Schemes is too meagre. I want to know how the money is to be spent in this regard.

6.00 p.m.

Mr Barker: Sir, the Intensive Farm Improvement Scheme has been, in fact, in progress since 1968 and is now coming to its end-phase. Hence, the diminishing financial provision for it. But the two Members need not be concerned. When the project was first approved, there was a provision of about $220,000 for capital expenditure. The bulk of this provision has been utilised for land, buildings, furniture and equipment. The balance which has been revoted this year, and about which the Member for Sembawang enquires, will be used for the purpose of a few more pieces of equipment.

Researches, which have been initiated, have been made towards improving the yield of our crops by the selection of good parent plants, through better fertilising practices, and through better control of pests and diseases. In fact, experiments have been carried out at the Sembawang Field Station and the demonstration farm at Lim Chu Kang. The results of these experiments are passed on and made known to the farmers through the extension service or training courses organised by the Department of Primary Production.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 302.

Sir, a period of three years has passed since the Central Fish Market opened for business. During this time, the fish merchants and fishmongers have been co-operating and working together under the give-and-take spirit, which is in the interests of the consumers and for the progress and development of the country.

Members may recall that when the idea of the Central Fish Market was fish mooted, it met with considerable opposition from the fish merchants and fishmongers. Subsequently, after consultations and discussions between the parties concerned, some agreement was reached and the fish merchants agreed to move over to the Central Fish Market. According to officials of the Singapore Fish Merchants Federation, one of the terms of agreement was that the temporary offices in the fish market would be rebuilt after a period of two years. Sir, these temporary offices are made of planks and each office measures roughly 15 feet x 10 feet x 10 feet. They are very small and the height is low, and under the scorching sun they are as hot as oven. Apart from space for desks and cupboards, there is no room left to put even a canvas bed for the workers to rest. I understand that some of the plank walls of these offices have already been attacked by termites. Sir, the question of rebuilding the temporary offices has always been troubling the fish merchants there. They have referred this matter to the Primary Production Department several times but have not received any satisfactory answer. I understand, Sir, that the Primary Production Department is now thinking of extending the auction market itself. Between extending the auction market and rebuilding the temporary offices, I think the latter is more urgent. The Minister concerned should give priority to this matter.

Sir, the next matter I wish to deal with is the management and administration of the market. I have received several complaints that the management and administration of the market is very poor. Sir, I took up the matter of security of the market with the Minister for Home Affairs yesterday in this House. This is related to the management of the market. I feel that the passes required for entering the market should not be issued at random. Furthermore, there should be stricter check-points at the entrance to ensure that bad elements are not allowed in. I also understand that there is no full-time staff to take charge of administrative and management matters in the fish market. The Primary Production Department sends a man there about two or three times a week to look things over, and on each occasion the officer will stay there for about one or two hours. After that, he will have to go to Changi to attend to other matters. I cannot blame him for that. But whenever this officer is not present at the market, the fish merchants will have nobody to turn to for help. So under these circumstances it is difficult to expect the management of the fish market to be efficient. I hope the Minister will ensure that the Primary Production Department will send a full-time man to take charge of the market.

Mr Barker: Sir, there are altogether six supervisory officers and 12 subordinate staff on duty at the fish auction market. Each morning, during the auctioning period, their duties are to see that the fish merchants, auctioneers and retailers, conduct their business in an orderly manner and that the facilities of the auction market are properly made use of. These officers also patrol the market and its surroundings. Supervision-wise, there have, in fact, been a few instances where the fish merchants have complained to the Department that these officers have been too strict in the enforcement of rules and regulations at the auction market.

Sir, the gates to the fishing port are manned by two security guards per shift. These guards are retired police officers, whose duties are to check on persons entering the fishing port area. However, as the number of people entering the gates is about 3,000 per night in about 500 vehicles, it is practically impossible to check every person entering the market as this would cause a long queue and much inconvenience.

As for the site of the buildings, may I say at the outset that when this idea of transferring the fishermen or the fish merchants from Ellen borough Market and Clyde Terrace Market to Jurong was first thought of, there was, as the Member for Jurong has pointed Out, considerable opposition. There were protests to the M.P.s concerned. There were protests also to more senior and more powerful Ministers. But finally we managed to get them to shift. Within two months, they threw a tea party to which I was invited, which means that we were correct in getting them there. But to recapitulate, as for the buildings, the Primary Production Department has erected three blocks of temporary timber offices for the use of these fish merchants. The Department did not undertake to construct permanent offices for the fish merchants. In fact, the Department is of the view that the private sector should erect their own facilities. So a number of commercial companies engaged in the catching and auctioning of fish have constructed their own offices as well as fish processing installations. The Department itself is prepared to recommend to the Jurong Town Corporation, which owns the land at the fishing port, to lease land to fish merchants who wish to construct their own permanent offices, or to lease a piece of land to the Fish Merchants Association for them to construct offices for their members.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand that not all the fish merchants are rich people. But some may be rich. Those who are rich want to invest their money in deep-sea fishing and other business ventures. So they do not have adequate cash to build their own permanent offices. In this respect, can the Minister suggest to the J.T.C, to build offices and rent them out to the merchants'?

Mr Barker: I will certainly make that recommendation. However, what I am more concerned with is not the fish merchants or vendors of fish, who have already been given space in the market, but for others who are even poorer and who have no space within that market and have to rent a little space from those who have places in the market. I understand that they are being held practically to blackmail, and it is my duty first to help these fish merchants or fishmongers without proper accommodation, rather than to build permanent buildings for those who have already been given accommodation and who are, in fact, making quite a bit of money by subletting little portions of space for the use of smaller fishmongers.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad to hear that the Minister knows what is going on in the market. This is praiseworthy. I must show my appreciation for his concern in this respect. Sir, in view of the Minister's promise to make a recommendation to the J.T.C, to build offices and to let them out to the fish merchants, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 307.

Sir, subhead 307 deals with the development of Kangkar Fishing Base, which is in my constituency. This fishing base has been in existence for several decades. It has developed from a small fishing village into a thriving fishing base in that part of Singapore. Sir, although its contribution to our economy may be small in terms of percentage, but in terms of dollars and cents its contribution is about $7 million per annum since 1969. The small fishing fleet has also grown to over 100 fishing boats. Last year in this House, I brought up the difficulties encountered by those involved in the fishing industry at Kangkar. For example, with the increase in the number of fishing boats, there was lack of proper facilities for unloading catches of fish, and owing to the narrowness of that particular end of the Serangoon River there was congestion and overcrowding of boats trying to find anchorage facilities.

6.15 p.m.

The existing jetty at Kangkar is far too small and narrow. Therefore, as 1 have mentioned earlier, I made an appeal to the Minister for Law and National Development in this House that his Ministry should look into this matter together with some other matters which I raised. Today I am happy to note that there is a provision of $100,000 in the 1972-73 Development Estimates for the development of Kangkar fishing base. According to the Memorandum, the development will provide landing and other facilities for the fishermen operating at Kangkar. I would like to know whether the Primary Production Department has any other plans to develop this fishing base, in view of this year's provision.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, at the last Budget session the Member for Punggol inquired whether there were plans to develop the Kangkar fish market and what action was being taken. It was as a result of his representation that my Ministry took this matter up with the Ministry of Finance. As a result, the Ministry of Finance agreed to provide $100,000 for the project, which will be in two parts. First, there will be an extension to the existing jetty. The proposed extension is an L-shaped jetty to be added to the existing one, so that the facilities for boats and fishermen will be extended. Secondly, there will be a new fish market near the jetty comprising an open shed 120 feet x 60 feet occupying an area of about 7,200 square feet. This is about double the area of the existing market,

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for having made this provision. I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 902.

Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a provision of $100,000 under this subhead for the acquisition of land. I would like to ask the Minister two questions. First, is there any plan to acquire land in specific areas? Secondly, for what development purposes is land acquisition necessary?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Sembawang Research Station occupies an area of about 40 acres of land, and this is the area it has occupied since its establishment in 1959. Over the years the programme for research and experimental work has increased to such an extent that much of the land apportioned for use by the various sections of the Station has now been fully utilised. In order to meet the future demand for more land, as more research and experimental projects are undertaken, the Primary Production Department has acquired 50 acres of the adjoining rubber estate. The land acquired is located immediately south of the existing station. Action is now in hand to prepare and develop this additional land to meet the needs of some of the new projects to be carried out by the Research Station. In fact, the extra land will be used for experiments and research on horticulture, livestock production, and freshwater fish culture. Research on horticulture will include plant breeding, pest and disease control, soil studies and orchid and mushroom cultivation. Livestock production studies will include growth rate, feed conversion, housing and waste disposal of pigs and poultry. Freshwater fish culture work will comprise nutrition, spawning techniques, selection and hybridisation.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his detailed answer to my question. All these plans will certainly contribute to the development of agriculture. I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $1,648,700 for Head 73 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 74 -

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Yeow Chong -

(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 74 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 74 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 212.

The provision of $4 million under this subhead is for the development and improvement of parks and open spaces. In recent years the Government has launched intensive programmes to build more parks and to beautify our open spaces so that more recreational facilities will be provided for our people. These programmes are praiseworthy. For this year, Sir, a provision of $4 million is allocated for the development of parks and open spaces. I am sure this development plan will be warmly appreciated by the people.

However, I wish to ask the Minister one question. Is there any plan to build a seaside park in Sembawang? There should be a plan to provide recreational facilities for the people living in Sembawang. Moreover, the seaside park can become one of the tourist resorts in Singapore. We will be killing two birds with one stone.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the development of parks is currently under planning and design. It is expected to be implemented this year, but it will not be completed this year. The project includes the East Coast Park on the reclaimed land between Bedok and Tanjong Rhu, the Woodlands Park near the Causeway, Kampong Java park at the New Cemetery Road, the Central Park at Fort Canning Hill, Rochester Park, Tanah Merah Park, Pearl's Hill Park, Labrador Hill, Mount Faber Park extension, and a park in Sembawang.

The Member for Sembawang is a lucky man today. He has his Sembawang Research Station extended. He is now going to have a park with an area of 35 acres at the 15th m.s. Sembawang Road, opposite the Sembawang School, and extending right to the sea. The Member for Sembawang will have a seaside park where not only his constituents but he himself can rest after a hard day's work.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I must thank the Minister deeply for this plan. Of course, this park is not for the use of people of Sembawang alone. It is also meant to be a tourist resort. I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $9,142,400 for Head 74 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 75 -

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi (Kampong Kembangan): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 102.

Sir, with the exception of Lengkong Tiga. Kampong Pachitan area and in Kampong Eunos, all roads in the eastern sector of Jalan Eunos have been made up under section 19 of the Local Government Integration Act. The conditions of these roads are similar to any other public roads. I believe the Minister can imagine the speed with which traffic moves along these roads. When motorists reach the junctions of these roads, they are in a hurry to cross the road. They do not know who should give way. This is because of the lack of traffic signs at these road junctions. The only exception is the road junction at Jalan Senang and Jalan Lapang. The traffic sign was put up only a few weeks ago. In fact, I have appealed to the Traffic Police to provide more traffic signs, but the answer I have received is that the provision allocated for this purpose has already been spent. Therefore, with this new provision of $100,000 for the financial year 1972-73, can the Minister give an assurance that traffic signs will be installed at all these road junctions?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Kampong Kembangan Citizens Consultative Committee did make a request for the erection of 12 STOP signs at road junctions in that area. Two of these signs have since been erected. There was a lack of funds in the last financial year, but we are getting more money this year. Like the Member for Kampong Kembangan, I myself feel that more STOP signs should be erected at road junctions in order to prevent nasty accidents. I would suggest that he press on with his representation, and I myself will see what I can do at my end.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): In view of the Minister's assurance, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

6.30 p.m.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 010 of subhead 201.

Sir, in moving this amendment, may I range over my amendment* (6) which is related?

• The amendment reads as follows:

(6)That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 314.

The Chairman: Yes.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): Sir, last year an amount of $500,000 was allocated for the extension of the Pan-Island. I want know why another sum of $300,000 has been provided for 1972-73, which is more than half of the amount provided for the last financial year, when only little work is left to be done. Can the Minister explain the plans that require this provision of $300,000 for 1972-73?

Similarly, for the extension of Sims Avenue (from Paya Lebar Road to Changi Road), a sum of $600,000 was provided for the last financial year. The construction work from Paya Lebar Road up to Jalan Eunos has been completed, and the road is now being used. What is left to be done is the extension work from Jalan Eunos to Changi Road. Sir, from the point where work on the new road ends up to the frontage of the Muslim Women's Welfare Home at Jalan Eunos to Changi Road is only a quarter of a mile. Can the Minister explain why such a big vote of $300,00() for this year, which is more than half of the provision for the last financial year, has been provided for this extension work?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, funds provided under item 010 of subhead 201 are for the construction of that section of the Pan-Island Expressway from Paya Lebar Road to Jalan Eunos. Work on this project was delayed by the presence of squatters along the proposed alignment of the road. But to-date most of the squatters have been moved, and about 90 per cent of the project has been completed.

The sum of $300,000 has been provided for 1972-73 merely to complete the project. There is the cost of compensation for resettling the remaining squatters, and the payment of some bills which have not yet been paid for work already done. It is not unusual that every year bills for work done could not meet the deadline for that financial year, and have to be met out of the funds for the following financial year.

The other matter raised by the Member concerns the extension of Sims Avenue from Paya Lebar Road to Jalan Eunos to form part of a one-way system, comprising Geylang Road and Sims Avenue, in order to ease the heavy traffic along Geylang Road. This extension was completed in 1971. I think the Member will agree that it has done considerably to brighten life in that area. It has also eased the traffic problems and, all in all, it has been a tremendous success.

This additional sum of $300,000 provided for the next financial year is to complete this one-way system. We will be widening that stretch of Sims Avenue from Paya Lebar Road to Lorong 3, Geylang Road, away from Changi Road. And we will also construct a link road between Sims Avenue and Kallang Road. Hence the provision of 5300,000. The Member will be interested to know that this one-way system will ultimately he extended beyond Jalan Eunos towards Changi Road.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): Sir, just now the Minister stated that the vote is for the payment of bills which have not been paid. Does this provision include the payment of compensation to the squatters who have been affected?

Mr Barker: Yes, part of it.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): Sir, can the Minister explain what are the plans for the extension of Sims Avenue to Changi Road?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, to describe the extension in words. It is best shown by way of a plan which I do not have with me now, hut I am prepared to show it to him. Roughly extension, or a continuation of the present extension, from Sims Avenue towards Jalan Eunos, it would carry on parallel to Changi Road, and meet Changi Road somewhere near Kampong Chai Chee.

At the moment, Sims Avenue is parallel to (ieylang Road. Part of it has been widened. We will be widening that part of Sims Avenue from Paya Lebar Road to Lorong 3; call it Phase II if you like. Phase III will again be an extension or a continuation of that road, i.e., Sims Avenue, towards Changi, and running parallel to the big road, Geylang Road, which at present is a double carriageway running past the old Garrick Theatre. That is the best that I can explain in words! If the Member is interested in knowing what lands will be affected by this extension, I suggest that he sees the plan for himself.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): Sir, I thank the Minister for his explanation, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Cheong Yuen Chee -

(3) That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee: I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 306*.

(* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs J. F. Conceicao and Sim Boon Woo.)

Sir, this is a provision for pedestrian overhead bridges and underpasses. I wish to find out from the Minister whether there are plans to build a pedestrian overhead bridge or an underpass across Mountbatten Road at a point somewhere near Guillemard Road. 1 consider it necessary. Let me give the reasons. When games are held in future at the Sports Complex in Kallang Park, there will be, as can be expected, a heavy volume of traffic as well as a big crowd of pedestrians going to and returning from the games. A specially strong pedestrian overhead bridge, or preferably a big underpass, would draw the crowd of pedestrians away from the road, leaving it entirely free for the use of vehicles. Otherwise pedestrians will find it difficult to cross Mount-batten Road before and after the games.

Sir, the bulk of the population of my constituency live in the Old Kallang Airport Estate, which is directly opposite the Sports Complex and separated by Mountbatten Road. An overhead bridge or underpass across Mountbatten Road will be convenient for some of my constituents, who are sports enthusiasts, to walk across to the Sports Complex instead of going there by car or bus, which may add to the traffic congestion that is expected there. In fact, most of the people who do not own cars will benefit if there is a pedestrian overhead bridge or an underpass for them to go across Mountbatten Road to the Sports Complex.

Sir, I would like to hear the Minister's views.

Mr Conceicao: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to bring to the Minister's notice a certain oversight in the building of an overhead bridge in my constituency, which I am sure is not characteristic other overhead bridges - I hope not anyway. The overhead bridge I am talking about is the one standing across Mountbatten Road from the vicinity of the Jalan Batu housing complex on one side to the vicinity of Tun Sen Lanang School on the other. The steps leading up to the bridge on the Jalan Batu side are very well constructed, and there seems to he logic in the construction of two stairways down to the pavement. But on the other side of the bridge at Tun Sen Lanang School, there is only one stairway down leading to within one and a half feet of the road. One would imagine that the stairway of an overhead bridge should open out on to the pavement away from the road, and not immediately on to the road. The whole purpose of the pedestrian bridge is to get pedestrians away from the road. But this bridge seems to be leading pedestrians back on to the road.

I had occasion to talk this matter over with one of the Minister's officials, and as a result a railing has been placed to protect the pedestrians, should a bus or a vehicle come too close to where the pedestrian bridge ends up on the road. But I would imagine that if such a thing should happen, this railing will not be very much of a protection to pedestrians. I would urge the Minister to ask his officials to consider working out a safer way for my constituents to go from one side of Mount-batten Road to the other.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, action has already been taken in the light of the Member for Katong's representation to widen the footpath in front of the steps of the overhead bridge in question, and to make a slight realignment of the roadside kerbs. As the Member has pointed out, a 30-foot long railing has also been erected as a further safeguard. If the Member is still not satisfied, we will proceed further to meet his complaint.

As for the Member for Mountbatten, investigations carried out have shown that very few pedestrians cross that portion of the road referred to by the Member. Besides traffic flow along Mountbatten Road is regulated by traffic light controls at Guillemard Circus and the junction of the Old Airport Road and Mountbatten Road, thereby facilitating pedestrians crossing the road. A pedestrian overhead bridge is, therefore, not necessary at this juncture. However, on completion of the National Stadium, which is what the Member is looking forward to, the Public Works Department will certainly review the situation and build an overhead bridge, if it is considered necessary. In my view, without even looking into the future, I am sure the Member is right in saying that an overhead bridge will be needed when the Stadium is completed. The provision of an underpass is, I am afraid, not feasible as the location in question is just by the side of a big canal.

6.45 p.m.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: In view of the answer given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave withdrawn.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 006 of subhead 310.

Sir, in moving this amendment, I merely wish to draw the attention of the Minister for Law and National Development to some of the bus shelters from Upper Serangoon Road, 64 m.s., to Punggol Point. I notice that some of these bus shelters are not only small but also are without stone benches, especially those shelters along Punggol Road.

Sir, last year I also had occasion to make some requests for more bus shelters along Punggol Road, where there was a need for them. In this respect, I would urge the Minister to consider my suggestion.

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee: Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to ask the Minister two questions.

Firstly, last year I made some requests for bus shelters to be erected in Toa Payoh. This has been done, but apparently most of the bus shelters are second-hand and they appear to have been taken from other areas and dumped in Toa Payoh. Surely a new town like Toa Payoh deserves something more attractive than second-hand bus shelters!

Secondly, the question of bus bays. I believe that when bus bays are constructed, arrangements should be made with the relevant authorities to site the bus stands near the bus bays. There is one bus bay in Toa Payoh which has not been used. The bus bay is constructed but the bus stop is far away from this bus bay, and one long trailer has monopolised it as its parking lot for several months. I would like to seek clarification from the Minister on this.

Mr Barker: Sir, in the outlying rural areas like Punggol, where bus commuters are fewer than in the urban area, standard rural bus shelters with a floor area of about 60 square feet are considered adequate. Seats are not provided for the shelter as they take up too much standing room. But where the needs are justified, bigger bus shelters are constructed, like those along Upper Serangoon Road in Punggol, which have been provided with seats. Altogether six new bus shelters along Punggol Road were constructed in 1971, in response to requests from the public and the Citizens' Consultative Committee. More bus shelters will be provided if these are requested for and found necessary.

As for the Member for Toa Payoh, I do not know why a trailer is parked on the bus bay, but if he will let me know where this bus bay is, I will ask my officials to look into it. We can build bus bays, but we cannot force buses to stop within them. Nor can we prevent trailers from parking in bus bays until we get to know about it.

As for second-hand equipment, perhaps anything second-hand is better than none. I hope the department did not pull them out of Punggol and put them in Toa Payoh. I agree with the Member for Toa Payoh that a new town like Toa Payoh needs new bus shelters. I promise that I will do my best not to renovate the old but to give him new bus shelters.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, the Minister has just mentioned that since Punggol is an outlying area, therefore, the bus shelters there are much smaller. Let me say that even if these bus shelters are pulled out of Punggol, I do not think they would be put in Toa Payoh.

Another matter which the Minister just pointed out is that since the bus shelters along Punggol Road are smaller, about 60 square feet, therefore, there is no need to have seats. Sir, in the light of some vigorous comments from this House last week with regard to commuters having to wait for quite some time before a bus comes along - I believe to some extent this is also true for bus commuters in the Punggol Road area - I would urge the Minister to reconsider my request before asking for permission to withdraw my amendment.

Mr Barker: Sir, though these bus shelters in Punggol are small, six of them were built last year. Six is a considerable number compared with that for Tanglin! I have always stated that we are open to request. If the Member for Punggol can justify his representation, we will certainly provide him with bus shelters, perhaps even bigger ones with seats thrown in.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I must thank the Minister for his assurance, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $15,803,000 for Head 75 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 76 -

The following amendments stood on the Order Paper Supplement -

Tuan Hail Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi:

(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 76 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 128.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong:

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 76 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 401.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: I am also not moving, Sir.

The sum of $5,726,000 for Head 76 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Pursuant to a resolution of the House, Mr Speaker thereupon left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Development Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1972, to 31st March, 1973, and ask leave to sit again on Monday, 27th March, 1972.

Mr Speaker: So be it.