RECLAMATION AT PULAU HANTU AND PULAU SUBAR

5.21 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name, as it appears on the Order Paper.

• The motion reads as follows:

`That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshores and seabed off Pulau Hantu Besar and Pulau Hantu Kechil (also known as the Pulau Hantu Twins), Pulau Subar Darat and Pulau Subar Laut (also known as the Sisters Islands) containing a total area of approximately 32.3 acres as shown coloured pink on the plans marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 12/73 AND LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 13 / 73", which are deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.'

Sir, the Port of Singapore Authority is presently conducting preliminary studies on the development of seaward recreational facilities for the benefit of our citizens as well as tourists. Broadly, the development consists of the reclamation of land on some of the islands around Singapore and the provision of electricity and water, washing and bathing facilities and regular and frequent fast ferry services between the mainland and the islands.

For a start, the Authority proposes to develop Pulau Hantu (Besar and Kechil) and Pulau Subar Laut and Subar Darat (Sisters Islands) and Coney Island. For this purpose, it is now proposed to reclaim a total area of approximately 32.3 acres of the fore-shores at Pulau Hantu (Besar and Kechil) and Pulau Subar Laut and Subar Darat (Sisters Islands) as shown coloured pink on the plans marked as "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 12/73" and "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 13/73" respectively, copies of which are displayed in the Library of this House for the information of hon. Members. Mr Speaker, Sir, if you are interested, I have the plan here. In fact, I have all the plans here.

Plans handed in to the Clerk.

Mr Barker: Fill for the reclamation will be obtained from dredging the nearby navigation channels.

The cost of the reclamation, including foreshore protection, estimated at $4.4 million will be borne by the Authority. A further sum of $6.2 million will be expended on infrastructure and recreational facilities at these islands. This reclamation, together with the reclamation at Coney Island which will be carried out soon and at other islands currently under study by the Authority, will be spread out over the next five years.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshores and seabed off Pulau Hantu Besar and Pulau Hantu Kechil (also known as the Pulau Hantu Twins), Pulau Subar Darat and Pulau Subar Laut (also known as the Sisters Islands) containing a total area of approximately 32.3 acres as shown coloured pink on the plans marked `LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 12/73 AND LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 13/73", which are deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.