BEDOK HIGHWAY, BEDOK PLAIN AND BEDOK WALK (Change of names)

Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin asked the Minister for Finance whether it is proposed to change the present names of Bedok Highway, Bedok Plain and Bedok Walk in Neighbourhood I of Bedok New Town, and what is the rationale behind the change.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Sir, the present names of Bedok Highway, Bedok Plain, Bedok Walk, Bedok View, Bedok Drive and Bedok Place were given in 1973. Since then, the road patterns in the new town have changed.

The Committee on Street Names which is responsible for the naming of new streets and alterations of existing street names has, in consultation with HDB, reviewed the street names in Bedok New Town. It has decided to change the existing names and introduce a new and simple system of street naming which will restrict the number of street names for the generic "Bedok" to street, road, avenue and lane, These Street names could be easily translated into other languages and local dialects. The new street names are as follows: Bedok North Road Bedok North Avenue 1 Bedok North Avenue 2 Bedok North Avenue 3 Bedok North Avenue 4 Bedok North Street 1 Bedok North Street 2 Bedok North Street 3 Bedok North Street 4 Bedok South Road Bedok South Avenue 1 Bedok South Avenue 2 Bedok South Avenue 3

Mr Ivan Baptist: Sir, does not the Minister realise that this will cause enormous inconvenience for the residents in that area? What plans has he got to alleviate this inconvenience.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, I am not aware that it will cause any inconvenience. I thought the purpose of this was to simplify so that it would have the North designated as Bedok North and the South as Bedok South. I suppose that would simplify directions.

3.30 p.m.

Pursuant to Standing Order 21(2). the following Questions on the Order Paper stood over to Tuesday. 15th March 1977. as requested by the respective Members:

Mr Teo Chong Tee: To ask the Minister for Finance whether it is planned to develop Changi Village as a tourist stopover point in view of its close proximity to the Changi International Airport.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: To ask the Minister for Finance what difficulties are envisaged in the implementation of the new Budget System and what measures are being or will be taken to ensure that the system is implemented smoothly.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: To ask the Minister for Finance what benefits Singapore has derived from the many double taxation agreements concluded with other countries; how are the benefits assessed; and whether a similar agreement will be concluded with Indonesia.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: To ask the Minister for Finance what is the rationale behind the sale of 31 per cent of the Government's equity holding in Singapore Airport Duty-Free Emporium Private Limited to Singapore Airlines Limited; and what are the benefits to the Government from that transaction.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: To ask the Minister for Finance what are the criteria for exemption of cultural shows from entertainments duty; and whether he will revise the criteria to encourage more cultural shows with local content to be staged in Singapore.

The following Question has been transferred to Written Answer to Question.

Mr Yeo Choo Kok: To ask the Minister for Finance (a) what was the annual profit of the Singapore Pools (Pte) Ltd during the past five years; and (b) whether his Ministry will use part of the profit to subsidize various constituency sports clubs to promote sports and games or to donate to the building funds of new community centres in those constituencies where fund raising is not easy.