VACANT HAWKER STALLS (Priority of allocation for needy applicants)

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for National Development and Communications, in view of the high demand for hawker stalls in markets and food centres controlled by the Housing and Development Board, whether the Board will consider giving priority allocation of the available vacant hawker stalls to jobless and needy applicants who are local residents of HDB housing estates.

Dr Tan Eng Liang (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, priority of allocation of hawker stalls in markets and food centres, including those managed by the Housing and Development Board, is given to licensed street hawkers, resettlement cases and hardship cases irrespective of whether or not they are residents of HDB estates. In hardship cases, including the unemployed, recommendations of Members of Parliament are taken into consideration. The Hawkers' Co-ordinating and Licensing Committee of the Ministry of the Environment is responsible for the allocation. In centres where there are sufficient vacant stalls, applicants who are genuine hardship cases are allotted stalls in markets and food centres which are near their homes. However, where the number of vacant stalls is insufficient, the stalls will be balloted.

Mr Ho See Beng (Khe Bong): Sir, all things being equal, will the Senior Minister of State agree that priority of allocation should be given to the local residents of the housing estate?

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Sir, I have indicated that this is directly under the Hawkers' Coordinating and Licensing Committee of the Ministry of the Environment, chaired by its Senior Parliamentary Secretary. It is agreed that, all things being equal, priority of allocation should be given and I can convey this to the Chairman concerned.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin (Jalan Kayu): Sir, the Senior Minister of State mentioned about priority being given to resettlement cases. Would he please clarify?

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Sir, we have had cases of resettlement referred to us by Members of Parliament, for example, those involving fishing and farming activities and loss of livelihood. If the hon. Member is interested, I can send him more detailed information relevant to his enquiry.