ST. MICHAEL'S ESTATE (Installation of lifts)

Dr Augustine H.H. Tan asked the Minister for National Development and Communications if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board whether and when the Board will install lifts in Blocks 14, 15, 16 and 17 of St. Michael's Estate.

Dr Tan Eng Liang (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, these blocks of buildings in St. Michael's Estate are six storeys high and are made up of 1-room self-contained and 2-room flats which have been converted from Emergency 1-room flats. They have not been designed to provide lifts, and to do so now would present the architects and engineers with very complicated structural problems.

The Housing and Development Board, however, will sympathetically consider the requests of families with old people who wish to transfer from the higher floors to the lower floors to eliminate the need for old people to climb stairs