HDB FLATS AND SHOPHOUSES (Particulars)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development and Communicatons (a) how many units of Housing and Development Board shops were built in 1977; (b) the total number of flats and shops built since the establishment of the Board in 1960; (c) the number of people now living in HDB flats; (d) how many of the flats have been sold up to the latest convenient date; and (a) how many applicants are on the waiting list to purchase and to rent fiats.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Dr Tan Eng Liang) (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is:

(a) 1,086 Housing and Development Board shops were built in 1977.

(b) 286,256 flats and 8,662 shops have been built by the Board since 1960.

(c) About 1.38 million people, or 59.4% of the total population, are living in HDB flats.

(d) 145,128 flats have been sold up to 31st December, 1977.

(e) 49,711 applicants for purchase and 12,625 applicants for rental were on the waiting list as at 31st December, 1977.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Sir, can the Senior Minister of State indicate how long these applicants for purchase and rental of flats have to wait before they can got their flats?

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Sir, based on the present rate of building, the waiting period should be approximately two to three years, depending on the choice of locality.

Mr Ivan Baptist: Could the Senior Minister of State not hasten this allocation, Sir?

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Sir, I have indicated a general period of waiting, but if the applicant is not too choosy about the locality of certain estates, like Woodlands, he could probably have got his flat within six months to a year.

Mr Ivan Baptist: Sir, does the Minister not realise that Woodlands is such a distance away from their places of work?

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Sir, I do not wish to go into the pros and cons whether Woodlands is suitable or not. But in answer to the Member's question as to whether allocation could be expedited, my reply is that different estates are at different stages of development and that choice of locality will be a factor in the period of allocation.