ACCOMMODATION FOR CLANS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for National Development if he will state the reasons why the Building Control Division would not approve the change of use of the first floor of postwar buildings into offices for some clans and associations, and whether he is aware that this rigid attitude is jeopardising the development of the cultural activities of those civic organisations which the Ministry of Culture is at the moment vigorously promoting.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, applications for change of use are evaluated according to the Master Plan Zoning, prevailing ground conditions and the effect on traffic and the amenity of the neighbourhood.

Activities with loud musical content, like lion dance practices, disturb neighbouring residents. Another complaint is about the use of residents' car parks by members and visitors of an association. For these reasons, associations which adversely affect the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood cannot be permitted in residential buildings, whether on the ground or on other floors. In areas where privacy and quiet is not an important consideration, associations may be allowed.

We are aware of the importance of cultural organisations and where these are affected by resettlement, alternative accommodation have been offered. So far, 20 associations affected by clearance schemes have accepted alternative accommodation in HDB complexes. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has reserved 12 units in its Murray Street Rehabilitation Block specially for association use. There are still two vacant units in the Block.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, when the Minister receives complaints from neighbours that their sweet dreams have been disturbed by the sound of music from such clans and associations, has he tried to help by calling them to reduce the volume so that the complainants could continue to enjoy their sweet dreams? Also, is the Minister aware that the cultural activities of the civic organisations could in this way be fostered and further developed? Or does the Minister just assume a bureaucratic attitude and orders all those cultural organisations to get out?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the complaint is not so much that the sweet dreams of residents have been disturbed by the music practice in the early morning hours. The music practice is usually held in the evenings, and the residents have complained that it disturbs their children who are studying and that it disturbs them when they are watching television. That is the complaint that we have received. It is not so much that the music practice in the morning has disturbed them and so they have to get up early.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, has the Ministry official ever tried to help the cultural asso- ciations to reduce their noise level on the one hand and, on the other hand, also tried to give them other alternatives so that these cultural organisations can be allowed to continue with their activities? Has the officer ever tried to help them?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the solution is not to send an inspector to monitor the level of noise generated by these cultural organisations during their music practice sessions. The solution would be to give them appropriate accommodation so that these cultural associations can continue with their music practice without disturbing the residents. In certain practices, the noise level has to be loud. If you ask them to tune it down, they will find that it is very difficult to practise their music. So the solution is to provide alternative accommodation rather than trying to ask the residents to allow these associations to carry on with their music practice with lower level of noise.

I think this kind of a complaint will continue to be received, but it would be very difficult to station an inspector there to keep on asking the association to tune down the volume of their music practice. I do not think that is a practical thing to do. A better solution would be to provide suitable alternative accommodation for these cultural organisations. This is what the HDB and URA are doing. Perhaps I would ask the Planning Department to look further into this. For example, in certain areas, like Geylang, where these associations prefer to go, certain blocks of flats could be set aside for them. We may allow these clans and associations to occupy the whole block of flats so that they will not disturb the residential neighbourhoods.