BEAUTIFICATION OF SINGAPORE

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development whether his Ministry has any plans to beautify the Republic by planting more flowering plants, e.g. in the city, Housing and Development Board estates and other suitable places.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, since April, 1978, my Ministry has implemented an intensive programme to beautify the Republic by planting trees and shrubs along roads, in public parks, housing estates and other places. As part of this programme, some 50,000 flowering trees and 20,000 free-flowering shrubs have been planted. During the next 18 months, the Parks and Recreation Department will plant 75,000 trees and 600,000 shrubs throughout the Island. Of these, 60% will be of the flowering variety.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, apart from the planting of free-flowering shrubs and trees, will the Hon. Minister give consideration to landscaping these areas to add to the beauty of the area?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, the answer is yes. The planting of trees and flowers always goes hand-in-hand with the landscaping of the area.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I am not too sure that they always go hand-in-hand. I myself am not a town planner or a landscaper. But I am sure hon. Members will agree with me that along the roads we see more trees, more greenery, than colour, if at all there is any colour. If one takes a drive to the City, he does not see much colour apart from the buildings and the trees. Could the Minister look into this aspect of landscaping suitable places to add beauty and colour, apart from the greenery?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am in full agreement with the Member for Punggol, but in our beautification campaign, we usually start with the planting of trees. A tree is a large plant with a crown of leaves and branches. This is especially so with the instant trees which grow very fast. So generally they give the impression of a mass of greenery, This, in fact, is what we want. We want to put the greenery first, and the next step is to introduce colour.

Dr Ong Leong Boon (Kim Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am sure the Minister is aware that Singapore is largely a fruit-importing country and, therefore, will he consider planting fruit trees in addition to just trees and flowering plants?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, in fact, this has been carried out. We have been planting fruit trees in army camps and in schools. That is the first step. Subsequently, when our children have acquired a good sense of leaving the fruits alone, we can then most probably plant fruit trees along the streets.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Hon. Minister please assure the House that no fruit trees will be planted along pedestrian walks? I do not fancy being hit on the head by fruits!

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think we can leave it to the experts in the Parks and Recreation Department to decide on the proper site for the planting of fruit trees. I am sure they will take this into consideration when they plant the fruit trees.