HAW PAR VILLA (Preservation and maintenance)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if the Government has any plan to preserve and maintain Haw Par Villa which attracts tourists and Singaporeans with its works of art depicting scenes from Chinese mythology.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Goh Chok Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I first of all explain that Haw Par Villa does not belong to the Government and, therefore, any plans to preserve and maintain the Villa must come from the owners.

In April 1979, the owners, Haw Par Brothers (Pte) Ltd. made an offer to the Government to take over the Villa and the land, i.e. Haw Par Brothers (Pte) Ltd. was prepared to donate Haw Par Villa to the Government. The Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, on behalf of the Government, was agreeable, in principle, to take over the Villa as it is a major tourist attraction, provided that the land can be transferred free from encumbrances of any lease or sub-lease, if any. There is a lease between Haw Par Brothers (Pte) Ltd. and Haw Par Brothers International Ltd., whereby the land has been leased to Haw Par Brothers International Ltd. for 20 years from 1970. Haw Par Brothers International Ltd. was reluctant to surrender the lease, and thus the Government was unable to take over the Villa.

Recently, however, Haw Par Brothers International Ltd. suggested to the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board to join with them in a venture to jointly preserve and maintain the attractions of Haw Par Villa. The proposal is under study by the STPB.