INDUSTRIAL WORKSHOPS (Improvement in design)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development whether he is aware that the industrial workshops built by the Housing and Development Board, like the three blocks in the Punggol Estate, are inadequately designed to meet the needs of trades like furniture-making, iron-mongery and small refrigeration plants, and contain a mixture of trades like mee and dumplingmaking; if he will request the HDB to look into the matter with a view to improving the design of such premises to ensure that the different needs are catered for and to separating industries like food manufacturing and other industries for health reasons; and, in future, if the HDB will relocate similar trades accordingly.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the size of HDB terrace workshops ranges from 88 sq. metres to 330 sq. metres to cater for the needs of the various types of industries, For health and environmental reasons, the food processing and manufacturing industries are segregated from the other industries. In addition, they must comply with approved standards set by the Government authorities.

The terrace workshops at Block 12, Punggol Estate, are used exclusively to house food processing industries. Other non-compatible trades, such as wood-working, paper products, engineering and mechanical workshops, are located at Blocks 13 and 14, There is, therefore, no mixing of trades in the same block of workshops.

These three blocks of workshops were completed in 1974 for resettlement of small industries which were affected by redevelopment schemes. Owing to business expansion, some tenants have found the workshop space too small for their needs and have applied for bigger units in other estates. Another 64 units of HDB terrace workshops in nearby Defu Estate are scheduled for completion in early 1982. Tenants in the Punggol Estate who require bigger workshop units can tender for one of these units when tenders are invited by the HDB.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, if that is the case, would the tenants in the three blocks of industrial workshops be given priority under the scheme in the Defu industrial estate?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, they will not be given priority. They will be treated as normal public tenderers.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, although the Hon. Minister has mentioned that the various trades are separated into three blocks, viz. Blocks 12, 13 and 14, is it not true that the three blocks are situated so close to one another?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, they are close to one another because they were built together and certain regulations have been complied with. One block is used for the food processing industry and the other two blocks are used for the other industries. This arrangement is acceptable to the Ministry of the Environment.