NUMBER OF FLATS RECOVERED BY HDB

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development if he will give the number of flats recovered by the Housing and Development Board over the last five years in exercise of its powers under Sections 48(A) and 48(B) of the Housing and Development Act without proceeding in court, giving the number for each year separately.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, for the five-year period from 1980 to 1984, the Board recovered 119 flats in exercise of its powers under Sections 48(A) and 48(B). The breakdown is as follows: 1980 - 5; 1981 - 11 ; 1982 - 29; 1983 - 50; 1984 - 24.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Minister say what was the common reason or cause for the exercise of these powers by the HDB?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, there are several reasons for HDB exercising its powers. For instance, instalment arrears, that means they bought the flat and are not able to pay the instalments; unauthorized subletting and assignment without HDB's approval. Another reason is non-occupation of an HDB flat, in other words, a person has bought the flat but never occupied the flat, and has left the flat vacant. There are also cases of making false declaration in the application; a misuse of premises, such as using the flat as a brothel. Then there are cases of ownership of private property. Under the HDB rules, HDB flat owners are not allowed to own private residential property. But the person did not declare his ownership of a private property, which means he is not qualified to buy HDB flats, and therefore he has bought the flat under false declaration. And there are others who did not serve the bond imposed on them. For example, in every block of flats two or three units would be allocated to Police officers. These Police officers, who have got the priority of allocation, have signed a bond to serve the Government for a certain number of years, and perhaps half-way through the bond they got a better job and resigned from the Police force. This means that they have broken the bond and the flats have to be returned to HDB.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, perhaps the Minister may not be able to give these figures now, but I wonder whether he will be good enough to pass on to me the breakdown of these figures.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I will give the hon, Member the figures. I do not have them with me now, but I will send them to him in writing.