WORLD TRADE CENTRE CAR PARKS (Free parking on Sundays and Public holidays)

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon: To ask the Minister for Communications and Information whether the Port of Singapore Authority, following the example of the Housing and Development Board, will implement the free parking scheme on Sundays and public holidays for the World Trade Centre car parks.

Mr Speaker: Mrs Yu-Foo.

Mr Goh Chee Wee (Boon Lay): Question No. 5, Sir.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the free parking scheme on Sundays and public holidays implemented at some of the HDB car parks seeks to encourage social visits among family members and friends. This scheme was implemented at the request of residents of the estates concerned.

The rationale is not applicable to the car parks at the World Trade Centre which do not serve housing estates. These car parks are meant to serve the patrons of shops, restaurants, offices, exhibition halls, conferences, and other shows held at the Centre.

Dr Koh Lam Son: Sir, is the Minister aware that there are, in fact, other HDB car parks in non-residential areas, such as industrial estates and hospital car parks, which are enjoying the free car parking scheme? I also do not agree with the Minister and would like to ask him whether he would agree with my view that, in fact, quite a number of people who make use of the HDB car parks at the World Trade Centre are people who go to Sentosa Island during the week-ends and this involves family members and friends.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member would have noted that in Singapore there is no rush among the shop owners and hawkers close to car parks asking the HDB to allow free parking on Sundays. The reason is very obvious. People who patronize the shops, the hawker centres, etc. do not park there for long periods of time. If there were to be large numbers of people parking their cars free for a long period of time in such car parks, it is not improbable that the livelihood of shopowners and hawkers may be affected.