HDB AREA OFFICE AT YISHUN NORTH (Opening date)

Dr Koh Lip Lin asked the Minister for National Development when is the scheduled opening date of the new Housing and Development Board Yishun North Area Office.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the new Housing and Development Board Yishun North Area Office is likely to be opened in May 1987.

In the meantime, the Yishun Area Office at Block 102, Yishun Avenue 5, is providing the necessary services to residents in Yishun North.

Dr Koh Lip Lin (Nee Soon): Sir, can the Minister explain why there is such a long delay in the opening of the Yishun North Area Office in view of the fact that the building itself was completed many, many months ago?

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is true that the building was completed some months ago, in fact, almost a year ago. The delay is due to the fact that the HDB decided that it should upgrade its Area Offices and when this particular Area Office was built it was under the old standards. This upgrading programme includes central air-conditioning, planning the office for open-office concept using system furniture and this required re-partitioning of the offices and so on. It is this that has caused the delay. There are a number of Area Offices which are affected by this decision of HDB to upgrade the standards of the Area Offices.