OLDER HDB ESTATES (Rejuvenation)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for National Development whether he will highlight some of the Housing and Development Board's plans to rejuvenate older housing estates.

The Minister of State for National Development (Dr Lee Boon Yang) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister.

Sir, the HDB has a programme to upgrade its older housing estates to bring them up to the standards comparable to those in the newer housing estates. This upgrading is usually done in conjunction with the repair and redecoration programme which is carried out every five years to repaint the external facade of all flats. Improvement works include the provision of casement windows to old flats with open-back balconies, improvements to water tanks and pipes, installation of booster pumps, provision of additional lifts to old blocks with only one lift, installation of central antenna (CATV) in old blocks, and building kiosks on void decks of old blocks. The HDB will also upgrade the old estates by providing additional carparks, children's playground, multi-purpose courts and other facilities where there is a need and where land is available.

In addition, in many older estates where there is a large number of vacant rental flats, the Board is currently carrying out an extensive exercise to relocate the tenants, so that some of the vacant blocks can be demolished for eventual redevelopment. Larger flats such as 4- and 5-room flats can then be built to attract younger families to rejuvenate these old estates.

Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee (Toa Payoh): Sir, may I ask the Hon. Minister of State whether, in the replacement of lifts, he will consider looking into the possibility of installing lifts with a faster speed for blocks of flats that are taller than, say, 12 storeys high?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, I shall ask the HDB to consider this.