LIBRARY IN HOUGANG NEW TOWN

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Community Development whether and when a public library will be built in Hougang New Town.

The Minister for Community Development (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Sir, the National Library has no plan to build a branch library in Hougang New Town currently. The first National Library five-year development plan will end in FY 87. Between now and then, two new branch libraries will be built in Jurong East and Geylang East. The National Library will consider the need for a branch library in Hougang when it draws up its second development plan for 1988-1992.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, can I ask the Hon. Minister, why does it take so long for the National Library to draw up such plans to build branch libraries elsewhere?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: The first development plan was drawn up a few years ago and it was for a five-year period. After this five-year development plan has been completed and implemented, then the second five-year plan will be developed. We are now discussing with the Treasury officials to develop the second five-year plan. The Finance Ministry will be looking into the norms and the criteria for the building of branch libraries. So this is under review.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: In that case, will consideration be given to the size of Hougang New Town which will have some 40,000 units when completed? In other words, can I ask the Hon. Minister to request the National Library to make provision for a branch library to be built in Hougang New Town, say, after 1992?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Yes. As I have said, we will consider the development and the building of a library in Hougang New Town under the second five-year plan. Definitely, if all goes well, the Member is likely to have a new branch library in Hougang after 1990.