OLD LOW-RISE CITY FLATS (Replacement programme)

Encik Othman bin Haron Eusofe asked the Minister for National Development whether the Housing and Development Board has formulated a programme to replace the old low-rise flats in the city with better quality flats and if he will elaborate on it; and what measures the HDB will take to alleviate hardship to families to be relocated.

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.

The Housing and Development Board will demolish some of the rental blocks that have high vacancy rates. Land so freed will be used eventually for new developments. Depending on the location of each site, the redevelopment will include better quality flats. The new flats to be built on these sites will be the larger flat types. There will therefore be fewer of them compared with the numbers demolished. The redevelopment will inject new life into the old estates and improve the living environment and the mix of flat types there.

The HDB provides removal allowances, priority to purchase flats and assistance by way of special financing schemes to the tenants affected, to enable them to buy flats.

The HDB also tries to assist families who are to be relocated and who have special problems. For example, for those elderly citizens who cannot afford to buy flats, HDB will try to rehouse them in rental flats either within the neighbourhood or in adjoining estates, wherever this is possible. These measures will minimize any hardship to families affected by relocation.