DEMOLITION PROGRAMME FOR OLD HDB ESTATES AND BUILDING OF FLATS FOR 3-GENERATION FAMILIES

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many blocks/units in the old Housing and Development Board estates have been demolished to date and in how many constituencies; (b) whether the programme has been carried out according to schedule; and (c) whether the HDB will consider building smaller and compact types of flats with separate entrances to encourage more 3-generation families to live together.

The Minister of State for National Development (Dr Lee Boon Yang)(for the Minister for National Development): Sir, from 1979 to 1987, HDB demolished 136 building blocks comprising 28, 000 units. These units were from 25 constituencies.

The Board's demolition programme for the period 1986 to 1987 affecting 61 blocks with about 12,600 units has been completed as scheduled.

The HDB has no plan to build smaller and compact types of flats with separate entrances since many small compact flats of the 3-room type are already available in the old estates. There are existing schemes such as the joint balloting scheme and the multi-tier family housing scheme which are designed to encourage 3-generation families to live together. Under the joint balloting scheme, 3-generation families can purchase two flats near to each other and, wherever possible, next to each other.

The HDB has also undertaken a pilot scheme in Bishan, Yishun and Tampines to convert some 3- and 4-room Simplified flats to Multi-generation flats which are pairs of flats, one being a 4- or 5-room flat and the other a 1-room (self-contained) flat. However, the take-up of these flats is poor. Whether the building of 'multi-generation' flats continues will depend on the future response of the public.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Sir, could the Minister of State indicate the number of participants in the multi-tier or joint balloting schemes for the HDB flats?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am afraid I do not have the specific figures with me at the moment,but I would be quite happy to let the Member for Punggol have these figures separately.