SALE OF HUDC FLATS AT ANTHONY ROAD

Dr Wong Kwei Cheong asked the Minister for National Development whether the HUDC apartments at Anthony Road will be sold to Singaporeans under the existing HUDC rules; and, if so, whether sitting tenants will be given preference to purchase them.

Dr Lee Boon Yang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB is selling Anthony Garden en bloc with vacant possession on a 99-year lease by open public tender. The successful buyer is expected to upgrade the estate and apply for strata sub-division to sell the flats in the open market.

The question of HDB allowing sitting tenants preference to purchase, therefore, does not arise.

Dr Wong Kwei Cheong: Sir, I have four supplementary questions. The Senior Minister of State may recall telling this House on 25th February 1988 as reported in the Hansard, Vol. 50, Col. 497, and I quote:

'HDB does not build flats for speculation. It builds flats to meet the need.' May I ask the Senior Minister of State why the HDB is selling the Anthony Road HUDC flats to a private developer for speculative purposes, and not selling the flats directly to Singaporeans to meet their needs?

Secondly, can the Ministry of National Development inform all the tenants of the HUDC apartments at Anthony Road in writing whether their tenancy will be renewed upon expiry?

Thirdly, since it will take some time for MND to sell the HUDC apartments to a private developer, will MND consider extending the leases of the tenants for a further period until such time when they can find alternative accommodation?

And fourthly, is the Senior Minister of State aware that the tenants have spent thousands of dollars to renovate the HUDC apartments? Will MND consider allowing the tenants to leave behind some of these fixtures like door and window grills when they vacate the premises.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, the decision to sell the Anthony Garden flats en bloc does not amount to speculation on the part of HDB. As I have said before, and quoted by Dr Wong, HDB builds flats to meet the needs of the people. At the present moment, there is no waiting list for HUDC flats. HDB has, in fact, 580 vacant HUDC-type flats available for immediate allocation for those who wish to buy flats.

As to whether the tenancies will be renewed, that will depend on how soon this plan to sell the flats, en masse, materialise. Yes, it will take some time. If there is sufficient time, the HDB will consider renewing the leases of the existing tenants for a short period.

If existing tenants need time to find alternative accommodation, HDB will consider all such requests provided it is a reasonable extension. For those tenants who have spent money to renovate the flats they are living in, I think they spent the money knowing full well that they were occupying the flats on a short-term lease. They must therefore follow the terms and conditions of the lease that they have agreed to.