URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Mr Speaker, Sir, to enable the URA to carry out its role as the conservation authority of Singapore, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (Amendment) Bill provides for additional functions for the URA. These are:

(1) to prepare and execute projects for the conservation of any area as agent or consultant for the Government; and

(2) to make recommendations on the designation of conservation areas, and all matters related to the conservation of those areas.

Guidelines for conservation

The Bill empowers the conservation authority to issue guidelines for conservation, and make available such guidelines for free inspection or sale at a reasonable cost to the public.

There are two other amendments to the Bill which do not relate to conservation. The first relates to acquisition powers. In line with the Government's move towards removing from statutory bodies powers relating to land acquisition, my Ministry is taking the opportunity of the present amendment Bill to repeal section 18 of the Urban Redevelopment Authority Act 1985. The other amendment relates to auditing procedures. In addition, the standard provisions relating to the tightening of financial and auditing procedures of statutory boards as advised by the Accountant-General have been incorporated into the Bill.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah): Sir, I just have one clarification for the Minister. This amendment Bill would revoke the Authority's power to request the President to acquire land. In so doing, I would like the Minister to tell us whether the Authority's function will be unduly hampered because of this amendment. On the other hand, I do support the Minister to revoke the power because in so doing the power to acquire land will now rest with one single authority, thereby streamlining the acquisition process.

Mr Peh Chin Hua: ( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I support this Amendment Bill. I feel that under this Bill, URA will be able to exercise extra powers to carry out its work and functions in preservation and in delineation of conservation areas and also in other related matters with facility. It is therefore necessary.

Any Singaporean who has gone to China on a tour will know that land in China is very cheap and houses built there although are big but very old and unhygienic. Moreover, their interiors are not maintained or renovated. Therefore, after a period of time, the houses become dilapidated dangerous buildings. This kind of situation is caused by low rentals, so that owners of the houses have no means or incentives to maintain and renovate them. On the contrary, let us look back at Singapore. Had the PAP Government not exercised land acquisition power and if all the old prewar houses were to remain, then our housing problems and houses now would be in the same position as in China. And our people would not be able to enjoy such a good and ideal living conditions such as provided by HDB estates and our people would be faced with serious problems of housing shortage as in Hong Kong. On the contrary, about 80% of Singaporeans are now able to benefit by the efforts of URA. Therefore, it is right and necessary for URA ---

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I hope I did not miss any important point in the end because the interpretation was cut off.

Sir, I thank the two Members for their support of this Bill. The point has been raised on acquisiton. Although this part of URA's responsibility or power has been repealed, it does not change the substance. All acquisition will now be through the Commissioner of Lands and URA or any other statutory body which wants to acquire a particular piece of land can still initiate action which will be coordinated by the Minister for Law. So in substance there will be no change. As Dr Wang pointed out, it is better for one body to coordinate all acquisition.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr S. Dhanabalan].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.