UNOCCUPIED HDB FLATS (Conversion into tourist accommodation)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for National Development, in view of the current shortage of hotel rooms, whether the Housing and Development Board will consider the possibility of (i) converting unoccupied flats into rooms for tourists' occupation, and (ii) allowing flat owners who have spare bedrooms to let them out for short stay by tourists.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Dr Lee Boon Yang) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, most of the unoccupied HDB flats are 3-room flats in Woodlands. Some of these flats are being converted into bigger flats to meet the new demand of Singaporeans. HDB has no plans to convert them into tourist accommodation. If an organisation, such as a hotel, supported by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, is able to come up with a feasible and workable proposal for converting entire vacant blocks to be used as interim tourist accommodation, my Ministry would be prepared to consider the idea.

Sir, as to whether my Ministry would be prepared to allow bed-and-breakfast operations in HDB flats, it must be noted that such operations in other countries are conducted in landed properties. Allowing bed-and-breakfast operations in high-rise apartments can cause disamenity to other residents. The HDB will therefore take a cautious approach in considering any such proposal. Its priority is to provide housing to citizens and it must ensure that the residential ambience and security of HDB estates would not be compromised. My Ministry would only be prepared to consider such a proposal if a single responsible organisation, such as the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, is able to work out a feasible and comprehensive proposal on how this can be done without causing disamenity to the community.

Mr Teo Chong Tee (Changi): Sir, may I ask the Senior Minister of State whether, besides Woodlands, there are vacant units of flats available in large numbers in the eastern part of Singapore?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Sir, there are other vacant flats scattered here and there throughout the island but they are not in large enough numbers to warrant such an application.