RECLAMATION (PULAU UBIN/PULAU TEKONG KECHIL)

The Minister for Law (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Motion* standing in my name as it appears on the Order Paper.

*The Motion reads as follows:

That this Parliament, in accordance with Section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 113) approves the reclamation by Government of the foreshore and seabed off Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong Kechil containing an area of about 657 hectares as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 1/92" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

Sir, the Government will reclaim about 657 hectares of land off Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong Kechil, and connect these two islands with a low land bridge. The area to be reclaimed is shown coloured pink in the plan marked as "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 1/92", a copy of which has been displayed in the Library of this House for the information of hon. Members.

The reclamation along the shallow waters of the two islands is part of the 2,480 hectares that can eventually be reclaimed in this area. By beginning the reclamation early, the land reclaimed can consolidate naturally. The additional land and the land bridge will maximise the interim recreational potential of the two islands. At a later stage, they will be developed for new towns and other uses. This has been explained in the Concept Plan and in the Addendum of the Ministry of National Development. The islands will then be connected to the mainland by the MRT and a major road through a tunnel or a bridge. The proposed land bridge linking the two islands will take into account the road and MRT alignment in the Concept Plan.

Sir, the Housing and Development Board, as Government's agent, will carry out the reclamation at an estimated cost of $1.4 billion.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, in accordance with Section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 113) approves the reclamation by Government of the foreshore and seabed off Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong Kechil containing an area of about 657 hectares as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 1/92" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.