GENERAL HOSPITAL IN SIMEI ESTATE

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for National Development why he allows part of the premises of the People's Action Party Community Foundation Education Centre at Block 143, Potong Pasir Avenue 2 to be used (i) as a branch office of the PAP; (ii) to hold Meet-the-People sessions; and (iii) as an election headquarters of the PAP candidate in 1991.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang (for the Minister for National Development): Part of the void deck at Block 143 Potong Pasir Ave 2, #01-214 has been let to the PAP Community Foundation by HDB since 1st July 1987 for use as an Education Centre. Under the terms of the Tenancy Agreement, the Foundation can allow other organisations or individuals to use the premises for any lawful, non-profit making purposes, for up to a maximum of 20% of the total operational hours each year. Within these guidelines, the Foundation can decide which other organisations or individuals can be allowed to sub-let or use the premises, and the type of activities that can be held.

I must stress that allowing the Foundation to sub-let its premises is not in any way unusual. HDB's tenancy agreements for shops, offices, and other commercial premises, for example, also allow sub-letting. Unlike Education Centre premises, there are no restrictions on the number of operational hours that offices and commercial premises can be sub-let for. The tenancy terms for Education Centres thus are more stringent.

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Health whether there is any revision in the plan for a general hospital to be built in Simei Estate and whether the hospital will be completed in 1995 as scheduled.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: There are no changes to the plans to build a general hospital at Simei. The development of the General Hospital will proceed as planned. Piling works are scheduled to begin in November 1992 and building works in August 1993. The new General Hospital is scheduled to be completed in February 1996 and operational by the middle of the year.