LAND RECLAMATION IN PUNGGOL

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for National Development a) whether the Temporary Occupation Licences of boatel and restaurant owners in Punggol will be extended beyond December 1993; b) what are the commencement and completion dates of the land reclamation in the area; and c) when will the Housing & Development Board commence to build flats on the reclaimed land and/or in its vicinity.

Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau: a) HDB will not extend the Temporary Occupation Licences which are currently issued to 4 boatels and 4 restaurants operators at Punggol Point beyond Dec 93. HDB will initiate action in 1994 to clear the occupiers on land affected by the reclamation project.

b) The reclamation work is scheduled to commence in 1996 and complete by 2000.

c) In HDB's current 5-year Building Programme, Punggol is scheduled for housing development from 1997. According to HDB's projection, about 28,000 dwelling units (or an equivalent of three-quarters of the size of Punggol New Town) will be built by the year 2001. However, the land at Punggol Point in the vicinity of the existing boatels and restaurants will be developed after 2001 when the reclamation work is completed. It is too early now to have a firm projection of Building Programme for housing development beyond year 2001 on this land or the reclaimed land.