SIMEI ESTATE (Facilities and services)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for National Development whether the Housing and Development Board will incorporate facilities like fast food restaurants, food courts, cinemas, banking and postal services, children's playgrounds, etc. in its additional housing and shopping development in Simei Estate.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang (for the Minister for National Development): HDB has called tenders for public housing development at two sites, near to the Simei MRT Station, at Simei Streets 1 and 2. These two sites will yield a total of 850 flats, which will be released for booking in the third quarter of 1993. The normal ancillary facilities, such as children's playgrounds, will be provided as part of these two public housing contracts.

A site for commercial development adjacent to the Simei MRT Station was sold in May 1993 to a private developer. Under the terms of the lease, the developer is required to provide a wet market, in addition to other commercial facilities, such as shops and offices, in this development. The types of commercial facilities, such as restaurants and cinemas, and so on, that will be provided in the development will be left to the developer to decide.

As part of the conditions of the sale, the developer is required to complete the development within four years from the date the site is handed over to him. The commercial development is thus expected to be completed by 1st July 1997. In view of the current temporary shortage of commercial facilities in Simei Estate, HDB will request the developer to try to complete his development as soon as possible.