ADDENDA TO PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY, 10 JANUARY, 1994 MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MR LIM HNG KIANG Acting Minister for National Development

MND will continue to improve the quality of the physical development of Singapore through rational far-sighted planning.

Planning and Developing A City of Excellence

2. The Ministry has revised the Concept Plan to provide a long-range blueprint for Singapore's physical development into the 21st century. The Plan safeguards sufficient land for housing, commercial, industrial and infrastructural developments to support our economic growth. It also sets aside land for recreation and other social amenities to give Singaporeans a better living and working environment.

3. To translate the Concept Plan into implementation plans for the medium term, URA will prepare Development Guide Plans (DGPs) for 55 local areas over the next five years. DGPs will provide a local perspective to the overall vision of the Concept Plan, showing clearly the development potential of specific areas.

4. We will progressively release more State land for housing development by the private sector to meet the aspirations of Singaporeans. Similarly, we will make available State land for commercial and industrial developments to support our economic growth.

5. We will embark on land reclamation works off the north-east coast and at Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, to provide land for future development. Asset Enhancement

6. HDB plans to build 27,000 - 30,000 new flats a year over the next three years to meet demand for public housing. It will increase the number of flats to be built under the Design-and-Build scheme to provide more choices.

7. The Main Upgrading Programme, to refurbish and improve existing flats in older housing estates to match the standards of newer estates, will be in full swing by 1994. The programme covers flats older than 17 years. HDB will announce, in batches, the precincts to be upgraded progressively.

8. The Government will fully fund an Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) to complement the Main Upgrading Programme, so that more residents will enjoy the benefits of upgrading earlier. The IUP will enable Town Councils to carry out selected improvements for flats in the 10 to 17 years age band, which would otherwise have to wait more than eight years for their turn under the Main Upgrading Programme.

9. We will implement measures to assist lower income families to own HDB flats. HDB has introduced smaller 4-Room flats with simpler finishes which are significantly cheaper than the standard 4-Room flats. We will introduce new schemes to help lower income families to buy 3-room resale flats. We will also look into helping tenants of HDB 2-and 3-room rental flats to buy over their flats.

10. HDB will continue to offer shops for sale to allow more Singaporeans to own their shops in HDB estates. HDB will examine whether a similar scheme can be extended to sell industrial shops to sitting tenants. Many industrial estates, however, are not able to meet expanding needs for electrical power, higher floor loading and increased traffic circulation. Such estates will have to be upgraded or redeveloped before they can be sold. Construction

11. CIDB will continue to improve productivity and quality in the construction industry through the promotion of buildable designs, developing and assessing quality standards in construction work, and training of the construction workforce. Its new training centre at Bishan will be operational by March 1994. CIDB will widen its range of training courses and trade tests for workers. It will also introduce new training courses for construction supervisors and managers. It will emphasize the use of modern construction technology.

Roads & Buildings

12. Over the next 5 years, PWD will spend $2 billion to expand the capacity of the road network. PWD will build 600 lane-km of new roads. This includes widening 16 existing roads and expressways and building 20 new major roads, 28 new interchanges, flyovers and underpasses.

13. To improve traffic flow without consuming more land, PWD will construct more underground roads to expand the road capacity in the Central Area. It will also extend the computerized traffic control system to new areas.

14. PWD will continue to build more walkways and integrate them with the public transport system. It will complete the walkway upgrading programme in the Civic District by 1997.

15. PWD will design and construct $2.5 billion worth of Government buildings over the next five years.

Parks

16. PRD will develop 12 new parks and upgrade seven existing parks over the next five years. PRD will continue to develop more park connectors to link up major parks for Singaporeans to jog or cycle from one park to another.

17. NParks will develop the Botanic Gardens into a premier equatorial botanic garden for botany and horticulture. Primary Production

18. PPD will continue to ensure a stable and adequate supply of safe, wholesome meat, fish, fruits and vegetables in Singapore by diversifying sources of supply, and maintaining high standards of veterinary public health.

19. PPD will develop more agrotechnology parks to make efficient use of farmland. This will help Singapore become an agrotechnology service centre for tropical agriculture.