HDB INTERIM AND MAJOR UPGRADING PROGRAMMES (Integration)

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Acting Minister for National Development if he will explain how the Housing and Development Board integrates both the interim and major upgrading programmes for flats; and whether a flat, which has undergone interim upgrading, will be entitled to major upgrading later on.

The Acting Minister for National Development (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Interim Upgrading Programme complements the Main Upgrading Programme. The Main Upgrading Programme is intended for flats older than 17 years. The Interim Upgrading Programme allows HDB residents of precincts in the 10 to 17 years age band to enjoy some benefits of the Main Upgrading Programme earlier. Otherwise, they would have to wait for more than eight years before they are eligible for the Main Upgrading Programme. Works under the Interim Upgrading Programme are confined to the precinct and block level.

Since the Interim Upgrading Programme is merely an advancement of some of the improvements under the Main Upgrading Programme, precincts that are upgraded under the Interim Upgrading Programme are still eligible for the Main Upgrading Programme later on. However, as far as possible, the improvements provided under the Interim Upgrading Programme for a particular precinct will not be duplicated in the main upgrading package for that precinct. The full interim upgrading cost expended by Government on the precinct will also be deducted from the precinct's main upgrading budget. For example, the total direct upgrading cost for a 3-room flat under the Basic Package of the Main Upgrading Programme is about $22,500. If the flat has enjoyed $6,000 worth of interim upgrading works, it is only eligible for $16,500 worth of improvement works under the Main Upgrading Programme later on.

In other words, the total upgrading budget for a precinct is fixed. The Interim Upgrading Programme enables the Town Council to implement part of the upgrading works earlier leaving the major component, involving mainly works within the flat, to be done later under the Main Upgrading Programme.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, I think many Members like me are unaware that there are the Interim and Major Upgrading Programmes. Can the Minister explain the differences of these two programmes?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, maybe the Member for Potong Pasir was too deeply involved with other matters. This was announced in the press.

The Interim Upgrading Programme, as I explained, covers a budget of about $6,000 per unit and is intended to allow the Town Council to undertake works primarily in the precinct and outside the flat within the block, things like addition of linkways, reconstruction of recreational facilities, repainting of the block, lift landings on every floor, if it is possible and if it is within budget, ie, items under the Main Upgrading Programme which can be done earlier and which will not be duplicated later.