SALE OF HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD SHOPS (Rationale for prior feedback from Citizens' Consultative Committee)

Mr Cheo Chai Chen asked the Minister for National Development, under the new sales procedure for Housing and Development Board shops, what is the rationale for having prior feedback from the Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) and what are the criteria used by CCC advisers for the selection of shops for sale.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, feedback from CCCs is useful because CCCs are familiar with local conditions such as the needs of the residents and shopkeepers in the constituencies. As such, they will be able to make good recommendations and also explain to the people why certain shops were selected for sale.

HDB does not specify the criteria that must be used by Advisors to CCC for the selection of shops. It is likely that the Adv isors will look for groups of shops which give good service to the residents and where the shopkeepers are prepared to restructure their operations to increase their productivity in line with the objectives of the sale of tenanted shops.