MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Mr Lim Hng Kiang Minister for National Development

1. We will continue to enhance Singapore's physical infra structure and environment, to make this a thriving, vibrant metropolis and a gracious, comfortable home.

Planning and Developing a City of Excellence

2. We will develop Singapore into a city comparable to the best in the world. We will review our Concept Plan to incorporate the best features of other cities. The Plan will form the blueprint for our development in the new century.

3. To support our economy, we will set aside enough land for commerce, industry and infrastructure. We will encourage offices and high-tech industries to set up in regional centres and the fringes of towns, to bring jobs closer to homes. HDB will re-develop its industrial properties to use the land more effectively and enable the businesses to modernise. We will also continue to build the infrastructure we need to strengthen our hub status.

4. We will start developing the new downtown in Marina South this year. It will be an exciting and beautiful city hub served by efficient public transport. Pedestrians will be able to move about unimpeded by car traffic in all weather comfort. We will also upgrade the physical environment of the existing CBD to the same standard as our new downtown.

5. We will develop Marina Bay and the Singapore River. A barrage at the Marina Channel will stabilise the water level in Marina Bay, Kallang Basin and Singapore River. This will create a serene and pleasant water body for boating and water leisure activities, and enhance the value of waterside properties. Distinctive landmark buildings will mark prominent sites, and a continuous tree-lined pedestrian mall will let Singaporeans and tourists enjoy the new skyline around the Bay.

6. We will complete environmental improvements to the Singapore River by the Year 2000. The river will become a scenic waterway, with riverside promenades for dining, shopping and entertainment. Restored shophouses and warehouses will provide a sense of history and a refreshing contrast to our modern cityscape.

7. We will create a bright lights entertainment area in the city. More street life and activities will be introduced to the three historic districts of Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India. The Civic District will have elegant lighting and pleasant walkways. These will enliven our urban environment, and promote our architectural heritage and cultural identity.

Building the Best Home for Singaporeans

8. To create a better living environment for Singaporeans, we will work to realise the visions set out in Punggol 21 and Pasir Ris 21, and extend the ideas to other towns. These new or redeveloped towns will have well-integrated transport systems, a pedestrian-friendly layout, and an interesting variety of recreational facilities. Schools, parks and sports complexes will be clustered together to share amenities.

9. Under the Estate Renewal Strategy (ERS), we will progressively redevelop and upgrade the older HDB estates, to keep their living environment comparable with the newer estates. Home owners can enjoy a higher standard of housing without leaving their existing neighbourhoods. This will help preserve community ties. The ERS in Toa Payoh is in full swing while those for Ang Mo Kio and Bedok have been launched.

10. The Main and Interim Upgrading Programmes will improve the quality of life of HDB households, and enhance the value of their flats. By 2002, half of the older HDB precincts will be upgraded either under the MUP or IUP. Suitable precincts will also be redeveloped under the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme.

11. We will review our home ownership schemes:

a. To help younger Singaporeans own flats and set up families earlier, these first-time applicants will receive higher priority in the allocation of new HDB flats.

b. Many Singaporeans aspire to upgrade to bigger HDB flats. We will review the queue system to allocate new flats to upgraders more equitably.

c. We will help the home-owning elderly realise the capital value of their assets. We will study building small apartments with high quality interior finishes in the newer HDB estates, which the elderly can move into to live nearer their children.

d. We will continue to assist low-income families to own their homes. HDB will buy back more 3-room flats from the open market, to sell at a discount to these families. Rental flats will also be offered for sale to eligible existing tenants of HDB at subsidised rates.

e. Our priority must continue to be applicants with the proper family nucleus.

However, some singles do face difficulty in owning homes. We will study how to help them.

12. We will continue to release land for Executive Condominiums and private housing to meet rising aspirations.

13. We will also study ways to enhance the surroundings of private residential estates, for example with better public amenities like children's playgrounds, street lighting and walkways. This will improve the estate ambience and raise the value of the homes.

14. We will continue to ensure that our buildings are safe and of good quality, by improving the building regulatory process, promoting modern construction technology, and training a more productive and skilled construction workforce.

Enhancing the Quality of Life

15. We will develop Changi Village into a tropical resort with hotels, apartments, waterfront restaurants, recreation clubs, cycle tracks and seaside promenades.

16. Singapore will be a home within a garden. Through better planning and design, we will bring parks and green spaces to the doorsteps of our homes and work places. Existing parks will be rejuvenated and interesting new thematic parks and gardens developed. These parks will be linked up through park connectors, to create a matrix of greenery and offer a relief from our urban environment.