REDEVELOPMENT OF DEFU INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

Mr Simon S C Tay asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Singapore will consider acceding to further human rights treaties such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Prof. S. Jayakumar: There are many international treaties, including the international conventions on human rights referred to by the Member.

Such international conventions and treaties are periodically reviewed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Government Ministries and Agencies. As the Member may know, Singapore became a party to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child in October 1995. Whether we will accede to any other international convention will depend on careful examination of our policies, laws and legal procedures.

We take our international obligations seriously and accede to international treaties only when it is in our interest to do and when we are fully satisfied that we can give effect to its provisions.

Dr Ker Sin Tze asked the Minister for National Development if he will modify the plan to redevelop Defu Industrial Estate in view of the economic slowdown and the over supply of industrial space in Singapore.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Last year, HDB announced the redevelopment programme for its industrial estates. The main objectives of the redevelopment programme are to provide better facilities that will meet the operational requirements of the industrial tenants as well as to optimise the use of industrial sites. The current HDB industrial properties are sorely in need of redevelopment. Many of these were built many years ago and do not meet the industrial needs of today - for example, the electrical capacity is insufficient and there is no provision for heavy vehicles like container trucks. If we do not do anything, the premises will not be able to meet the industrialists' requirements and, over time, they will be less and less competitive. As such, the Industrial Redevelopment Programme has to continue. Since HDB's redevelopment programme is mainly concerned with re-housing its industrial tenants and the total number of units that it manages is less than 10% of the total stock of industrial space in Singapore, the programme will not contribute to an over-supply of industrial space.

With regard to Defu Industrial Estate, it is currently not due yet for redevelopment. HDB will give the tenants sufficient notice before it is due.

In addition, HDB will provide various measures to help industrial tenants relocate to new premises during this economic downturn. These measures include firstly, an ex-gratia compensation of $48,000 per unit for industrial tenants affected by relocation. Secondly, an option will be given to industrial tenants to either purchase or rent the replacement units. Prices will be kept at affordable levels by selling the replacement units at a shorter lease period of 30 years. Singapore citizen tenants will also be given a 5% discount of the market price. Tenants who opt to rent the replacement units will be allowed to pay existing rental rates on a per square metre basis for the remaining term of their existing tenancies. Thirdly, industrial tenants will be given a two-month rent-free fitting-up period. This period will be extended to six months for Singapore citizen tenants.