HAWKER STALLS (Reduction of rent)

Mr Harun A. Ghani asked the Minister for the Environment whether he will consider reducing the rent for hawker stalls during the current economic downturn.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the majority of hawker stalls (14,814) are already paying subsidised rentals, which are well below current market rates. However, there are some 1,600 stallholders who are paying market rentals. These are those who have secured their stalls through public tender or through transfers approved by my Ministry. For these stalls that are charged market rentals, the Government had, with effect from 1st July 1998, reduced the rents by 10%. In January 1999, the rents were reviewed again. For those whose rents were still higher than the market rental, as assessed by the Chief Valuer as at 1st January 1999, the rent was reduced to 90% of the previous rent or the assessed market rent, whichever is higher. The revised rentals are valid up to 31st December 1999.