TEMPORARY OCCUPATION LICENCE

Assoc Prof Toh See Kiat asked the Minister for Law whether the piece of disused land next to Block 173, Hougang Ave 1, will be given a Temporary Occupation Licence at a nominal rate to the Aljunied Constituency Sports Club.

Prof. S. Jayakumar: Vacant State lands not required for immediate development are let out for interim uses on either Tenancy Agreement or Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) through public tender. However, direct allocation of State Land for use by voluntary welfare and community organisations may be allowed if it is supported and rental/fees are funded by the relevant Ministries. Government's policy is to charge market rates for use of State land/buildings by all users to reflect the true cost of their operations. If there are grounds for subsidising the operations of an organisation, the relevant Ministry should consider doing so. The subsidy should not be in the form of nominal TOL fee for use of State land/buildings.

The piece of vacant land in question is managed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) as agent of Land Office. Land Office is prepared to consider interim use by the Aljunied Constituency Sports Club on TOL pending the development of the site. However, the Club has to pay market rate for the use of the land. If subsidy is required, the Club should approach Singapore Sports Council or the Ministry of Community Development for a grant to pay the market rate.