RECLAMATION AT PULAU UBIN AND PULAU TEKONG

The Minister of State for Law (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That this Parliament, in accordance with Section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Cap 113), approves the reclamation by the Government of the foreshore and seabed at Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong containing an area of about 3,310 ha as shown coloured pink on LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO 1/2000, which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore and consequently approves modification of the boundary of the reclamation previously approved by Parliament on 16th January 1992 of 657 ha of foreshore and seabed as shown edged red on the same plan.

Sir, on 16th January 1992, this House approved the reclamation of 657 ha of foreshore and seabed at Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong as shown edged red on `LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN 1/2000'. A copy of this plan is displayed in the Library of this House for the reference of hon. Members. The reclamation was to be carried out by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) as agent of Government. However, this was not carried out as the Ministry of National Development subsequently redirected the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and HDB to review the reclamation profile with the objective of increasing the amount of land that can be reclaimed and to optimise land use. The study has been completed. HDB now proposes to reclaim a revised area of 3,310 ha of foreshore and seabed as shown coloured pink on the same plan. A copy of this plan is displayed in the Library of this House for the reference of hon. Members.

When reclaimed, the land would be kept as contingency land for urban development.

The reclamation works will commence in October 2000 and will be completed by 2008.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, in accordance with Section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Cap 113), approves the reclamation by the Government of the foreshore and seabed at Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong containing an area of about 3,310 ha as shown coloured pink on LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO 1/2000, which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore and consequently approves modification of the boundary of the reclamation previously approved by Parliament on 16th January 1992 of 657 ha of foreshore and seabed as shown edged red on the same plan.