VACANT STAE LAND (Fee structure)

Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Minister for Law whether his Ministry will consider using a different fee structure for vacant state lands when the proposed use has no commercial value such as a soccer field maintained by the Town Council.

Mr Goh Choon Kang asked the Minister for Law if his Ministry will consider charging a Town Council nominal fee only for using small vacant state land as precinct park for Housing and Development Board residents.

The Minister of State for Law (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Law): Sir, may I take Question Nos. 16 and 17 together as they are related?

Mr Speaker: Yes.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, vacant lands in HDB estates, which include State lands and land owned by HDB, may be under the purview of Town Councils, HDB or Land Office. For most vacant State lands within HDB estates, HDB acts as the agent of Government in maintaining them and is also responsible for their interim uses within approved planning parameters.

Following this year's Committee of Supply debate when the issue was raised, Ministry of Law and Land Office reviewed the Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) rates imposed on grassroots organisations for interim use of State land in HDB estates. We have decided to charge 30% of the market TOL rates that would otherwise have to be paid for the use of State land in HDB estate as playing fields and courts. For example, previously an annual TOL fee of $4,800 ($400 per month) would be imposed on the grassroots organisations for using a piece of vacant State land, 1,000 square metres in size. Now, based on the 70% discount, grassroots organisations will pay only $1,440 annually or $120 per month for using the same piece of State land.