SECTION_NAME:ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

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[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:

PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP INTEGRATED RESORTS: 1.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if he will update the House on the progress of the Government's review and deliberation of the various proposals received for the Integrated Resorts and the criteria and process in the selection of the proposal.

2.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether Government tax revenue is the only economic factor in the assessment of the 19 Integrated Resort (IR) proposals that have been received; (b) what are the

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other quantitative factors in the assessment; (c) what are the qualitative factors, such as negative social effects, that will be considered in the assessment; and (d) how will the qualitative factors be quantified so that they can be evaluated on the same basis as the quantitative factors in the assessment of the 19 IR proposals.

3.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Trade and Industry, as much of the scenario planning on the development of an integrated resort and casino are theoretical, (a) will the Government consider a U-turn policy if the casino does not work out according to plan; (b) under what conditions will the Government consider a U-turn policy; (c) what are the contingency plans if the U-turn is initiated after the integrated resort and casino have been built; and (d) how will the Government remedy the situation if the outcome is disastrous.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan (Hong Kah): Question No. 1, Sir.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, can I have your permission to take Question Nos. 1 to 3 together as they relate to the same topic?

Mr Speaker: Yes, you may.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Sir, the Prime Minister will be making a Statement later on on the proposal to develop Integrated Resorts. I would like to urge Members to wait for the Statement. I think most of the queries will be addressed during the statement.

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PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP INTEGRATED RESORTS: 4.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Home Affairs with the development of the Integrated Resort and casino (a) whether there will be an

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increase in vice, illegal money-lending, money-laundering and drug activities; and if so, (b) what are the safeguards that will be put in place to prevent them.

The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, I think the Member must have heard the Minister for Trade and Industry. Similarly, the Minister for Home Affairs will be addressing these issues when Members debate the Ministerial Statement on the Integrated Resorts afterwards.