Hansard, 1968-12-20

Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [Allotted Day].

Development Estimates of Singapore for the financial year 1st January, 1969, to 31st March, 1970, contained in Paper Cmd. 28 of 1968. For the convenience of hon. Members, I intend taking the total for each head of expenditure as it appears in the last column of the Summary of Estimated Expenditure on pages 5 and 6 of the Paper. Before we get on to that, I may perhaps remind Members that we are on the Development Estimates and debate on the policy or day-to-day running of the Ministries of various heads of expenditure that appear in the Estimates will not be permitted. Head 11 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 11 be reduced by $100. The sum allocated for this Head is $341,000 for the period 1969-70. The main purpose of this sum is to purchase furniture and equipment and also for works and buildings. We all know that the National Museum is very important because it provides educative information to our people, but in the past it has been neglected. Now that the Museum is under the Ministry of Science and Technology, I hope that it will be properly developed, and since the Minister is a specialist in biology, he will be able to get exhibits of animals and insects from all over the world to replenish the present stock in the Museum. In this way, our student population will be able to widen their knowledge and also to learn more about past and present dev elopments, especially on the history of natural science. I would like to ask the Minister two questions. The captions of the exhibits in the Museum are in English and the scientific names are also in English. Will the Minister consider whether the captions can be put in the four official languages for the benefit of the people? Secondly, what types of furniture and equipment will be purchased?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Sembawang has a good idea. I shall bring it to the attention of my officials and ensure that the exhibits are explained in the four official languages - English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. May I inform Members of the House how the money which has been allocated for the National Museum will be spent? A sum of $185,000 will be spent on works and buildings. This involves the construction of a bridge to link up the eastern side of the front and rear building, the construction of an external wall to link up the northern side of the front and rear building, the demolition of garages and construction of two internal court yard s. The sum of $156,000 is allocated for the purchase of furniture and equipment. This includes electric light fittings for show cases, moveable show cases for the public galleries, shelves for reference collections and stores, a deep-freeze unit for storage of animals and carcasses, a freeze drier, an air-condition unit and two microscopes.

(In Mandarin): Sir, in view of the Minister's explanation, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $341,000 for Head 11 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 21 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101. This subhead relates to "Loan to Jurong Town Corporation". Can the Minister say in what way will the allocated sum of $30 million be used to develop the Jurong Town Corporation in order to supplement the various amenities and facilities?

Sir, the Jurong Town Corporation asked for a loan of $56 million to finance various development projects next year. The Ministry of Finance was able to agree to only $30 million and this sum will be spent as follows: development of land, that is to say, land reclamation, earthworks, construction of roads, sewers, electrical sub-stations and so on $10.4 million is at Jurong and $2.8 million in the other estates outside Jurong. The second item is on factory buildings. A sum of $3.5 million is to be spent on factory buildings in Jurong for sale or lease to private enterprise, and $6.5 million will be spent on constructing factory buildings in other industrial estates. The third item is on improvement to facilities in the Jurong wharves. This will entail an expenditure of $2 million. The fourth item is housing at Jurong which is expected to cost $2½ million. The fifth item is a small one in which $200,000 will be spent on the industrial water scheme at Jurong. A sum of $1.6 million has been allotted for development of social amenities of which $1.1 million is earmarked for the development of Jurong Park. There are other small items such as organisation facilities - Town Hall -$200,000. I am not quite clear what this really means. I think the Jurong Town Corporation has an ambitious plan to construct a very noble town hall, and maybe this $200,000 will go into the preliminary studies and designs. Then there is an item of $100,000 against common amenities and $200,000 for research and investigations.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 103*. * The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon. The point I wish to raise under this subhead concerns the prevention and extinguishment of fire in Housing Board flats. At the present moment, no fire. fighting equipment is installed in Housing Board flats. Sir, you are aware that all new buildings in our Republic are subject to regulations made under the Local Government Integration Ordinance, 1963. May I quote section 147 of the Local Government Buildings Regulations, 1966, which reads: 'Every new building, except residential buildings and business premises under four storeys in height and not exceeding two thousand square feet in area at first floor level, shall be provided with water supply independent of the domestic supply conveyed in pipes of steel or cast iron and with hydrants and pumps and extinguishers for the prevention and extinguishment of fire to the' satisfaction of the Chief Building Surveyor.' Sir, this being the case, may I therefore ask the Minister to clarify whether there is an oversight on the part of the Housing and Development Board to provide fire-fighting equipment in flats or blocks of flats in the interests of the tenants? Further, I wish to know whether sufficient fire hydrants are installed in all housing estates belonging to the Housing and Development Board.

Sir, I am not moving.

Mr Speaker, Sir, it is an acceptable practice all over the world to grant exemption from certain requirements of the building bylaws to low-cost housing in order to bring down the cost. Similarly, the Housing and Development Board has obtained exemption from the Chief Building Surveyor for the provision of fire-fighting equipment, among others, in our low-cost housing so that the cost of these housing flats could be reduced to an acceptable level. There is provision under section 169 of the Local Government Buildings Regulations, 1966, for giving such an exemption. During the last eight years, not a single case of fire has occurred in any of the Housing Board flats, which means that they are very safe and sound. 2.45 p.m. Small fires such as those caused by the tipping over of kerosene stoves have never been able to spread to the next flats due to the sound design and non- inflammable materials used in these multi-storey buildings. Moreover, adequate hydrants have been provided in all the housing estates for use by the Fire Brigade in the event of an emergency. The Chief Building Surveyor considered these facts and agreed that exemption from the building by-laws for the provision of fire-fighting equipment could be granted to housing estates. Fire-fighting equipment is very expensive and it is often tampered with or stolen when it is stored in the Housing Board estates. In fact, the Housing Board did install fire-fighting equipment in the flats built under the First Five-Year Plan but, unfortunately, most of it has either been stolen immediately after installation or tampered with by the residents. In view of this, it serves no useful purpose to spend a large sum of money to install fire-fighting equipment in the Housing Board estates.

The Parliamentary Secretary has said that no fire 'can spread in Housing Board flats. In the last three years, two fires have broken out in Housing Board flats in the Old Kallang Airport Estate. More recently, a fire in the Bukit Ho Swee area almost threatened an adjacent block 'of flats in the Bukit Ho Swee Estate. In spite of this, I am satisfied that sufficient hydrants have been installed in the housing estates. Therefore, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $100. Sir, the sum of $131,480,900 under this head is provided for various purposes, such as "Loan to Development Bank of Singapore - $30 million", "Loan to Jurong Town Corporation -$30 million", "Loan to Public Utilities Board - $20 million", "Loan to Housing and Development Board -$50 million", etc. These allocations are very important for our economic development and prosperity. But I would like to know the purposes of the other subheads for which various sums of money have been allocated. Can I have more details of the item "Seletar Dam - Anti-Pollution Measures - $463,200", and of the remaining subheads 401, 402, 501 and 601?

In order to ensure high standards of purity of water when it flows into the Seletar Dam, certain measures have to be taken in the catchment area to the reservoir. The Member for Sembawang will know that unlike the central catchment area feeding the two reservoirs - MacRitchie and Peirce - the Seletar Reservoir catchment area is populated mainly by farmers. It is not feasible or necessary to resettle these farmers. But certain safeguards have to be carried out, namely, the construction of latrines, cess-pits, pigsties, and so on. This involves a total cost of $1.8 million, part of which is paid by the Government and part by the farmers. The scheme is being implemented in stages. A sum of $454,000 has been spent this year and the balance will be spent next year. The project is expected to be completed by the middle of next year when the Seletar Reservoir will provide us with a very useful increase in water storage capacity. Subhead 401 concerns "P.A.B.X. Equipment for Fullerton Building". I am unable to get details of the price break-down from the Singapore Telephone Board. The equipment is manufactured in Sweden and its purchase price was quoted by the Telephone Board as $126,547. Before its installation in November last year, the Telephone Board conducted a survey of telephone requirements of all the departments in Fullerton Building with the exception of the Postal Department, the Telecommunications Department and the Economic Development Board. The engineers recommended that an expandable P.A.B.X, unit for 50 exchange lines and 500 extensions equipped initially with 40 exchange lines and 300 extensions be installed. The equipment is at present rented from the Telephone Board at a cost of $23,542 per annum. It is expected to last for 25 to 30 years and calculations show that in the long run it is more economical to purchase the equipment outright as the capital cost will be recovered in less than seven years' time.

(In Mandarin): In view of the Minister's explanation, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $131,480,900 for Head 21 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 31 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 31 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead

101. Sir, this House was informed on 3rd December that the Hotel and Catering Training Centre would be extended to train more personnel in view of the expansion in the hotel trade in the Republic. Sir, you will agree that our hotel trade is now fast becoming an industry which earns quite sizable sums in foreign exchange for the Republic and also provides more opportunities for employment. In this respect, I have three questions to ask about the Hotel and Catering Training Centre: (1) What are the details of the expansion plans? (2) What are the built-in facilities mentioned by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour in his answer to my question for oral answer on 3rd December? (3) What are the necessary qualifications required for the various categories of trainees?

The Question is, "That the sum to be allocated for Head 31 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101." Mr Teong, would you like to speak now instead of moving your amendment* to the total sum, because under this head there is only one subhead? * The amendment reads as follows: (2) That the total sum to be allocated for Head 31 be reduced by $100.

(In Mandarin): I am not moving it.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the expansion of the training scheme for the hotel and catering industry involves the building of a hotel school with a view to increasing the scope of the training courses as well as increasing the intake of trainees. We have sought assistance from the Colombo Plan and the United Nations Development Programme Special Fund for experts. In fact, a hotel and catering adviser, whose services were obtained originally through the Asia Foundation and subsequently through the United Kingdom Government, has been here since June 1967. It is expected that another expert under the Colombo Plan, a waiting and bar services expert, will be here early next year. With regard to the building of a hotel school, there are at the moment three possible schemes under active study. The first scheme is to convert the present training centre into a two-storey building and the building facilities will include class-rooms, hotel bedrooms, a production kitchen, a training kitchen, a restaurant, a bar, a bakery, a hotel office, a language laboratory, a library, a communal room for trainees and staff, store-rooms and a swimming pool. The hotel bedrooms and the other public rooms are intended to be used for on-the-job training. A more ambitious scheme is to build a six-storey building with double the facilities of the first one. The third scheme is to convert a block of Government flats at Nassim Hill Road and, if possible, the con struction of another block nearby. But this will involve much more money than what has been provided. Anyway, these schemes are under active study and I think a decision will be arrived at shortly. As for the qualifications required for the various categories of trainees, I will just say that for waiters, barmen, waitresses, the minimum qualification will be Secondary II, the age between 16 and 22, and the training period will be about 12 weeks; for room stewards or room stewardesses, a Secondary II or Vocational II qualification is required, the age between 20 and 25, and the training period will be six weeks; for the receptionist's course, a School Certificate is necessary, the age between 20 and 27, the male should have a minimum height of 5 feet 4 inches and the female 5 feet 2 inches, and the training period will be about five weeks. For the cashier's course, again a School Certificate is required, the age between 20 and 27 years, and the duration of training will be only one week. 3.00 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary the reason for building a swimming pool at such a centre.

I think $1.8 million is a big sum of money. We are extravagant in going to the extent of building a teaching hotel which is really unnecessary. We have numerous hotels in Singapore which can provide on-the-job training facilities.

I agree with the Member for Mountbatten.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the plan is only on paper. It is most likely that the swimming pool will not be built, and that the money will be more usefully spent on other projects. The intention is to give the trainees on-the-job training. In other words, it will be run just like an ordinary hotel. We can say that it is a teaching hotel. The trainees will get practical training. For the school a certain amount of income is possible.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary, in reply to the Member for Joo Chiat, has raised a doubt whether the swimming pool will be built. I hope it will be built. I disagree with the Member for Joo Chiat and the Member for Mountbatten that the facilities in this teaching hotel are too extravagant. I think they are necessary if we are to get good results from the training; that is, to produce good waiters and waitresses and other people dealing with hotel servicing. Unless the stu dents have the opportunity to train with facilities similar to those obtaining in the best hotels, I think they will need to be re-trained when they are actually employed as waiters and waitresses in hotels. I hope the swimming pool and all the other facilities envisaged in the plan will come through.

I do not quite agree with the Member for Moulmein. Are we going to train the students in the swimming pool? Another point is that when we have overcome the shortage of hotel personnel, will the Government continue to run this hotel?

On a point of clarification. Before the Members go into deep waters, I must explain that the swimming pool is not for the trainees but for paying guests who will be actually using it so as to give realistic training to our hotel and catering staff.

(In Mandarin): I wish to ask the Parliamentary Secretary why the trainees should have a certain height before they can be recruited as trainees.

Mr Speaker, Sir, that requirement applies only to receptionists. As the Member knows, receptionists should have certain qualities -among others, good looks as well as brains! An hon. Member: Is he qualified?

I do not agree with the Parliamentary Secretary when he said just now that the expansion scheme is only on paper. In fact, the expansion plan must be pushed through as we all know very well that we will face a shortage of hotel employees by the end of 1971. By that time we will have about 30 hotels requiring something like 9,500 hotel employees. Unless we push through this plan urgently, we will not be able to overcome the shortage of hotel employees. However, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong -

Amendment (2) . Mr Teong has indicated that he is not moving. The sum of $1,830,000 for Head 31 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 41 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 203*. * The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon. Mr Speaker, Sir, although I am moving a cut in the allocation, in my view the allocation is not enough. An increase should be made. As a graduate of Nanyang University, I have the responsibility of looking after its expansion. Twelve years have elapsed since the inception of Nantah in 1956. The number of graduates has already exceeded 3.

700. At least 240 Nanyang graduates have returned from abroad with higher degrees. Some of them have returned to Nanyang University to take up teaching posts. The Government announced the recognition of Nanyang University degrees sometime this year. Next year there will be honours degree courses in Nanyang University. All this is very encouraging. In other words, Nanyang University is up and coming. In a matter of time it will definitely be able to make a more significant contribution in the field of higher education. But, unfortunately, the allocation for next year is only $100,000. I wonder whether such a small allocation is enough for the expansion of Nanyang University. I hope the Minister for Education will be able to persuade the Finance Minister to make a bigger allocation. It should be at least ten times as much as what is being given now, in order to meet the expansion needs of Nanyang University. Mr Speaker, Sir, I have several questions to ask under this subhead. Firstly, it is understood that the Language Centre of Nanyang University was set up with Government funds. I want to know whether the present language laboratory has six-channel facilities as originally planned. If the answer is in the negative, will there be any plans for its improve ment? Secondly, I wish to know whether there is any training scheme for higher studies for graduate assistants to take over those departments in Nanyang University which are overwhelmingly staffed by oversea personnel; such as the Department of History and the Department of Government Administration. With such a training scheme as part of the development programme of Nanyang University, there will be a sufficient supply of highly qualified local staff to man the various departments. Thirdly, as a portion of the sum allocated for this subhead is intended for the purchase of library books, I wish to know whether the Minister is convinced that the present librarian of Nanyang University is able to maintain the balance of books concerning Chinese culture published in Nationalist China and the People's Republic of China.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Member for Jurong. I wish the Government can give more allocation to Nantah. When I read the 1969-70 Development Estimates, I was quite surprised. In the allocation for Nanyang University for the coming financial year, there is only $100,000 for the purchase of equipment and library books. There is no allocation for the extension of buildings and the provision of other facilities. There is not even a token provision. Does this mean that Nantah has all the facilities and, as such, does not need any allocation for further development in fields other than scientific equipment and library books? In my opinion, there are still many fields in which Nantah needs improvement and development. In the past, Nanyang University has depended mainly on contributions from the people. Its expenditure on development has been tuned to its financial resources. All development has been on an austerity basis. Nantah should be different now. In the light of our present national development, Nanyang University could play an important part in education because of the recognition of the fact that it is part and parcel of the educational institutions of our country, it has a great role to play in nation building. All the defects that are existing should be rectified as soon as possible. In a very short time, Nantah has been able to produce many eminent scholars. Some have gone abroad for higher studies and have returned with the most up-to-date knowledge. Some have returned to teach in Nanyang University itself. We should not allow the knowledge they have acquired to be wasted. We must always renew ourselves. As the Chinese saying goes, "One must be newer and newer 'day by day." These scholars should not just write articles on what they have learnt, but should be able to put into practice what they have learnt. In view of the present scientific development in the world, we should encourage them to move with the times by providing them with research facilities so that they can further advance their knowledge. We should not let them be stagnant in their scientific field. Unless we provide them with such facilities, our country will suffer a loss. There is not even an electronic computer in Nanyang University. We may concede the fact that not all research necessitates the purchase of equipment, as in some Arts subjects. However, equipment is essential in scientific research. This is how some Nantah scientific scholars feel the need to have at least a small computer. At the moment, the quarters, too, are limited. The number is not enough for the teachers and students. The Nanyang University authorities have made it compulsory for first-year students to stay in the quarters. As a result, 95 per cent of the students are staying in the quarters. Other facilities, too, are not adequate. Nanyang University is very far away from the city. The stu dents do not have ample opportunities to take part in cultural and recreational activities. We are trying to evolve a rugged society. Yet when we look around Nanyang University, we find that there is not even a standard playground for the students to exercise or relax themselves. The Minister for Education has told us in this House that Nanyang University will introduce an honours degree course in the coming academic year. The sum allocated is only $100,000. This is the final part of the $1 million Government allocation. Will this sum of money be enough for the introduction and development of honours degree courses? I understand from the press that the Vice-Chancellor of Nantah will be retiring. Some honours degree courses will be introduced as from the next academic year. As Nanyang University is entering a new phase, it is necessary to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor. I wish to know whether the Minister has been informed that the Nantah authorities have taken any steps to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor. 3.15 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, sometime in the middle of this year, Nanyang University did submit four projects for Government's consideration. The projects were for the construction of additional student hostels and the provision of additional staff quarters. These two projects would cost about $3 million. The third project was for the construction of a sports complex. The fourth project was for the improvement of ventilation for the Great Hall. The sports complex was estimated to cost about $620,000 and the ventilation for the Great Hall would cost about $20,000. The proposal to construct additional staff quarters was not supported as Government's policy is to encourage home ownership. It would be preferable to grant loans to the staff to purchase their own houses. As regards the con struction of student hostels, about 80 per cent of the students are already accommodated in the existing hostels. Compared with other universities, this percentage is very high indeed and, therefore, the need for this project is not that urgent. The projects for the construction of a sports complex and improvement of the Great Hall were still under consideration at the time when the Development Estimates were prepared. Since no decision has yet been finalised, no provision was made in the Develop ment Estimates as regards these two items. In view of the financial stringency, it is likely that in future only requests of high priority such as funds for improvement of laboratories for honours degree courses and for research will be supported. Some of the equipment for honours degree courses will be arriving very soon. Some of it was purchased out of the $1 million grant for scientific equipment and library made in 1966. However, if this equipment is found to be inadequate, Government is always quite prepared to consider further requests. When the language laboratory was first installed, it was equipped with six channels. Later it was modified to one channel because it was under-used. Should the need arise, the language laboratory can be restored to the full six channels without any difficulty. The Member for Jurong also mentioned further studies by local staff. The policy to encourage further over seas training for graduate assistants so as to further enhance the academic standard of Nanyang University is being actively pursued by the University. I was told that this year two graduate assistants from the Department of Government and Public Administration were sent to Canada for higher training under the Colombo Plan. Action is also being taken to select another six candidates, either graduates or graduate assistants, from the Faculty of Commerce to go abroad for further training next year. Two of them will be under the Colombo Plan and four on exchange programmes with American universities. As for the purchase of library books for the University, I think the Member for Jurong will agree with me that it is not realistic to adopt a system whereby the number of books purchased from Taiwan matches the number purchased from China. In this matter, surely the criterion should be that only books which are considered necessary and useful are purchased for the library regardless of the country of origin. There is a library committee headed by the Vice-Chancellor which decides on the purchasing policy. The Member for Tiong Bahru mentioned the appointment of a ViceChancellor. Nanyang University is just as anxious as the Member for Tiong Bahru that a suitably qualified academician and administrator should be appointed as Vice-Chancellor as soon as possible. In fact, this matter is being pursued actively by all concerned. However, the Member for Tiong Bahru should realise that the financial resources of Nanyang University do not permit it to offer the same attractive material terms obtaining in universities in the United States or other Western European countries. Furthermore, I think the office of Vice- Chancellor is now no longer that dignified and secure and isolated from the rough and tumble of the outside world. Universities in many large cities of the world are embroiled in student strife and struggle. Some of the Vice-Chancellor's offices of prestigious universities were even seized by students. Illustrious academicians who would be ideal candidates for vice-chancellorship are, therefore, no longer enamoured of the post of Vice-Chancellor. In the search for a well-qualified academician to fill the post of Vice-Chancellor, both the students and staff of Nanyang University can help in creating a congenial atmosphere for study and research. On the other hand, if students, periodically indulge in agitation and sometimes violent demonstration, they are only helping to make the search for a Vice-Chancellor more difficult and would only be inviting the "colonels", since we do not have "generals", or, worse still, half-baked "lieutenants", to take charge of the University.

(In Mandarin): From the reply of the Minister, it appears that he is still interested in looking after Nanyang University. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 402. Sir, in my constituency, there are about nine primary schools of various streams and the pupils come to about 1,000 per year from these schools. In this respect, there is nothing for me to quarrel about. But there is only one secondary school, the Jurong Integrated Secondary School, in my constituency. This school was set up as a result of the Prime Minister's visit to Jurong Constituency and at the request of the people. Members should not be surprised when I say something about this school. There are only eight classrooms and it is without a hall, or a library or laboratory facilities. Obviously, Sir, in terms of capacity, this school is inadequate for the needs of my constituency and is unable to absorb the number who passes out from the primary schools in my constituency. Furthermore, it does not have all the necessary facilities that a secondary school should have. Notwithstanding the lack of these facilities, there is an advisory committee and, with the cooperation of the principal, the students and other people, they have been able to carry out a great deal of extracurricular activities. They have been awarded a prize in the recent beautifying school campus campaign.

3.28 p.m. Sir, several requests have been made to the Ministry of Education for further improvement of the school. I do not know whether there is provision to extend this secondary school and I shall be much obliged if the Minister can enlighten me.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is enough accommodation to meet the demand for places in this secondary school. In fact, there is room for 16 classes running two sessions but only 15 were functioning at the end of last year. None of these classes has a full enrolment of 40 students. The 1968 enrolment figures show a drop of about 11 per cent as compared with those of the previous year. Besides the Jurong Integrated Secondary School, there are three other Government secondary schools along or slightly off Jurong Road that are under-used. As these schools can provide sufficient places for pupils living in this area, my Ministry does not intend to build any extension to the Jurong Integrated Secondary School.

I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 3.30 p.m.

(In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $100. The sum allocated for this Head is $30,850,070. Apart from the sum required for the new administrative building of the Ministry of Education, there are five items of expenditure for higher education. Allocation is made for Nanyang University, the University of Singapore and Ngee Ann College which amounts to about $1½ million. The Polytechnic is allocated a sum of about $¼ million. This very clearly shows that the emphasis is on technical and vocational education. But the sum allocated for primary and secondary education is very small. From the various allocations, we can see that the Government is biased towards the development of technical education. From the rate of industrialisation and the various changes that are taking place, we realise that there is a need to provide technical education so that we will be able to provide the necessary industrial personnel for our development needs. Sir, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister for Education on his successful achievement in encouraging technical education. How ever, I wish to raise some questions. When will the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies be established? When will work on it be started and when is completion expected? How and when will enrolment take place? Secondly, where will the vocational institutes be set up? Are there any plans for building vocational schools in the rural areas to look after the needs of the students in these areas? If students in the rural areas desire to study in vocational schools, they have to travel all the way to the city because voca tional schools are built only in the city areas and the expenditure on travelling will mean a greater burden to their parents. Thirdly, what is the basis for the selection of principals in integrated schools? In my view, the principals should be bilingual. But, at the moment, the principals of many integrated schools are only monolingual. Therefore, they have difficulties when conversing with parents, and their senior assistants have to act as interpreters. Sir, this arrangement is most unsatisfactory and I hope the Minister will consider a better basis for the selection of principals in integrated schools. The emphasis should be on bilingualism in order to provide a more effective administration.

3.35 p.m.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish, to raise several points for the consideration of the Minister. Firstly, has the Minister any plan to build an integrated technical institute in Paya Lebar Constituency which has, a student population of more than, 18,000? The Minister will recall that sometime in 1966 I asked an oral question on this subject and the Minister replied that there was no vacant land in my constituency for the construction of such an institute. At the moment, I am aware that a contractor is prepared to offer some 10 acres of vacant land for the construction of a school. Will the Minister take prompt action to accept this offer?

Mr Speaker, Sir, if the Member for Paya Lebar had listened carefully to the speech which I made on 12th December, 1968, he would have realised that all new school building programmes - both for primary and secondary schools - have ceased since 1967 and that there will be no more academic secondary school building programme. It is true that in 1966 we were looking for land, but now, although it is available, there are no longer any funds to build schools. Sir, the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies will not have its own building. It will be housed in the proposed new library building of the University of Singapore. At the moment, I am not in a position to say when this new library building will be completed, because the whole future expansion of the university is now under consideration. In the meantime, the institute is being accommodated in a bungalow at the University of Singapore. The institute is for post- graduate research only and, as such, it has no teaching function, and students will not be admitted. Mention was made of the appointment of principals in integrated schools. The promotion of teachers to principalship is undertaken by the Public Service Commission. My Ministry can only post bilingual principals to integrated schools if they are available. Ideally, principals of integrated schools should be bilingual.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has not answered one point, and that is, where will vocational institutes be built?

Mr Speaker. Sir, if the Member for Sembawang will look at the Development Estimates, he will find that all the sites for the vocational institutes are listed there.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $30,850,070 for Head 41 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 51 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $100. The sum allocated for this head is 53,906,710. Our Republic has become the fourth largest port in the world, and in external telecommunications, it has reached quite an important position. But the sum collected in this respect is rather small. This may be due to large sums of money being allotted to other more important projects. On the extension of the runway in the airport, can the Minister say when the work will be completed? Secondly, under subhead 305, where will the new car park be situated and when will it be completed? Thirdly, when will the jumbo jets call here, because they are very important to the further development of our commerce and tourism?

Mr Speaker, Sir, for the information of the Member for Sembawang. I would like to say that the original cost of the extension to the airport runway is $5 million, but it has since been revised and brought down to $3.8 million. One million dollars was expended last year and almost $800,000 has been expended this year. I can say that the extension of the runway from 9,000 to 11,000 feet should be completed by the middle of next year. Seventy-five per cent of the work has been completed. The next query raised by the Member was on the new car park under subhead 305. I think I have already answered this question a few days ago, but in order to meet the request of the Member, I shall give him the answer again. This car park can accommodate 200 cars and has been in use since June this year. There is, however, a sum of $18,000 for next year which is the estimated cost for the construction of bus and car park attendant kiosks which will be built next year and rented out. The Member's third question was when the jumbo jets, the Boeing 747s, are expected to arrive in Singapore. I think I have given this information on a few occasions. 3.45 p.m. We do definitely know that some jumbo jets should arrive at Singapore Airport around 1971. It could be earlier. Therefore, we have a little more than two years to plan for their arrival. But may I say that personally I had the opportunity to visit Seattle two months ago? This is the place where the Boeing 747s are manufactured by the Boeing Company. I am given to understand that, except for the number of passengers involved (that is, twice as many passengers will be discharged from the jumbo jets), no great difficulty should be experienced, because the jumbo jets have been designed to take off and land on runways which can take the lighter Boeing 707s. I think the plane has also had a test flight recently.

(In Mandarin): I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $3,906,710 for Head 51 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 52 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 52 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 102. Sir, with your permission, I shall range over my next amendment No. (2)*. * Amendment No. (2) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 52 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 902. Sir, the sum of $150,000 has been provided in 1968 for the construction of a new Newton Post Office. When is this post office expected to be ready for service? I think the sum of $150,000 will be revoted again in 1970. The present Newton Post Office is an old building but I am not objecting to its condition. I am sure that some Members of the House may have noticed that it looks as if it is sited in a fish pond after a heavy downpour. I am saying this from experience. There is difficulty in loading and unloading the mail bags and the staff and the public are inconvenienced. I hope the Minister will be able to confirm that the new Newton Post Office will be ready by this year. Mr Speaker, Sir, may I know where the "Mail Loading Pier" will be built and when is it expected to be completed?

Mr Speaker, Sir. I can well understand the feelings cf the Member for Anson because he knows about the postal services like the back of his hand, since he has put in long and honourable service in this particular department. If I were the only one who could make a decision to build the new Newton Post Office, I would give him the assurance that it would be done. But surely he knows that it is not just enough for my Ministry to say that we want it and it is done. There are the usual difficulties, it is true that this particular item which appeared in the Estimates last year may appear again in next year's Estimates and we may not have a post office even in 1970. This is not the fault of the Ministry of Communications. It is just because there are competing demands for sites. The decision to build a new post office for Newton is well known. It was actually taken in October 1966 by the Economic Planning Unit. In fact, a site was selected by the Public Works Department to have the new post office somewhere around Clemenceau Avenue, quite close to Newton Circus. Then a request came from a different section of the P.W.D, for a road improvement scheme and, therefore, this site had to be given up to meet the request. In March 1967, the Chief Planner thought it a good idea that the contemplated building of a headquarters for the Public Utilities Board in the Newton area could perhaps provide some space for a post office. Then in July 1968 - more than a year after that suggestion was first received - we were told that the Public Utilities Board had decided not to build a headquarters in that area. A site has now been selected, again close to the Government quarters between Monks Hill Terrace and Bukit Timah Road, and quite close to the present Newton Post Office. The Commissioner of Lands replied on the 2nd of this month that he was going to take up this proposal with the departments concerned. We are now waiting for a reply from the Chief Planner's Office. So I suppose we will start building when everybody is quite happy. The Member for Anson then moved on to the provision of "Mail Loading Pier". He wants to know where it is going to be and when it is expected to be completed. It is planned to build the pier on the present site because the existing one is in a very bad state of repair. It is expected to be completed within 12 months of the commencement of work.

I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $275,520 for Head 52 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 61 - The following amendment stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong --- That the sum to be allocated for Head 61 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

Madam Chan is not here.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 61 be reduced by $100. The provision for Head 61 is $47,900,000. The Ministry of Interior and Defence was set up not long ago and it has already made great strides. May I inquire how this sum of $47.900,000 will be allocated. And to what use will the Defence Fund be put?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I have a question to ask of the Minister for Defence. I notice that the Geylang Police Station has already been moved to a new building situated between an outpatient clinic and a post office at Still Road. But it is still named Geylang Police Station. Does the Minister consider it an appropriate name and, if not, will he consider changing it since it is no more in the Geylang area but is, in fact, in the Siglap Constituency?

Mr Ng, that is all very well, but I do not know how this matter comes under the Development Estimates.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am proposing to use part of the Defence Fund to establish a weapons factory, part of it for the purchase of initial training aircraft, and part of it for scholarship funds for specialised training of Singapore Armed Forces personnel.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, how is the sum of $47,900,000 to be expended?

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has said that part of the Defence Fund will be used for a weapons factory. This is a laughing matter. Will the fund be sufficient for the setting up of an armaments factory? I feel that we have not achieved very much with the Defence Fund. I suggest that we should form a National Defence Voluntary Fund on a permanent basis so that it is open all the time to anyone to make a donation. In this way, we can achieve better results with it than with the present Defence Fund. The donations to the Defence Fund are dwindling. So we must encourage the rich people to donate to the National Defence Volun tary Fund. I am raising this point now because I did not have sufficient time to do so previously. I now crave your indulgence, Mr Speaker, Sir, to say this. The National Defence Voluntary Fund Committee should try to encourage everyone to donate. It can issue a kind of plaque or a certificate to the donor of a certain amount of money to commemorate his donation and spirit of dedication. 4.00 p.m. I remember when the Japanese attacked Singapore during the last war, we had donations from the public. Today we must ask all rich people to contribute to this new Defence Fund. If they do not do so, they will suffer the same fate as they did the last time when the Japanese came, when their wives, money, houses and other property were taken over. The Government should now try to get donations from people other than the poor. Mr Teong Eng Siong rose -

Mr Teong Eng Siong, is your point that the Minister has not answered your last query.

(In Mandarin): I just want to ask the Minister whether he can give some details about this $47,900,000 allocation.

Mr Speaker, Sir, if the Member for Sembawang had followed closely the speech made by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, while presenting his Budget, he would have noted that my colleague gave as detailed an account of our defence build-up as he possibly could. I do not think I can go further and give him more details of the kind of armaments that we want to buy for our troops. All I can say is that the development fund is to be used for the acquisition of land, construction of camp sites, and purchase of equipment for the troops. That is as far as I can go. I am very glad to find that, in spite of his age, the Member for Ulu Pandan is still as energetic and patriotic as I would like all our young people to be. I can take it that he has contributed all he can to the Defence Fund. However, there is not only one committee working on getting contributions to the Defence Fund, but there are also hundreds of committees. I think the time has come for us to set a time limit for donations to the fund and not leave it open. As I said when announcing a target amount for the Defence Fund, there are many other worth-while funds competing for donations. The contributions that we have received for the Defence Fund have shown that there is a great deal of loyalty and love for this country. I appreciate very much the sentiments expressed by the Member for Ulu Pandan. I think it is most timely of him to remind the very rich in our country that if they do want to con tribute, this is the time to contribute and not when it is too late, as happened the last time. Part of the fund would be used to help establish a rifle or weapons factory. In the view of the Member for Ulu Pandan, this would be insufficient. In a way, it is so. If we are really going all out for a large armaments factory, this is insufficient. But there are many components in the manufacture of equipment with which we can associate the Defence Fund. My idea is to have the Defence Fund associated with one of the component parts manufactured by one of the smaller factories to remind us all the time that it is made possible because all the people of Singapore have in one way or another contributed towards its establishment.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $47,900,000 for Head 61 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 62 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101. Sir, it is understood that the sum of $191,000 is to be provided for the construction and equipment of two standard-type community centres. One of them will be at Kallang Estate in my constituency. However, it has come to my knowledge that the request for a proposed site for this community centre has been turned down by the Housing and Development Board. Since the proposed site which was earmarked in 1965 has not been made available by the Housing and Development Board, is the question of an alternative site being looked into by the People's Association? Mr Speaker, Sir, I must also stress that there is a great need for a community centre in the Kallang Housing Estate in view of the fact that at least 40,000 people are living there. Although there is at present a community centre known as the Mount-batten Community Centre at Guillemard Road, it is situated at a remote corner of the constituency. For this reason, my constituents are unable to make full use of it. It is not conveniently located. In fact, it serves predominantly people from the Geylang area. May I expect a favourable reply from the Minister?

Mr Speaker. Sir, whether we will be able to build a community centre for Mountbatten Constituency will also depend to a large extent upon how successful the Member for Mountbatten himself is in helping us to find a suitable site. I would like to remind him that the original site which we chose was turned down by him. He in turn recommended a site which was later found to be required for road extension. All I can say is that we have not given up hope and that we may still be able to find a suitable site. In this respect, may I request that he keeps his eyes open and hunt for a site himself as well?

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker. Sir, I remember that in 1967 I did request the authorities concerned to build two community centres in the Thomson Constituency. The Parliamentary Secretary, on behalf of the Minister, told the House at that time that the two community centres would be constructed at the end of 1967. But up till now there has been talk only and nothing has been built. I hope the Minister will not forget the promise made by his Parliamentary Secretary at that time. May I ask him when the two community centres will be constructed?

The Minister mentioned just now that I had turned down the proposed site. But, as a matter of fact, the proposed site was turned down by the Housing and Development Board. I like the site, which is very ideal, but it was not made available by the Housing and Development Board.

May I clarify? Shall we say that there were two sites. The first was the original site which, according to my information, was turned down when the Member found it to be unsuitable. Then on his recommendation later on, we went to the other site. This was the site which will be affected by the road-widening scheme. Therefore, the application was rejected by the Housing Board.

There seems to be some confusion. The present community centre was converted from the Katong Boys' Club in 1959 before I was elected to this House. The selection of that site was not my choice. As regards the Minister's request for my assistance to look for an alternative site, I will certainly help him to do so. With that, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the names of Madam Chan Choy Siong and Mr L. P. Rodrigo -

Amendment No. (2) . Madam Chan is not here. Mr Rodrigo, can you, in your speech on amendment No. (2) , range over your amendment No. (3)* as well? * Amendment No. (3) , which also stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong, reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 403.

Yes, Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 402. Sir, it is purely a point of inquiry on my part. We have people's centres in the form of various community centres all over the country. We have a vote, although merely token at this stage, for a People's Centre. I believe it must be some centralised affair. I am sure the Minister will be able to enlighten this House because even at this stage there must be some plan set. Since I am ranging over amendments Nos. (2) and (3) , may I ask this question? Now that we have a People's Centre, why do we need a People's Hall? The facilities might be duplicated or they might be different. In any case, how would the People's Centre and the People's Hall develop the people?

Mr Speaker, Sir, these are token votes. These are ideas which we have in mind. I shall try to clarify what is meant by the People's Centre and the People's Hall. There seems to be some confusion that since we have so many community centres all over the island, why should we want to establish a super community centre at Kallang itself? This is not a super community centre. It serves a different purpose. Its objectives are slightly different in that in the People's Centre there will be two lecture rooms, one with a seating capacity of 100 persons, and the other 40 persons. This is largely to allow the People's Association to conduct classes for the staff and seminars for the management committees, in this way, experiences can be exchanged between members of the various management committees as well as the staff of the People's Association, which number between 1,500 and 1,700. It is also expected that we shall have a staff club-house to enable the 1,500 odd members of our staff to have some recreation and a place to get together to know one another better. 4.15 p.m. As Members know, the 1,500 or 1.700 members of our staff are spread all over the island and I think it is essential that, from time to time, they should be brought together in a central place where they can get to know one another and participate in sporting or cultural activities of their own interest. It is also proposed that we should have offices for corporation members of the People's Association which can be rented out to them at an economic rental, because we have found that quite a large number of youth associations, clubs and such bodies have no offices or premises where they can work to promote their various activities. It is put into the Development Estimates as two items - People's Centre and People's Hall. Actually, they are two phases of the same project. The first phase is the People's Centre and the second phase is the People's Hall. As regards the People's Flall, the idea is to have a hall of this type to hold cultural shows that are usually seen or performed in community centres. We have found that present facilities for large-scale performances of this nature are not suitable because the community centres cannot afford the rentals charged by the Victoria Memorial Hall or the National Theatre. And it is intended that shows or activities which are encouraged by the People's Association can be performed in this hall at quite a nominal rate. Moreover, annually, we hold conferences of management committees and conferences of the staff of the People's Association and we find that we do not have the space available for these conferences. Therefore, it is proposed that the People's Hall be used to hold these conferences. As I said, Sir, it is just a token vote because, while investigating into the possibility of having this centre built, we came across problems of foundation. There would have to be further investigations into the feasibility of building this complex and also, in view of our financial stringency, it is more likely than not that the plans will not be proceeded with.

Madam Chan, do you wish to speak on the People's Centre and the People's Hall?

No.

In view of that explanation, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the names of Madam Chan Choy Siong and Mr L. P. Rodrigo -

Amendment (3) is not being moved. Mr Teong Eng Siong, amendment (4).

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $l00*. * The same amendment also stood in the names of Mr Ho Kah Leong and Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon. Sir, the total expenditure for this head is $341,220. I feel this sum is too little. It should be increased. There is an item on works and buildings for rural community centres. I would like to know where the community centres are to be built. Sir, the Naval Base, which is in Sembawang Constituency, has been transferred to the Government of Singapore. May I request the Minister to build a rural community centre in the Naval Base in future? I also notice that there is no provision for the building of holiday camps. I understand that applicants for holiday camps have to wait for quite a long time before they are allotted a camp. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister whether we have sufficient holiday camps. My last point concerns the People's Centre. Last year, there was a provision of $92,000 for the construction of the People's Centre. Has this sum been used, and has the project been carried out half-way?

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the views expressed by the Member for Sembawang. In addition, I wish to take this opportunity to deal with the expansion of kindergarten classes run by the People's Association. We know that the People's Association was established on 1st July, 1960, with a view to serving the people. After a period of eight years, the People's Association has been able to make use of more than 180 community centres all over the island to serve the people by promoting various useful activities which are very popular with them. At the same time, the community centres have also achieved the aim of becoming a bridge between the people and the Government. Therefore, we can say that community centres have already gained a place in the social structure of our country. In fact, in the eyes of the people, community centres have also taken root in the daily life of the people. It is because of these achieve ments by the People's Association that we can make further demands on the Association. We ask for further expansion of the activities to be undertaken by them. On the 17th of this month, the Minister for Defence, in reply to a question by the Member for Sembawang, disclosed that the People's Association have been conducting 132 kindergarten classes in the various community centres with an average yearly enrolment of 12,000 students who pay about $1 each per month. These kindergarten classes are very popular with the parents of the pupils. At the present juncture of its development, the People's Association cannot turn away from the duty of further developing kindergarten education which should become a link in our whole education structure. My opinion is based on the following three reasons. Firstly, we all know that pre-primary education plays a very important part in the education of children. This is because at this tender age, children are most impressionable and whatever is taught to them will have a great impact on them in later years. The father of kindergarten education, Mr F. W. A. Froebel, has said that with children of tender age, you can achieve with an effort as light as a feather what you cannot achieve with an effort so heavy as 10,000 pounds in later years. Therefore, children of tender age should be given proper kindergarten education. In fact, in advanced countries, preprimary education has been put in as an integral part of the whole education system in order to cater for the needs of the children in the age group of four to six years who should be developed intellectually, spiritually, physically and morally. As the Member for Paya Lebar has mentioned a few days ago, they should be given a proper linguistic start. Therefore, we should not allow kindergarten education to sink or swim by itself. It should be given proper guidance and assistance. The next reason is that, from the Estimates presented by the Minister for Finance, we can see that defence occupies the most important part and, as a result of the increase in defence expenditure, other estimates are put on a standstill basis. We know that the Ministry of Education requires a great deal of money for educational reforms. Therefore, there is little money left for the development of kindergarten education. As a matter of expediency, we can make use of available facilities. Organisations which already have the facilities should expand kindergarten education and the People's Association, in my view, is the most ideal choice. Thirdly, the People's Association has more than 180 community centres throughout the island and a nominal fee of $1 is charged per pupil per month. These classes are very popular amongst the parents. Furthermore, the community centres are not being made use of in the mornings, other than the running of kindergarten classes. Therefore, with the installation of some equipment and facilities the space available can be converted into very useful kindergartens. Sir, the People's Association has the basic facilities for the promotion of kindergarten education. This is clear to us. I now wish to raise some matters of detail in regard to the implementation of the scheme I have in mind. Firstly, legislation should be introduced to ensure that kindergarten education becomes part and parcel of our educational structure to be undertaken by the People's Association. We are aware that special classes to cater for the failures in the Primary School Leaving Examination are conducted by the Adult Education Board because the Ministry of Education is unable to conduct these special classes. Therefore, on the same basis, we can ask the People's Association to run kindergarten classes. In fact, it should be proud to be able to do this.

4.28 p.m. Secondly, at the present moment, there is only one committee in the People's Association to attend to the affairs of kindergarten education which caters for 12,000 pupils. This is obviously inadequate. Therefore, an expansion is necessary. First, we must form an advisory committee. We should also strengthen the administrative organisation of the People's Association. The advisory committee should consist of experts from the Ministry of Education on pre-primary education and representatives from educational bodies, the People's Association and teachers of kindergarten classes. Thirdly, in my view, the present facilities in the community centres are inadequate for kindergarten classes. We should buy more teaching aids and educational toys for the children of these classes, because children of this age learn better through the play-and-learn method and free activities. They should not be confined to rigid formal teaching throughout the three hours. The Minister may be worried about the expenditure. I think his worry is unfounded. It can be overcome. In my view, there are many members of the public who are always ready to donate money for a good cause. If any additional expenditure is necessary, we can even go to the extent of increasing the school fees for these classes. So long as the classes are properly run, I believe that the parents will not mind an increase in the fees. Fourthly, in my view, teachers in the kindergarten classes should be given professional training. They should be given an opportunity to study child psychology and children's habits and special teaching methods. 4.30 p.m. At the present moment, the teachers in the community centres have weekly discussions on Saturdays. This is very good. But I think more can be done to improve the teaching methods and the curriculum, and perhaps kindergarten teachers can be sent on a study tour abroad. On the other hand, steps should be taken to strengthen the supervision of kindergarten classes by sending qualified instructors to supervise the teaching of the kindergarten teachers. At the same time, they can ensure that what the teachers have learnt theoretically will be put into practice properly. Only along these lines can kindergarten education be put on the proper track. Sir, with co-operation from the people and the People's Association, kindergarten education will be successful.

(In Mandarin): Sir, this head concerns the People's Association and I wish to supplement what has already been said. The People's Association was established in 1960 and has since done a great job. However, in so far as administration is concerned, there are certain shortcomings. For example, when the leaders of community centres are to be transferred, Members of Parliament of the respective centres are not informed where they will be transferred to. This is very unfair to Members of Parliament because they are advisers to the community centres and advice should be sought from them before such transfers are made. The temporary Chairman (Mr Lim Cheng Lock): Order. Mr Lee, these remarks would have been more relevant when this topic was debated in the Main Estimates. We are now on the Development Estimates.

(In Mandarin): Sir, in my view, the transfer of community centre leaders should be a matter of consultation between the Members of Parliament and the People's Association, because Members of Parliament are in close contact with the Director and Assistant Directors of the People's Association. Therefore, I have a suggestion to make on the organisation and administration of the People's Association. I think these functions should be handed over to the Ministry of Culture because, in my view, the Ministry of Culture is not given enough work.

(In Mandarin): Sir,I merely want to ask the Minister one question. If my memory serves me right, the Government announced some time ago that the People's Association intended to build holiday flats along the sea coast to enable urban d~ellers to spend their holidays there. But there is no such allocation for this purpose in the Development Estimates. I wish to know whether any decision has been made on this project.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I wish to remind the Minister that he has not replied to the question I raised.

Sir, after listening to the Member for Jurong, I am more than convinced that all the arguments are against the running of kindergarten classes by the People's Association. The Member very rightly said that the children attending these kindergarten classes are at the most impressionable age and one must be very careful with what one does with their education, and also kindergarten teachers should be given very special training. All in all, it is a very specialised subject and in order to be able to teach these children well, we have to train the teachers, and all this costs money. Let me remind Members that the main objective of the People's Association is not to run kindergarten classes. The Association does it as an adjunct and partly to provide a service to the people. After running these classes for some time, however, it was found necessary to set up a committee to conduct these classes, and, having watched the results, and especially after listening to the Member for Jurong, I am more than ever convinced that the running of kindergarten classes is not the function of the People's Association. Instead of benefiting our population, we may probably do untold damage to children of tender age if the People's Association takes over this job.

4.40 p.m. I beg to differ when the Member for Jurong said that there is a great demand for kindergarten classes, because when enrolment began this year some of the kindergarten teachers had to go on a house-to-house enrolment campaign in order to get sufficient children to commence classes. In fact, some of the classes have to be closed down. I myself would like the People's Association to run these classes, but owing to its commitments and in order not to lose sight of our main objective, I think we should concentrate more on what we have set out to do than do something which we are not qualified to do, that is, running kindergarten classes. I would be very loath indeed to damage our children at this very tender age by providing them with teachers who are not specially qualified to teach them. I do not know whether it comes within the province of the Ministry of Edu cation. But after listening to the Member for Jurong today, I would like to repeat that I am more than convinced that the People's Association is not the organisation to run kindergarten classes. In fact, we will be cutting down the number of classes very soon. The Member for Ulu Pandan would like the People's Association to be handed over to the Ministry of Culture.

Then it will be out of our hands!

I have no objection to this at all. In fact, it will lighten my load. The Member for Tiong Bahru asked what has happened to the holiday flats and why there is no provision to build these flats in the Development Estimates. This proposition came about while members of the board of the People's Association were dealing with a request for holiday bungalows from the staff of the People's Association. They requested that since the staff of Government departments are entitled to holiday bungalows, why cannot they be provided with holiday bungalows also? This proposition was discussed by members of the board of the People's Association and we came to the conclusion that it would be worth while to try a new scheme, that is, instead of, say, using two acres of land for two bungalow houses which will be able to accommodate only two families, it would be better to build holiday flats so that for the same amount of money and using the same land area, more members of the staff could be accommodated: also it is possible to let these flats out to members of the public. Since the holiday flats are primarily for the use of members of the People's Association, the cost of building them will have to come from whatever funds the People's Association has. This is the reason why the provision is not included in the Development Estimates. A study of the site, the form the holiday flats should take, and the cost of building them, is still in progress. In reply to the Member for Sembawang, all I can say is to repeat what I said just now, and that is, plans for the construction of the People's Hall have met with some snags - foundation trouble and probably later on financial stringency - and therefore the project has come to a stop. It was right that the sum of $92,000 provided for last year was not spent. I do not know the exact figures expended in the drawing up of plans and investigation work. We will look into the question of building a community centre at the Naval Base when the time comes, because the Naval Base has not yet been handed to us. I think that answers all the issues brought up.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has not replied to my question.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I was not the Minister who promised him two kindergarten classes in his constituency. But I have made it clear that I would not like the People's Association to extend its activities in running kindergarten classes. In fact, we should do less and less of this, and I have given my reasons. Also the Member for Sembawang has reinforced the reason why the People's Association should not be responsible for kindergarten classes.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I very much regret that the Minister for Defence has a different idea from mine. I said that the People's Association has all the prerequisites to run kindergarten classes. Also the people at large can request the People's Association to run them. Sit', everything depends on our doing things ourselves. For instance, if there is a shortage of kindergarten teachers or if they are under-qualified, we can improve their training by asking the Ministry of Education to help train them. If the equipment and facilities for the classes are insufficient, we can try to expand them.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I was just now not engaged on the topic of kindergarten classes. My question was this. Last year the Parliamentary Secretary, in reply to a question I raised in this House, said that two community centres would be built in my constituency, but so far no action has been taken. I wish to ask the Minister when these two community centres will be built, because my constituents have asked me why the promise has not been fulifiled. 4.45 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe there is already a community centre in Thomson. There are probably very good reasons why no further community centre has been built in spite of the promise. I do not know what the reasons are. Probably there is no suitable land, or the activities of the present centre do not warrant the building of another centre. Anyway, I promise the Member I will look into the matter. Mr Speaker, Sir, I know what the Member for Jurong has in mind, that if we make up our minds to do a thing, we can overcome the difficulties. I quite realise that if we really want to go for kindergarten education in a big way, we can always set up a special Teachers' Training College to train kindergarten teachers or send them abroad or provide special equipment. But the main objective of the People's Association is not to run kindergarten classes. First and foremost, I would like the People's Association to succeed in its main objective, that is, to bring community service to the people and to get the people to participate in various activities. I want that to succeed first rather than disperse all our resources in doing two things and failing in both.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. The sum of $341,220 for Head 62 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 71 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 71 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201. The sum of $182,080 is provided for Head 71. Will the Minister describe the different types of equipment that will be purchased with this sum of money? May I also know whether the purchase of such equipment will improve the programmes over the radio and on television?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the money sought here has nothing to do with the improvement of programmes or the extension of programme hours. The money is sought for the installation of machinery, transmitters, and so on. So I think it is not proper to raise again the question of improvement of programmes. In 1966, a sum of $6,262,147 was voted by Parliament to improve radio and television services by installing better equipment. This project was not completed in that year and a sum of $851,500 was revoted in the 1967 Development Estimates. A further sum of $171,500 was again revoted in the 1968 Development Estimates. The amount of $100,000 appearing in the 1969 Development Estimates is a revote in respect of this project to meet a five per cent retention fee in respect of one contractor who is expected to complete the job satisfactorily in the coming year.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr L. P. Rodrigo ---

I am not moving.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 71 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 901. I understand that part of the sum of $82,000 provided for fire prevention equipment against this subhead is to be spent on the new television centre which has already been operational for quite some time. This suggests to me that the department concerned has perhaps, not paid sufficient attention to the question of safeguarding public property against fire, loss or damage during the planning stage and that it has only now come to realise this omission. This apparently reckless attitude on the part of the department is particularly astonishing when one remembers that over the last two years the department has lost more than $« million worth of valuable equipment as a result of fires. Sir, I am also concerned to note that this item is subject to Treasury sanction. Supposing this is not forthcoming, are we to assume that all the expensive equipment and installations will be left unprotected against the risk of fires?

Mr Speaker. Sir, this amount of money is for additional installation of fire prevention equipment in the television and trans mitting stations in Bukit Batok. For the information of the Member, very good fire-fighting equipment has already been provided in the T.V, centre. The money sought here will be used to improve it further. T.V. and Radio Singapura uses expensive and sophisticated equipment which is presently housed in rather inadequate conditions. There were two fires within the last four years. Even though every precaution is taken by the Broadcasting Division, the inherent risk of fire will always be present, especially when highly inflammable material is being stored and used. There is, therefore, a real and urgent need for an effective automatic fire alarm and prevention system in those areas which are considered high fire risk. The provision of $82,000 is for fire prevention equipment required for the T.V. centre at Caldecott Hill as well as for the Jurong and Bukit Batok transmitting stations. The fire referred to by the Member took place two years ago in the old radio centre and not in the television centre. The old buildings were not properly planned and additional huts and sheds were put up as and when the need arose. Therefore, the fire-fighting equipment there was not very good. With that disastrous experience in mind, we have to plan for better fire-fighting equipment.

When is it proposed to go ahead with effecting the improvement as stated by the Minister?

As soon as we get the money. An hon. Member: How Soon?

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $182,080 for Head 71 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 73 - The following amendment stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong - That the sum to be allocated for Head 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (001) of subhead 101.

I am not moving. The sum of $788,020 for Head 73 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 81 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to he allocated for Head 81 he reduced by $100. The sum allocated for social welfare is only 540.020 which is extremely meagre and detrimental to the poor people. I wonder whether this is because of the increase in defence expenditure. Will the Minister indicate whether this is so? Does the Minister have a plan to accommodate retarded children who have to wait for a very long time to go to school? For instance, if the Member for Bukit Merah wants to go there, he will have to wait for half a year.

Sir, the Member for Sembawang asked whether the provision for social welfare has been put at $40,020 because of the increase in defence expenditure. My answer is "Yes". Under this head, there are two projects: the Junior Approved School and the extension to Mt. Emily Girls' Home. Although the Junior Approved School has a token vote of $10, it does not mean that the project has been abandoned. In fact, we are going ahead with it. A sum of about $125,000 has been promised by the United Kingdom Government towards the cost of this building. The extension to Mt. Emily Girls' Home will be carried out next year in order to increase the capacity of this home from 40 to 80 girls. With regard to the Member's question whether the Ministry has plans to accommodate retarded children in schools, there is an association run by people which accommodates children in this kind of school. I do not think it is necessary for the Ministry to have another school of this type.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $40,020 for Head 81 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. 5.00 p.m. Head 82 -

(In Mandarin): Sir, in moving my first amendment, I wish to speak on my second amendment* as well. * Amendment (2) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 82 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 106.

Yes.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 82 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101. The New Open Prison, Ulu Bedok, to be set up has given rise to two questions. Is this prison to replace the Outram Road Prison which has been demolished? In other words, will it accommodate the inmates from the Outram Road Prison? The next question is this. Is the proposed new prison to be run on the same lines as those in the colonial days? In other words, will the prison be used only for the detention of prisoners without any facilities for reformation? Subhead 106 concerns the female prison at Changi. In 1968 a provision of $140,000 has been approved for the construction of a cellular block for female prisoners in Changi. Why is it that in the 1969-70 estimates only a token vote is asked for? Does it mean that there is no longer a need to proceed with the project? Is it the view of the Minister that there will be less female prisoners going into that prison in the future?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ulu Bedok New Open Prison is intended to accommodate criminal law detainees who are at present housed in Changi Prison and the Remand Prison at Queenstown. With the closure of the Pulau Senang Settlement after the riot in 1963, the criminal law detainees from Pulau Senang were transferred to Outram Road Prison and Changi Prison, thereby causing congestion in both these prisons. The congestion in Changi Prison became worse with the demolition of the Outram Road Prison in 1965 and its substitution by the Remand Prison at Queenstown, which has accommodation for about 310 prisoners. When the New Open Prison at Ulu Bedok is completed, the criminal law detainees now accommodated in Changi Prison and the Remand Prison in Queenstown will be transferred there. Accommoda tion for 400 criminal law detainees is provided in the New Open Prison at Ulu Bedok. Of course, the purpose of the prison is to rehabilitate prisoners and not just to keep them in. In answer to the question on the female prison at Changi, the purpose of building a cellular block for female prisoners is to relieve the shortage of accommodation at the female prison and provide greater security and conditions of segregation, where necessary, for female prisoners. It is intended to build 20 cells in the Cellular Block, Female Prison at Changi, to provide accommodation for 20 prisoners. At the present moment, the female prisoners at Moon Crescent have only two dormitories, one for ordinary female prisoners - that is those who are convicted prisoners, remand prisoners, aliens, etc. - and the other is for female political detainees. The dormitory for convicted prisoners has a maximum accommodation of 30 persons only, and that for political detainees a maximum of 10 persons only. The figure of female prisoners often exceeds this number, resulting in congestion. At present there are 35 female prisoners in the dormitory for ordinary prisoners, and six political detainees in the dormitory for political detainees. The congestion in the dormitory for ordinary prisoners has been the subject of comment by visiting justices who periodically visit the female prison. It must be pointed out that the old female prison at Outram Road, which was demolished in 1965, had accommodation for 140 female prisoners. The design for the Cellular Block, Female Prison, will reflect an improvement in prison architecture and will provide full security cells to enable the prisoners to be segregated if necessary. As to why there is only a token vote of $10, Sir, it is because we have not had the full estimate of how much it will cost to build this block.

(In Mandarin): I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong ---

Amendment No. (2) . Madam Chan is not moving. Amendment No. (3) , Mr Teong.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 82 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301. Mr Speaker, Sir, this item concerns prison industries for which a provision of $150,000 is made. Since we are spending so much money on prison industries, what is their total output and what is the amount of revenue collected by the Government per annum? I fully endorse the idea of making use of prisoners to run prison industries. They will learn a trade which will be useful to them in making a living after they have served their sentences. I wish to have more details about this.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the sum of $150,000 provided for in the 1969-70 Development Estimates is for the continuation of the projects planned for, but not completed in, 1968. The main projects which the prison industries are expected to carry out in 1969 are as follows: purchase of machinery for the manufacture of refuse bins, $79,500; construction of a workshop to house the wood- work industry now under temporary roofing, $40,000; and the setting up of a new footwear and leather section, $17,500. The rest of the provision is for other projects of a minor nature connected with the further development of the laundry service, metal work section, printing section, tailoring section and concrete casting section. An idea of the progress of prison industries, which commenced as a separate organisation under the Prisons Department in 1955, can be seen in the increase in the number of workshops. When they were first started, the prison industries had only six workshops. Today there are 19 workshops catering for trades ranging from laundry, woodwork, cane-work to bakery and timber seasoning. Although the revenue earned and savings made by the prison industries had increased from $278,000 in 1956 to $701,000 in 1967 - two and a half times the 1956 figure - it must be emphasised that revenue is not the purpose for which prison industries were started. The aim of prison industries is to give an occupation to the prisoner to help him in his rehabilitation and train him in a trade so as to enable him to find employment on his release. Through the payment of wages at fixed rates and industrial bonuses commen surate with their skill and production output, prisoners are encouraged to improve in the job they do and strive to increase output. Under this system a prisoner can earn an average of $4 per week up to a maximum of $10 per week. The wages and industrial bonuses for productivity are charged as a production cost on the goods and services provided by prisoners.

(In Mandarin): This is a praiseworthy plan. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,516,430 for Head 82 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 83 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 83 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101. Sir, I note that while there was a vote for $200,000, towards the improvement of Jalan Besar Stadium in the preceding year, there is only a token vote this year. Could I be informed of the plans that are made today to improve Jalan Besar Stadium? My understanding is that the plans are comprehensive and have been completed, but the allocation of $200,000 is insufficient and that is why work on the improvement of the stadium is being held back. I will be obliged for the information.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in 1966 a sum of $200,000 was provided in the Development Estimates for the improvement of Jalan Besar Stadium. The improvement envisaged then included the provision of additional seating and standing tiers and covered stands to accommodate a capacity of 20,000 persons. It also included provision for increased toilet facilities, extra changing rooms and office space, the reinforcement of the stadium wooden fence for greater security, the Installation of turnstile gates at the entrances and the general improvement of the stadium in appearance. Work on this was not done in 1966 and, therefore, a similar sum was revoted in1967. In 1967, however, the Urban Renewal Department considered that renovation in the manner envisaged was inadequate if Jalan Besar is to be turned into a subsidiary sports complex to augment and complement the National Stadium at Kallang for international games. As the traffic in the area is very congested. plans for the development of Jalan Besar as a subsidiltry stadium are being held up until the State and City Planning Department completes its report of the city road network in the area. This is expected to be completed in early 1969. As the new proposal envisaged by the Urban Renewal Department for the development of Jalan Besar Stadium as a subsidiary sports complex will cost very much more than $200,000, a token vote of only $10 has been provided in the 1969-70 Development Estimates.

I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Yeow Chong -

Amendment No. (2) is not being moved. The sum of $3,580,010 for Head 83 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

I think it will be convenient to take the suspension now. Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.

Order. I will suspend the sitting now and take the Chair again at a quarter to six o'clock. Sitting accordingly suspended at 5.17 p.m, until 5.45 p.m. Sitting resumed at 5.45 p.m.

Debate in Committee of Supply resumed.

Head 92 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101. Sir, this item concerns Erskine Hill Office Building. This building is intended to house various Government offices in the city area and it will be the highest Government building in Singapore. As far as I can remember, the construction of this building should be completed by 1968 in order to enable the Government offices to move in. At the present moment, it appears that further work has to be carried out before the building can be completed. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister why the completion of this building is not according to schedule. According to the Development Estimates, a sum of $3,964,000 is provided for 1969-70. What are the reasons for the increase in this vote over the 1968 vote of $3,450,000? I would also like to know how many Government offices will be housed in this building when it is completed. I understand that the departments under the Ministry of National Development will be housed in this building. If this is true, what will the existing offices at Upper Pickering Street be converted into?

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the reasons for the delay in the completion of the Erskine Hill Office Building are as follows. Originally, the building was intended to house only the offices and departments under the Ministry of National Development. But subsequently, it was decided to include the departments under the Ministry of Law as the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of National Development are under the same Minister. As a result of this change, we have to make alterations to the original plans to include the new requirements. At the present moment, construction work is being vigorously carried out to try to complete this office building by August 1969. The building will then be able to house several Government offices such as the administrative headquarters of the Housing and Development Board, the Public Works Department, the Primary Production Department, the Chief Building Surveyor's Office, the Planning Department, the Land Office, the Survey Department and the Registry of Land Titles and Deeds. As regards the future use of the building at Upper Pickering Street and the administrative headquarters of the Housing Board at Alexandra Road, the matter is still under consideration.

I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (001) of subhead 301. Sir, this item concerns reclamation and I seek your leave to range over amendments* (3) and (4). * The amendments read as follows: (3) That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (002) of subhead 301. (4) That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (003) of subhead 301.

Yes.

(In Mandarin): Sir, in the past, people did not believe that the sea could be reclaimed. Since the P.A.P. Government took office, we can see for ourselves vast areas of reclaimed land. A great deal has been achieved in land reclama tion. For example, in Jurong, we have been able to cut down hills and make use of the earth to fill up the sea. In order to increase the land area of Singapore, which is only a small island of 224 square miles, we have to carry out reclamation schemes. There is no objection to these schemes and I under stand that a great deal of money has been spent on reclamation which has been going on satisfactorily for a long period. The people of Singapore wish to find out whether Government has any plans for the use of the reclaimed land and whether the projects will benefit them. They are worried because a great deal of public funds have been spent. If the projects are beneficial to the people, they will be happy. And the people who are affected by the land reclamation schemes will not regret having to move out from their places. People who own bungalows and houses in the Katong area are also affected because the value of their property has depreciated as a result of the loss of the sea front. If land reclamation can give the people more benefits, they will not mind making sacrifices. Therefore, I want the Minister to answer several questions. Firstly, what is the extent of land reclamation in Singapore? Secondly, has the Government any plans for the use of the land reclaimed under the existing schemes? Thirdly, are these reclaimed areas earmarked for industrial purposes, development purposes or residential purposes?

Mr Speaker, Sir, on the 13th of December this year, in answer to a question from the Member for Katong, I gave a detailed reply on the reclamation projects. I am afraid I will have to repeat what I have already said. Shortly, as far as the East Coast reclamation is concerned, about 1,000 acres of foreshore extending from Bedok to the Singapore Swimming Club and another 125 acres from the Singapore Swimming Club to the tip of Tanjong Rhu will be reclaimed. By October last, 705 acres were reclaimed. Comprehensive plans for the utilisation of the reclaimed land along the East Coast are now being prepared. A new coastal highway will first be constructed to meet the increasing needs of the East Coast area. In addition, land will be set aside for housing, parks, hotels and shops. As for the reclamation in Kallang Basin, 370 acres out of the proposed 450 acres were reclaimed by October. Two-thirds of the reclaimed land in Kallang will be used for labour intensive industries and one-third for low-cost housing. About 10 acres of the foreshore at Pasir Panjang have been reclaimed. This piece of reclaimed land will be used for the development of tourist recreational facilities. A total of 247 acres of swamp land at Kranji have been earmarked for reclamation, out of which 160 acres have already been reclaimed. This area is to be developed for sawmills and related industries. As regards other reclamation projects, 1,000 acres of swamp and foreshore at the east bank of Jurong will be reclaimed for marine, wood-working and other industries; 307 acres of prawn ponds and swamp at Sungei Kadut for wood-working and other industries; 108 acres of swamp close to the armaments depot in the Naval Base for marine and other industries, and it is also intended to reclaim further the-land along the west coast towards the city to provide an area for the construction of godowns. 6.00 p.m.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendments stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong -

Sir, I am not moving.

Amendment (5), Madam Chan.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (001) of subhead 401. Sir, may I seek leave to range over my amendments* in respect of items (002) and (003) of subhead 401, and also items (001) , (002) and (003) of subhead 402? * The amendments read as follows:-

Yes.

(In Mandarin): Sir, all these items concern urban renewal, land acquisition and so on. The question of urban renewal is a matter of great concern to the people living in Chinatown, particularly those living in very old houses. In the Development Estimates, various sums of money are allocated for urban renewal in 1969-70 in the Chinatown area for resettlement and other purposes. I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: Firstly, where will be the resettlement area? Secondly, for what purposes will the urban redevelopment area be used?

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the people who are affected by the urban redevelopment scheme will be resettled and they have been informed where they will be resettled. We know that most of these people prefer to be housed in Housing Board flats and we try our best to allocate them flats in the neighbourhood. Under the urban redevelopment scheme, we propose to build skyscrapers and shopping centres in North Precinct, which includes Jalan Sultan, Crawford, Victoria Street and Beach Road. In South Precinct, which includes Outram Road, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road, we propose to build multistorey flats, shopping centres and a multi-storey car park.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to have one point clarified. If there are changes in the urban redevelopment scheme, can I have an assurance that the Members of Parliament concerned will be duly informed?

Yes, Sir.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary has said that multi-storey buildings, shopping centres, a car park and so on will be built in the areas he has mentioned, which also include business centres. Are these to be developed solely by the Government or by private enterprise?

(In Mandarin): Sir, under the urban redevelopment scheme, the Government will carry out the redevelopment with public participation.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendments stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong---

Amendments (6) to (10) are not being moved. Amendment (11) , Mr Ho Kah Leong.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 501. Sir, I would like to talk on matters relating to resettlement. I think Members will agree with what I am going to say about the resettlement of farmers who have been affected by the Government's redevelopment scheme and have to be resettled in some other areas, thereby causing them inconvenience and difficulties. I hope the Government can help them to resolve this problem. According to my understanding, when a certain area is delineated as a resettlement area for those farmers who are affected by redevelopment, the authorities do not consider whether the land is suitable for resettlement. They merely build roads but totally disregard the provision of water and electricity, and applications for such facilities are of no avail. For instance, in my constituency, applications have been made for the supply of water by residents of Resettlement Areas Nos. 5 and 5A, but so far, these areas have not been supplied with electricity and water totally. I appeal to the Minister to consider providing the necessary amenities such as water, electricity and communications before the farmers are resettled in the delineated areas.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Jurong complained that there are insufficient public amenities in the resettlement areas. This is true, but we have not neglected the requirements of these areas. In the past few years, the Government has been taking steps to improve the environment in the resettlement areas and to provide public and social amenities to enable the people to enjoy the same facilities as those provided in the urban areas. I would like to assure the Member for Jurong that, in future, all newly developed resettlement areas will be given priority for the provision of social ameni ties, especially the supply of water and electricity. At present, my Ministry is taking steps to co-ordinate the work of the Housing and Development Board and the Public Utilities Board in order to solve the problem of providing water and electricity to the resettlement areas before the people are resettled there.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I would like to clarify that in future there will be no resettlement area in my constituency, but there will be people who will be affected by resettlement. I am satisfied with the reply of the Parliamentary Secretary and I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $100*. * The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon. Sir, in the planning of development by the Government, it appears that in areas where the buildings are shaky and about to collapse, nothing is done, but in areas where the houses are still strong and in good condition they are pulled down for development and rebuilding. Furthermore, in any development scheme, whether multi-storey flats or factories are to be built in place of existing buildings, I would like to know from the Minister whether preference could first be given to residents occupying existing buildings, and if the residents refuse to develop their land in accordance with the Government's plan, then the offer can be given to other local developers. If the other local developers are unable to accept this offer, then it can be given to foreign developers. I appreciate that a lot of money is needed for development, but an opportunity should first be given to local developers before foreign developers are invited. It will be futile to attract foreign capital into the country if our local capitalists develop projects in other countries. Can the Minister enlighten me on whether local capitalists could be given preference in development projects, both in buildings and industries? In the rural areas there are many old buildings which are about to collapse, but when occupiers apply for permission to develop and rebuild the area, permission is not given. These old houses are on Government land as well as on private land, but in either case, the Government does not allow occupiers to develop the land nor has it any plan to develop it. Furthermore, Sir, I wish to add a point about the flood which occurred on 11th December, 1968. Places like Anson Circus, the New Bridge Road area and Bernam Street were flooded, thereby causing a lot of trouble to the people and traffic. I know that the Government is trying its best to beat the flood situation, but I hope it will increase its efforts in this respect.

Sir, I am not moving.

Mr Speaker, Sir, what the Member for Anson said about urban renewal is not exactly correct. The Government, in selecting areas for re development, does not necessarily consider only the structural condition of the buildings but also other factors such as general town planning and the system of transportation. Hence, certain precincts have been marked or mapped out for urban renewal. 6.15 p.m. Sometimes buildings in these redeveloped areas or areas to be developed are not necessarily in the worst condition. But, generally speaking, most of the buildings in the area will be in a very bad condition. I am sure the Member understands that the present urban renewal programme does not cover the whole island of Singapore nor the whole town, and that there are still many dilapidated areas which have to remain for some time. Urban renewal is a very slow and expensive process, and the redevelopment of these dilapidated areas must be properly phased out. As for the Member's proposal that people living in a particular area should be given the first opportunity to rebuild on the spot, I will say that this is a good proposal. But, unfortunately, it does not work out in most cases because the financial backing that is needed to put up multi-storey flats is sometimes too much for one individual, and the urban renewal experts have had a difficult time trying to get hold of 10 and 12 shopkeepers to combine and rebuild. But if any of them are prepared to combine and pool their resources, we always give them the first opportunity. As far as foreign participation in our urban renewal plan is concerned, we welcome foreign capital, but we do not give preference to foreign capital over local capital. The Member will be pleased to hear that in the first tenders of urban renewal sites where 14 sites were offered to the public, eight were taken up. Of the eight taken up, six were completely being done by local capital. In two cases, there was a joint effort by local and foreign capital. What the outcome of the second tender system will be, I am afraid I cannot say. There is one more point which I have not dealt with, and that is the floods which disturbed the Member for Anson and some of his constituents a week or so ago. I must apologise for these floods. But there is quite a lot of work going on at the moment along and around Outram Road. There is a Housing Board complex, new drains are being made, and new roads are being laid. Unfortunately, there was a very heavy shower on that day and one of the drains along New Bridge Road was blocked. As a result, the water rose. I also have to tender my apologies to the Member for Queenstown who apparently was stuck along Outram Road. But I assure the Member for Anson that we will do our best to alleviate these floods as far as possible, but building operations somehow always lead to floods even if it is for a short period of half an hour.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $40,524,050 for Head 92 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 93 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 105. Sir, I stand to be corrected, but I seem to recall that we have, on more than one occasion quite recently, widely publicised the fact that a number of rural abattoirs will soon be set up to suit the convenience of farmers. Does the token provision of $10 suggest that the farmers will have to wait for some time before getting their abattoirs?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the construction of rural abattoirs was proposed to assist those in the rural areas who find it uneconomical to send their animals to Jurong for slaughter because of the distance and of the small number of animals slaughtered. The organisation and operation of rural abattoirs should not be difficult and will only involve a skeleton staff. However, the proposal to construct rural abattoirs has been shelved for the time being until the pig section of the Jurong Abattoir has been put into full operation.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 202. Sir, the sum is intended for "Intensive Farm Improvement Schemes". I am keen to learn what are the schemes the Primary Production Department has in mind and whether they are helpful to the ordinary farmers. Perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary can enlighten me on this.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in Singapore, it is estimated that some 25,000 families are engaged in agricultural activities. Farming in Singapore is extremely intensive and many varieties of vegetable crops are grown in rapid succession each year in very small units. Under such a system, an efficient crop, husbandry and farm management are of the utmost impor tance. In the intensive farm improvement schemes, the basic objectives are: (1) to carry out a programme of applied research into problems of vegetable farming with a view to increasing agricultural productivity; and (2) to find ways of improving the fertility of swamp land reclaimed for agricultural purposes. To achieve these objectives, three research units will be established: (1) a Soil and Fertiliser Unit; (2) a Plant Breeding and Soil and Seed Selection Unit; and (3) a Pest and Disease Control Unit. The Soil and Fertiliser Unit will undertake investigations into the feasibility of using reclaimed swamp land for agricultural production, soil improvement and deciding fertiliser regimes to increase production. Allied problems like cultivation techniques will also be investigated. The Plant Breeding and Soil and Seed Selection Unit will conduct research into different types of vege tables with a view to improving quality and quantity. The quality of imported seeds will be examined to ensure that high-yielding and disease-resistant varie ties are available. The Pest and Disease Control Unit will investigate the problems of vegetable crops infected with pests and diseases and the correct use of agricultural chemicals to ensure the maximum return from each planting. It is proposed to build a single-storey building at Sembawang to provide a laboratory and offices for the intensive farm improvement scheme. Although the scheme was approved in April 1967, funds were only available this year. To date, the construction of the laboratory has yet to commence as a revision of the cost of construction is necessary. Part of the equipment required has already been purchased and put to use. Research work is now in progress. It is envisaged that the construction of the laboratory can commence early next year.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 204. Sir, it is understood that in a small country like ours, the available land for agriculture is limited. Yesterday, when I spoke on agriculture, I did mention that due to industrial development, there is less and less agricultural land. In this respect, I think it is a bright idea to develop our neighbouring islands for agricultural purposes. Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether a survey has been carried out in Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong for the purpose of developing these islands into agricultural fields and, if so, what is the outcome of the survey? 6.30 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, T think this is the third occasion on which I have mentioned in this House The poverty of the people in Pulau Tekong and asked the Government whether it has any plan to develop the place into an agricultural complex. I remember the Parliamentary Secretary did tell the House that there were plans and that the Research Unit would look into the possibility of developing this island into an agricultural complex. But, Sir, year after year the same question has been raised in this House. My colleague, the Member for Jurong, could not resist reminding the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary of this again. I think it is time that something should be done in these two islands, especially Pulau Tekong Besar, so that the livelihood of the residents there could be improved.

Sir, I am glad to inform the Member for Jurong and the Member for Changi that surveys have been conducted into the feasibility of using some of the 40 islands around Singapore for agriculture or animal husbandry. They were intensive surveys carried out for more than a year. The surveys were completed this year. The recommendations are that Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong Besar and Puiau Tekong Kechil can be used for agriculture and the growing of orchids. We have plans, foi a start, to redevelop Pulau Tekong because it is the biggest island. It has water, though perhaps a little brackish. We hope it will be suitable for the growing of orchids. I think the Member for Changi will understand that the Ministry of National Development cannot be blamed for the poverty of the islanders who live in Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. But my Ministry will do its best to develop the potentialities of the islands in Changi in the hope that our efforts will relieve the suffering, if any, of the constituents of Changi.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 205. Sir, provision is made under this subhead for the setting up of a marketing organisation for the export of orchids and horticultural products. I would like to know why we are giving preferential treatment to orchids and horticultural products. Should we not extend the functions of the organisation, as and when it is established, to look after animal husbandry also? We produce more than sufficient of pigs and poultry for our own domestic consumption. At present the export of such items is left entirely to a limited number of private firms. I suspect some have insufficient resources and facilities to be in a position fully to seek out export markets.

Mr Speaker, it seems that preference is given to the encouragement and development of the orchid industry. In view of the fact that most of the farmers, by nature, grow vegetables, I would like to ask the Minister whether he will conduct a simple course on orchid growing for farmers. This will encourage them to grow orchids which will help them in their livelihood.

Sir, I only hope that both Members are not speaking in contradictory terms. One questions me on the wisdom of giving encouragement to the growing of orchids, and the other wants me to encourage farmers to grow orchids. An hon. Member: Both.

Perhaps both are correct. The cultivation of orchids, particularly the export of cut orchid flowers, is contributing considerably to the national economy of the Republic. Orchids bring in foreign exchange. In 1967 orchids brought to Singapore more than $650,000 in foreign exchange. It is envisaged that this figure will bc exceeded this year. In fact, for the first eleven months of this year, more than a million stalks of cut flowers valued at about $575,000 were exported. Of course, the peak period of export will be December. In order to sustain the growth of this industry and to keep ahead of other competing countries, like Hawaii and South Africa, there is need to inject scientific methods into the industry. I would say that, in contrast to the orchid trade, the stage of development in many other horticultural crops is far behind, for instance, the growing of fruits. We import more than 95 per cent of the fruits consumed in Singapore. We have encouraged farmers to grow orchids. Some have done it with success. But success with orchid means that they abandon the growing of vegetables. I hope that satisfies the Member for Bukit Ho Swee. The Member for Jalan Kayu was a little concerned that we put our efforts into helping orchid growers but do nothing for the farmers who rear pigs and chickens. I can assure him that this is not the case. We have been helping farmers much longer than we have been helping orchid growers. In fact, the Member will be interested to know that we have about one million pigs in Singapore. This means we have one pig for two persons. One million pigs on this small island is quite a big number. We have millions of chickens. We export chickens and eggs. But I am ashamed to say that we import three-quarters of our requirements of fish. My own view is that, had it not been for the efforts of the Primary Production Department about a year ago when the swine fever epidemic was at its height, we would have lost most of our pigs. The Primary Production Department sends out teams every day not only to Jalan Kayu but also to Jurong. These teams help the farmers not only in respect of disease but also provide them with better stock. This is what the Sembawang Research Station does. They rear pigs and sell stud boars to the farmers. I do not think it would be right to say that the Primary Production Department is concentrating on orchid growers and forgetting the farmers who rear pigs.

On a point of clarification, Sir. What I was saying was that the export facilities might well be inadequate. As the Primary Production Department steps up its extension services, productivity goes up. We are going to produce more and more pigs. But the existing marketing facilities might well be insufficient and we might finish off with far too many pigs here. As a result, the price is bound to go down. It is a question of supply and demand. So what benefits can the farmers expect? This is an item on organisation for export.

Perhaps I heard him wrong. But at the moment there is no organisation as far as the sale or export of pigs is concerned. The export of pigs was suspended for some time because of the swine fever in Singapore. As for the export of chickens and eggs, there have been efforts by the Primary Production Department to help farmers export eggs. The trouble is that some farmers have cheated the importers. When you have a combined effort at exporting eggs, one must assure the foreign importer that the eggs are good. The experience of the Primary Production Department has been that one or two rogues or scallywags have put bad eggs into the boxes, with the result that the importer abroad was not interested further in importing from Singapore. But we have got over that phase. I can assure the Member that whenever the price of eggs goes down, I have to answer questions in Parliament why we do not organise things amongst the producers of eggs so that they can export them. And when the price of eggs goes up, I have to answer questions in Parliament why I do not help the consumers in getting the price of eggs down.

I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 206. Sir, despite our stringent financial policy for 1969, it is gratifying and encouraging to note that a substantial sum of $250,000 is being set aside for the purpose of conducting an agricultural survey and in the setting up of an Agricultural Statistics Unit. The purpose of my moving the amendment is to seek information relating to the formation of the proposed Agricultural Statistics Unit. Will the Minister advise the House whether a suitably qualified economist will be engaged to head the unit and also when and how it is proposed to carry out the survey? May I suggest, Sir, that we should perhaps also consider engaging the services of a sociologist so that not only the economic but also the sociological aspect can be fully investigated during the survey? 6.45 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, with the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation of the Republic, there is an urgent need for comprehensive and forward planning in agricultural development in order that this sector of the economy does not lag behind in its contribution to national productivity. The modest achievement in intensive agriculture and animal husbandry in recent years demonstrates that intensive farming can play some part in our economic deve lopment and, with proper planning, it can supplement considerably our efforts in industrialisation and the development of trade and services. However, in order to formulate any plans, much more essential information on agriculture and animal husbandry than the present scanty information we have is required. It is proposed to set up an Agricultural Statistics Unit in the Primary Production Department to collect data for the purpose of formulating plans for agricultural development. Next year, it is also proposed to conduct a nation-wide agricultural census apart from the licensing of all farmers engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. The proposed unit will be manned by highly qualified personnel with academic and practical training in statistical work. It will be responsible for planning and conducting the census, sampling surveys and market research on all aspects of animal, fishery, vegetable and horticultural production in the island. When choosing the personnel, I will bear in mind the remarks of the Member for Jalan Kayu. The nation-wide farm licensing campaign, which was launched in October this year, provided reliable and essential information on the existing structure of agriculture. The campaign has also enabled us to ensure more effective use of limited land resources for farming purposes. We can now eliminate some abuses by certain people seeking compensation and land allocation in resettlement cases under the guise of farmers. The response from the farming community to the licensing campaign was very encouraging, and Members will be interested to know that a total of over 20,000 farms have been licensed in the exercise. And the basic information obtained in the last exercise will be used for planning and designing the nation-wide agricultural survey to be made next year.

I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 93 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 207*. * The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr L. P. Rodrigo. Sir, I trust that the sum of $50,000 is to be spent on research on hydroponics. I really do not know much about this subject. I shall be much obliged if the Minister can give details.

Mr Rodrigo.

I am not speaking, Sir. Mr Lee Teck Him rose -

Mr Lee, I suppose you too want to know what the word "hydroponics" means!

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to say something on this subhead. We are aware that flooding is a serious problem in the Bukit Timah area and in my constituency. The people in these areas have suffered great hardship. Sometimes they are unable to sleep at night because they fear that they might be caught unawares by flooding. There fore, I urge the Minister to provide funds for flood alleviation schemes and to instruct the Public Works Department to redouble their efforts. The P.W.D. should either raise the road level or deepen the drains in order to alleviate flooding. In particular, the monsoon drains in the Bukit Timah Road and Holland Road areas should be deepened. Only then will the people in my constituency be safe from flooding. Sir, our country is said to be well known for its wide and clean roads. But in the Bukit Timah area, flooding takes place quite often. Malaysians coming down from West Malaysia are inconvenienced because they make frequent use of Bukit Timah Road. Our Minister also goes that way quite often because he lives in my constituency. I am sure he knows the situation quite well. I therefore urge him to pay attention to this problem.

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I answer the Member for Ulu Pandan first and then get on to the technical subject of hydroponics. I would like to assure him that I am paying attention to the question of flooding, and I have paid attention to this question ever since September 1963. When there is heavy rain which coincides with a high tide, especially a high spring tide in Singapore, Bukit Timah gets flooded, which means the constituencies of Tanglin and Ulu Pandan get flooded. And I have to rescue my constituents, just as the Member of Parliament for Ulu Pandan has to rescue his. We have taken measures to alleviate, if not eradicate, the floods. Bukit Timah has been raised in parts by about one and a half to two feet. But this is not good enough. We are cutting two canals in this area and one in the Member's constituency itself. One canal will be cut from Bukit Timah Road to Ulu Pandan and another canal from Bukit Timah Road to Kallang. The object of these two canals is to drain the flood waters to Ulu Pandan and to the Kallang swamps. The Member will realise that the cutting of these canals is quite a big matter. If he goes round to his constituency, he will see the construction of a canal. That is quite a big job. In fact, there are several contractors with different contracts doing the work in several parts. But I am afraid we will have to put up with the floods next year. By 1970, both canals will have been completed and the floods in Ulu Pandan will be alleviated, if not eradicated. If I can go on to hydroponics, I confess I too know little about this subject. I am told hydroponics means soilless culture or the art of growing plants without soil in water impregnated with chemicals. Hydroponics has been employed in the study of plant physiology for many years and has been adopted more recently by commercial and amateur growers as a means of producing crops of high yields and quality at lower cost. It has been successfully experimented with in growing all kinds of vegetable crops, particularly in Israel, Japan and South Africa. According to the experts, hydroponics has the following advantages. Higher yields than in normal farming due to better nutrient and water control. In South Africa, apparently, yields of over 20 times those obtained in ordinary soil have been obtained in vermiculite culture. Less labour is required. In Japan, for example, the labour required is only half of that of normal farming. Secondly, less wastage of water and fertilisers and freedom from soil-borne diseases. Further, hydroponics is not affected by soil conditions and any land, whether eroded or hilly or tidal swamp unsuited to normal farming, can be used in the hydroponics system. The hydroponics project requires the construction of concrete tanks or other types of structures, irrigation and feeding systems, shade and, of course, offices-cum-store rooms. Laboratory facilities for chemical analysis must also be available. These are being set up in the Sembawang Research Station for which a sum of $50,000 is required. In due course, it is hoped that if the research succeeds, what is learnt at the Research Station will be communicated to our farmers in the hope that production in Singapore can be increased with less labour and cost. 7.00 p.m.

Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for his most interesting lecture and I beg to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $4,547,780 for Head 93 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 95 - The following amendments stood in the name of Mr L. P. Rodrigo (1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 95 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101. (2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 95 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (007) of subhead 201.

Sir, I am not moving. The sum of $15,966,180 for Head 95 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 98 - The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong --- That the sum to be allocated for Head 98 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101.

Mr Teong is not here. The sum of $2,215,000 for Head 98 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 101 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 101 be reduced by $100. Sir, there is one point of query. If my memory serves me right, I did make a query about the possibility of replacing the present tuberculosis wards in Tan Tock Seng Hospital with new construction. I think the Minister said that there was a scheme to replace these wards. Can I be enlightened by him?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the question put by the Member for Serangoon Gardens presumably refers to Wards Nos. 12 and 13 of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. These wards are above ground level and have numerous windows and doors. The ventilation is good and the height of the ceilings is above 14 feet. The wards have corrugated asbestos fittings and doors. It will appear that the wards referred to are in generally good condition and there is no proposal at the moment to replace them with new buildings. In future, these wards will be replaced with new buildings to serve the changing needs of the hospital. However, at the moment, they are providing good service to patients and are in no way inferior to comparable wards in other hospitals in Singapore.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,139,460 for Head 101 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 102 - The following amendments stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong -

Madam Chan is not here. Amendment (3), Mr Ng Yeow Chong.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 102 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 904. This is a revote of $100,000 for improvement to beaches. You will recall, Sir, that when this item was discussed in this House in 1966, I urged the Government to build beach resorts and recreational amenities near the seaside for our citizens and also to attract tourists. The Minister for Social Affairs gave his assurance in this House that he proposed to start off with a pilot project at Changi beach, and if it proved to be a success, similar projects would be carried out at other beaches in the island. His statement can be found in Hansard, No. 13 of Volume 25, column 1015, dated 20th December, 1966. The same subject was again discussed on 20th December, 1967, during the debate in Committee of Supply on the Development Estimates for 1968. I was then very dissatisfied because no thing had taken place during 1967. The responsibility for improvement to beaches at that time was transferred to the Tourist Promotion Board which was under the Ministry of Law and National Development. The Minister for Law and National Development again told the House that several major as well as minor schemes to offer both simple and sophisticated seaside facilities had been prepared and the Government had accepted responsibility to assist with the infrastructure necessary to make these schemes possible. He then assured the House that 1968 would see cleaner and more attractive beaches. His statement can be found in Hansard, No. 14 of Volume 26, column 966, dated 20th December, 1967. Mr Speaker, Sir, in the Development Estimates for 1969-70 now under discussion, you will find that this item comes under the Ministry of Health and the same amount is revoted for the third time. The responsibility to develop and improve our beaches has changed hands two times -- from the Ministry of Social Affairs to the Ministry of Law and National Development and now to the Ministry of Health. What I do not understand, Sir, is that why, during a lapse of two years, no beach resorts have been developed according to plan. Is this project considered to be of low priority as compared with other projects? Sir, I can predict that no development will take place now that the Ministry of Health is in charge of this project. Surely the Public Health Division is not expected to develop the beaches except to clean and tidy them up. Sir, I would like the Minister to give his comments on this matter.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Mountbatten is correct in saying that the "buck" is now with the Ministry of Health. We have taken this responsibility, but solely to keep the beaches clean. As far as this subhead is concerned, it has nothing to do with building or improving beach resorts. Perhaps I may take this opportunity to give some facts to the Member for Mountbatten. They are as follows: The Tourist Promotion Board, which since last year has been charged with the responsibility for improvement of beaches, let out on contract in March this year the work of cleaning the beaches at Changi, Loyang and Pasir Ris in Singapore island, and the beaches in 12 smaller islands around Singapore. This contract is still in force and will continue until March 1969. In November, the Ministry of Health, after consultation with the Ministry of Finance, was charged with the responsibility for cleansing and maintenance of these beaches. The present contract, which will be allowed to run its full term till March 1969, essentially covers only, as I have said, the cleansing and maintenance aspects of beach improve ment in the areas referred to, which include: (a) clearing and cleansing of beaches and the beach area; (b) clearing and cleansing of parks and open spaces used for rest and recreation; (c) cutting grass, trimming trees, shrubs and hedges; (d) removal of refuse from dustbins placed on the beaches and in the islands in the Malay kampongs off Changi beach; (e) cleaning of all lavatories, bathrooms and maintaining these in a sanitary condition. Approximately half of this vote, that is, $48,500 is expected to be spent this year to reimburse the Tourist Promotion Board for the sum it has paid out to the contractor since March this year. The balance will be available for use in 1969 and it will be utilised essentially for the same purpose, that is, cleansing and maintaining these beaches. Fresh tenders will be called in March 1969 on expiry of the present contract. This is considered to be more economical and operationally more feasible than undertaking the task with departmental labour. 7.15 p.m. On the question of other developments of the beaches, such as the construction of beach resorts - as stated by the Member for Mountbatten - this responsibility will not devolve upon the Ministry of Health. It is, however, understood that there is a Facilitations Committee comprising representatives from various Government authorities under the chairmanship of the Chairman, Tourist Promotion Board, which is making recommendations to the Board on schemes for developing and improving beaches and beach resorts. It is further understood that a number of such schemes have been submitted by various interested parties and that these are now being considered by the Board. This is the information which I have got with the compliments of the Tourist Promotion Board. Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as our responsibility is concerned in respect of keeping the beaches clean, I assure the Member for Mountbatten that they will be kept clean.

I thank the Minister for his information. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,968,620 for Head 102 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

The remaining heads of expenditure in respect of which no amendment stands on the Order Paper Supplement are Heads 22, 53, 54, 55. 72, 91, 94, 96, 97, 99. 103, 104, and 141. I propose to take these heads of expenditure en bloc.

Question, "That the sums stated for those heads of expenditure which appear in the last column of the Summary of Estimated Expenditure on pages 5 and 6 of Paper Cmd. 28 of 1968 stand part of the Development Estimates for the financial year 1st January, 1969, to 31st March, 1970," put, and agreed to. Question, "That the sum of $321,999,410 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expen diture for the public services shown in the Development Estimates for the financial year 1st January, 1969, to 31st March, 1970, contained in Paper Cmd. 28 of 1968," put, and agreed to. Resolution to be reported. Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.

Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has come to a certain resolution. Resolution reported - That the sum of $321,999,410 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the Development Estimates for the financial year 1st January, 1969, to 31st March, 1970, contained in Paper Cmd. 28 of 1968.

Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament doth agree with the Committee on the said resolution."

Question put, and agreed to. Resolution accordingly agreed to.

Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." - [Mr Chua Sian Chin]. Adjourned accordingly at twenty-one minutes past Seven o'clock p.m.

Friday, 20th December, 1968

asked the Minister for Defence what is (a) the number of reports made to the Police between 1st January, 1967, and 31st December, 1967, of offences of-

The number of reports made to the Police between 1-1-67 and 3 1-12-67 of offences of: -

asked the Minister for Social Affairs what is (a) the number of mothers who, between 1st January, 1967, and 31st December, 1967, requested the Social Welfare Department to make arrangements for the adoption of their children; (b) the number of such children who were illegitimate; and (c) the total number of such children for whom the Department successfully arranged adoption.

The number of mothers who, between 1-1-67 to 31-12-67, requested the Social Welfare Department to make arrangements for the adoption of their children is 94 (41 boys and 53 girls). (b) The number of such children who were illegitimate is 70 (36 boys and 34 girls). The total number of such children who are legitimate is 24 (5 boys and 19 girls). The total number of abandoned children is 13 (6 boys and 7 girls). (c) The total number of such children for whom the Department successfully arranged adoption is 53 (20 boys and 33 girls).

asked the Minister for Health what is the number of cases coming to the attention of Government hospitals between 1st January, 1967 and the 31st December, 1967 of pregnancies resulting from the offences or alleged offences of (i) rape under section 375 of the Penal Code; (ii) incest under section 376A of the Penal Code; and (iii) unlawful carnal connection under section 128 (1) (j) of the Women's Charter.

The number of pregnancies resulting from the following offences between 1-1-67 to 31-12-67 are:-