Hansard, 1972-03-24

asked the Minister for Law and National Development if the Housing and Development Board authorities will consider providing some lighting during day-light hours for common internal corridors in Housing and Development Board housing blocks.

Mr Speaker, Sir, all lights along the common corridors and stair-cases of Housing and Development Board flats are controlled by time switches. They are switched on automatically at sunset and are switched off automatically at sunrise. In order to provide some lights during the day for internal corridors, re-wiring on a substantial scale is required. This would be costly. However, the Board will consider providing some lights in some internal corridors which have very poor natural light.

Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [1st Allotted Day].

2.32 p.m.

Development Estimates of Expenditure for Singapore for the financial year 1st April, 1972, to 31st March, 1973, contained in Paper Cmd. 4 of 1972. I shall take 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. I shall deal first with the heads of expenditure in respect of which amendments stand on the Order Paper Supplement. Head 01 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 01 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 001 of subhead 101. Sir, during the debate on the Development Estimates last year, the Minister for Law and National Development said that he hoped the Member for Katong would support his project for the building of the new subordinate court complex. In view of the remarks I made regarding the slow progress d building that was going on, I would certainly support this project wholeheartedly, because a place where justice is administered should reflect the fresh, crisp, and clean atmosphere and appearance which characterises Singapore. I hope that it will not be necessary before long for those who are required to appear in court for one reason or another to experience the gloomy atmosphere of dilapidation that characterises the present subordinate courts. It is, therefore, with some dismay that I note that of the $2 million voted for last year, a large sum has been re-voted this year, the actual amount spent being less than $200,000. Last year we were promised that piling work was scheduled to begin early in 1971. Now we are told that the same piling work will begin in early 1972. Perhaps the Minister could give us a progress report on this development, and assure us that steps will be taken to expedite the development of this project.

Sir, speaking as a lawyer, I would associate myself with the remarks of our learned Member. The delay has been caused again by resettlement problems as we experienced much difficulty in clearing the site. However, the Member will be pleased to know that the site has now been completely cleared, not only of its occupants but also of the existing buildings thereon. The tender for piling was accepted on the 6th of March this year. The piling contractor has taken possession of the site, and has commenced piling on the 22nd of March.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the Minister's answer, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $3,500,010 for Head 01 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(The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong). Sir, in moving this amendment, I merely wish to know from the Minister for Communications what progress has been made by this Unit last year. Sir, since there is an increase of $355,000 for this year, there must be some plans, and if so, what are they? Also the Memorandum on the Development Estimates indicates that the additional provision is for a feasibility study. I would like to know what this feasibility study is, and when will it be completed.

I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am in the fortunate position of being able to report some progress in respect of our Mass Transit Planning Unit. An application has been made to the United Nations Development Programme for assistance to undertake a study of this Mass Transit System. The objective of the study is, firstly, to compare the economic feasibility of alternative mass transit systems in the metropolitan areas, in relation to alternative pricing policies for urban transport. Secondly, to recommend a long-range transport investment programme, which includes mass transport facilities. And, thirdly, to define specific investment projects as well as the implementation programme. This study will be guided by a steering committee of seven officials under the Ministry of Communications and will be carried out by consultants employed by the World Bank, which is the participating and executing agency. The study will take about 15 months. Five international consulting firms two from the United States, one each from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have been asked by the World Bank to submit proposals, and the study is expected to commence sometime in the middle of this year. Local counterpart and accounting staff are being provided by Government and, in this connection, I am pleased to say that four local officers have been sent overseas for training under the U.N.D.P./World Bank fellowships. They are now under training in the United States, Japan, and Europe. We have also found suitable accommodation to house the Mass Transit Planning Unit in a P.S.A. bungalow known as the "Golden Bell", and we have provided $855,000 for the coming year to meet Government contribution towards the project. This amount is to provide for the salaries of the local counterpart and other subordinate staff, rental of accommodation, P.U.B, services, etc.

Sir, in the light of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 31 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 202. Sir, I would like the Minister concerned to indicate to this House when will the Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre be completed and be ready for operation.

I am pleased to say, Sir, that the new Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre at Sin Ming Road is almost completed. Currently, cables for the supply of electricity are being laid by the Public Utilities Board, and the construction of a dual carriage-way leading to the Centre is in progress. All these are expected to be completed by the middle of next month and, if all goes well, this Centre will commence operation in May. 2.45 p.m.

Sir, can the Minister enlighten us as to the number of vehicles which can be inspected at this Centre? I believe the Inspection Centre at the Registry of Vehicles, Middle Road, is not able to cope with the great number of vehicles which are waiting to be inspected.

Sir, I can assure the Member that there will be 10 additional inspection pits, with an increased staff of 16, at the Sin Ming Road site. We should, therefore, be able to do much more than what we have been doing now at Middle Road, which has: a capacity of only six inspection pits. I must add that the Middle Road Inspection Centre will continue to be used for private vehicles. The new Sin Ming Road Inspection Centre will he used for the inspection of public service and goods vehicles, such as buses, taxis and lorries, and the present Inspection Centre at Middle Road will be confined to inspection of private vehicles.

I thank the Minister for his reply. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 31 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead. 203*(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting). Sir, I am glad to note that the headquarters of the Registry of Vehicles will soon be relocated at Sin Ming Road. In this connection, I have two simple and straightforward questions to put to the Minister for Communications. Is this vote of half a million dollars to provide for the total cost of the building? Has construction work on the building actually started, and, if so, when is it expected to be completed?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I have merely one small point to clarify with the Minister for Communications. I would like to know whether the R.O.V, headquarters at Sin Ming Road will eventually be the R.O.V, headquarters.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the Member for Mount-batten, I would like to say that a piece of land of about three and a half acres has been allocated by the Housing and Development Board for the building of the new R.O.V, headquarters. This land is adjacent to the new Motor Vehicles Inspection Centre at the Sin Ming Road site, which has a total area of 2.4 acres, if we combine the two areas, we shall have a new R.O.V, headquarters occupying almost six acres of land. It is, therefore, our ultimate aim to remove completely the R.O.V, headquarters from Middle Road to the Sin Ming Road site. Of course, we have to begin first with the new Inspection Centre at Sin Ming Road, so as to cope with the increasing demand for the inspection of public service vehicles. Later, we will transfer the R.O.V, headquarters from Middle Road to the Sin Ming Road site. When this transfer is completed, we will also provide a new driving test centre at the new R.O.V, headquarters. This is to replace the present test centre located at Maxwell Road. The whole cost of the project for this new R.O.V, headquarters is around $5 million. The Ministry of Finance has already supported this project to the tune of $4.5 million. There is no urgency to move the headquarters to its new site, which is still under acquisition. The provision shown in the Development Estimates for the coming year is to enable piling and earth-works to be carried out during the course of this year.

In view of the answer given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Yeo Choo Kok -

Mr Yeo is not here. The sum of $2,157,800 for Head 31 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 32 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 32, be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 302. Sir, this provision of $999,000 relates to the re-development of the Passenger Terminal Building. I take it that this is another phase in the development of Paya Lebar Airport. I wish to ask the Minister two questions. First, when will development of this Passenger Terminal Building be completed? Second, what facilities will be provided in this Terminal Building? Will it provide better services to the passengers and tourists?

Mr Speaker, Sir,, in reply to the Member for Sembawang,. I would like to say that the redevelopment of the Passenger Terminal Building was completed in September last year, in time for the arrival of the Jumbo jets. What has yet to be done is the installation of equipment which costs about $1 million. Hence a revote has been made for the coming year. The equipment, which includes telecommunications equipment and the flight information display system, was ordered but has not yet arrived, and therefore no payment was made in the 1971-72 financial year. But I think the equipment will be delivered soon and put into operation sometime in the middle of this year; hence, the revoted provision, in addition, a portion of this provision is for the cost of completed works, which has been retained as retention fees, and late payment for other completed works, which has to be made in the next fiscal year. I would say that the Passenger Terminal Building redevelopment has resulted in more than doubling the floor area of what it was previously, and it should therefore give better service than what it used to provide before its re-development.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply. 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 32 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 303. The provision of $200,000 under this subhead is for the setting up of a new Air Freight Terminal. I have two simple questions to ask the Minister. First, has this new Air Freight Terminal been completed and, if not, when will it be completed? If it has been completed, then what is the purpose of this additional provision, which includes a revote of $50,000? What services will this terminal provide? All this money comes from the taxpayers, and we have to see that it is properly spent.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Sembawang is right this time. The new Air Freight Terminal has yet to be completed. This Terminal forms part of the intermediate phase `of the development proposals for our Airport costing $2.3 million, out of a total development cost of over $100 million. The foreign cost-component of this project, which is estimated at $1.7 million, will be financed by an Asian Development Bank loan of over $60 million. This Bank has projected that an annual total of 79,000 metric tons of air freight is likely to be handled at Paya Lebar Airport in three years' time, that is, in 1975. That is the year in which the new Air Freight Terminal is expected to be fully completed and operational. The tonnage of the air cargo handled last year was 25,000 metric tons. The area where the Air Freight Terminal is to be sited has been acquired. It is in the process of being cleared of squatters. Extensive earthworks will have to be carried out on the site to prepare for drainage, and building construction work is expected to commence in April next year. Hence, the provision of $200,000 for the 1972-73 Estimates.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 3.00 p.m.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 32 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 306. Sir, in moving this amendment, may I range over my next amendment* on subhead 307? * The amendment reads as follows: (4)That the sum to be allocated for Head 32 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 307.

Yes.

(In Mandarin): Sir, subhead 306 refers to the New Sub terminal Building, and I have two questions to ask the Minister. Firstly, is the building in the process of construction and, if so, when will it be completed? Secondly, what facilities will be provided in this building, and whether the services will be better than what is offered at present? Sir, subhead 307 refers to the New Boeing 747 Hangar and a sum of $1.5 million has been provided. I wish to ask the Minister three questions: (1) When will this Hangar be completed? (2) What is the total area of this Hangar, and how many Boeing 747s can it accommodate? (3) What are the charges per day for each aircraft garaged in this Hangar?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the New Sub-terminal Building at an approved cost of $31.3 million is also part of the intermediate phase of the development plan for our Paya Lebar Airport. We expect it to be completed by 1976 or earlier in order to cater for the very high growth of passenger traffic over the next few years. I have stated previously that passenger traffic for last year, 1971, passed the two million mark, and it is anticipated that by 1975, the passenger traffic through Paya Lebar Airport would exceed 3.6 million per year. Land for the new sub-terminal building has been acquired, and it is in the process of being cleared for preparatory building works to commence. The first phase of the works is mainly that of earth filling which has to be carried out over a very wide area. Sir, I believe the Member has also asked what is the anticipated revenue. For the present, I can say that the revenue will increase considerably because there will be more planes landing at Paya Lebar Airport. I do not think I need go into the details of the revenue except to say that a considerable amount of revenue is expected as time goes on. As regards the New Boeing 747 Hangar, there is a provision of SI ,500,000. The project cost is $12 million for this hangar and it forms part of the intermediate phase of the development plan. For the information of Members, the size of the hangar is 300 feet x 300 feet x 80 feet. This provision of $1 million is to meet the cost of earthworks, drainage, and the laying of pavements, which will be carried out in the next fiscal year. We hope to get this hangar operational in two years' time.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I thank the Minister for giving me a detailed answer, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 32 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 901. Sir, since the provision for land acquisition is to the tune of $7.5 million, I merely wish to ask the Minister if he could inform the House as to how this provision will be utilised? Is it to be spent solely on land acquisition? And, if so, how much land will be acquired?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the area of land which will be required for the intermediate stage of the development of the Airport is 523 acres. Of this, 323 acres are adjacent to the existing Airport land in the Tam-pines Wood area, and about 200 acres lie on the eastern side of the airfield. The sum of $7 million is mainly for land acquisition.

Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. In the absence of Mr Sim Boon Woo, the following amendment standing in his name was not proceeded with - That the sum to be allocated for Head 32 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 908.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 32 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 911. Sir, can the Minister inform the House as to what is this Airport Information Dissemination System? I understand that it is not a closed circuit T.V.; but that it works on an electronic principle, which is an improvement over the old fashioned closed circuit television.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Punggol is right in stating that the Airport Information Dissemination System, in short, AIDS, is an electronic data display system for our air traffic controllers and is an improvement over what was previously known as the closed circuit television system. AIDS will display air traffic flight data and other associated information to the air traffic controllers, and thus enabling them to exercise their air traffic control functions efficiently. The current practice is done through an intercommunication system, which is hardly an efficient system. It is slow because of the need to transmit data to multiple addresses and also because of the writing work load involved at each receiving unit. The existing system with its heavy manual work load will not be able to cope with the increasing air traffic passing through Paya Lebar Airport. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide an electronic information dissemination system which will not only speed up the work of air traffic controllers but will also relieve them of their manual work, thereby enabling them to concentrate on other essential functions. The project is estimated to cost $250,000 in all, but $50,000 have been provided for the fiscal year, 1972-73, for initial preparatory work. The scheme is planned for commissioning in two years' time, 1974. I would like to add further that AIDS will form an integral part of the future air traffic control system at the Paya Lebar Airport when other facilities, such as long-range surveillance radar, are implemented around 1975. In the coming years of supersonic air travel, it is imperative that the air traffic controllers be provided with suitable and adequate tools to enable them to perform their functions efficiently to match the speed of supersonic aircraft. The electronic AIDS is such a tool. 3.15 p.m.

I am grateful to the Minister for his reply, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $24,708,500 for Head 32 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 41 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 103. Sir, I note that only $1,300 was spent last year out of an allocation of a quarter million dollars. Could the Minister for Education enlighten this House as to why this is so? According to the Memorandum on the Development Estimates, a sum of: `$750,000 is provided for the proposed setting up of the Singapore Educational Media Services ,(SEMS). This project includes the provision of a second Television Studio and additional photographic and film facilities.' Can the Minister also tell us what will be the service, scope and functions of the SEMS?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the sum originally allocated last year was meant for the purchase of studio equipment and other photographic needs. Members may be aware, at the beginning of last year an agreement was reached between UNESCO and Singapore to expand the Educational Television service into a full-fledged educational mass media. A feasibility team was formed, and their report has just been completed. For this reason, only $1,300 has been spent during the last financial year. The Member also enquired into the functions of the new Educational Media Services. This primarily involves the enlargement of the range of the educational media, which may require such services as E.T.V.

Sir, that is precisely the purpose of my question. I have first asked for the scope and function of the SEMS. But since the Minister of State for Education has used the word "range", I will rephrase my question: can the Minister of State tell me what is the range of SEMS? I believe he has not satisfactorily answered my question.

Sir, SEMS involves the production of more programmes not just for the E.T.V, series but also for educational films and other instructional materials, teaching aids, etc.

Sir, under Head 51, Ministry of Culture, there is a related item, Adult Education Television Service, which I shall come to later. Therefore, I want to know whether this SEMS project will duplicate the type of service that will be provided for by the Adult Education Television Service.

Sir, SEMS will complement the Adult Education Television Service, not duplicate it. In fact, there is a proposal to house the two Services in the same building.

In that case, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. 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 item 001 of subhead 203. Sir, there is an acute shortage of students' hostels in Nanyang University. At the moment 101 Honours students, 120 Pre-university students and 27 Russian and American students of Nanyang University are all housed in Jurong Town Corporation flats. Because of a shortage of hostels for girls, three students' hostels and another half meant for boys have been converted into hostels for girls. So those local students who ask for allocation of accommodation in the University hostels are not allowed because they must give way to foreign students. And now there is a request for a revote. With the development of Nanyang University, there will be more students requiring hostel facilities in Nanyang University. Two-thirds of the land belonging to Nanyang University are not being used. Since Nanyang University had asked for a vote for students hostels and the vote was approved last year, how is it that this vote is carried forward to this year? If we have to wait for the approval of the 10-year development plan, then with the present administration of Nanyang University, the building of students' hostels will not be in sight for a very long time. It is the policy of the Government to assist Nanyang University in building hostels. I do not know whether the 10-year development plan has been accepted or not; anyway the details have not been announced. The development plan and the hostels are two separate matters; they are not closely related. I hope the Ministry of Education will ask for the necessary vote to help Nanyang University to build all the necessary hostels to alleviate the hardship and to solve the problems of the students in terms of accommodation.

Sir, as there are a few amendments on the Order Paper Supplement regarding the development of Nanyang University, I would like to take this opportunity, in answering the first question from the Member for Delta, to make clear the philosophy of the physical development of a university. Universities are not built and developed just for today, for tomorrow, or for the year. They are built to stay for hundreds of years. Therefore, any physical development programme must be considered in the greatest detail. We cannot build a cluster of concrete buildings just because there happened to be some empty space, or because it is the most suitable development to meet the needs for the present. I believe it is in this context that the Member for Jurong last year asked whether a Master Plan was being prepared for the Nanyang University. I believe Members know that a 10-year development programme has been prepared and is under active consideration by the Ministry of Education. The building of students hostels and other forms of development are part and parcel of the total physical development of the Nanyang University, and therefore the matter has to be looked, into very closely.

Sir, it goes without saying that we must build in preparation for their use for the next 100 years or more. But at the moment the students have no place to put up. Before you can finish your 10-year development programme, the lot of them will not be able to live anywhere within the University campus. They have to put up in flats in Jurong Town together with the workers. Perhaps because of the present lack of hostels, many students are not able to join the Nanyang University. So you must have both the long-term plan and also the short-term plan. I hope the Minister will answer this question.

Sir, in order to get over the short-term problems, I think the Member knows that we have certain accommodation facilities in Jurong Town made available to Nanyang University students. To solve this problem further, perhaps we can look into the possibility of renting out premises or quarters returned to us by the British Forces on their withdrawal. There is one point I would like to make about this question of travelling. I think our students are being a bit spoilt! I do not see what is so difficult to travel six miles to go to the university to study. I used to travel 12 miles to study. Some hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Sir, notwithstanding the fact that the Minister of State had travelled several miles to attend lectures, in my days overseas I had also travelled about one hundred miles to attend lectures. But Singapore is Singapore. We cannot compare our situation with conditions overseas. At the present moment, there are 92 units of J.T.C, flats made available for Nanyang University students, but only half of them are occupied. Perhaps our Nanyang University undergraduates are not prepared to live in the J.T.C, housing estates, because they would have no choice but to travel a long distance to attend lectures. I hope the Minister will ask for more money from the Ministry of Finance to build more hostels. I understand that at the present moment two buildings have been put up by the Hokien Huay Kuan, but these are not related to the development plan of the University. However, since the Minister of State is not prepared to give a more satisfactory answer, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the names of Messrs Ch'ng Jit Koon and Yeo Choo Kok-

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon.

I am not moving, Sir.

(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 item 003 of subhead 203. Sir, the building of the sports complex in the Nanyang University should not be delayed any more. Originally a vote of $700,000 was asked for a sports complex. After revision and reassessment, another request was made for $1.2 million, but this was turned down. In order to provide the urgent needs of students for sports facilities, the Nanyang University have condescended to cut down their original request for an Olympic-sized swimming pool for the sports complex. Because of that, the sum was reduced from $1.2 million to $900,000, but the request for this sum of money, which was made to the Ministry of Education, has so far not been approved. Sir, the Nanyang University urgently requires a sports complex. This time last year when we were debating the same item under the Development Estimates, the Minister of State agreed with me that of these three items in the Development Estimates - students' hostels, staff quarters and sports complex - the most urgent were students' hostels and the sports complex. Sir, at the present moment whenever it rains in the University, all sports or physical activities have to be stopped, because these activities are carried out in the open air and it is impossible to carry on in the rain. The building of a sports complex will not only solve the present needs of the students but will also provide facilities for the training of coaches and instructors for the various schools in Singapore. There is no reason for the Minister for Education not to press the Ministry of Finance further for the vote to complete the building of the sports complex as early as possible. 3.30 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid we are more ambitious than the Member for Delta. It is precisely because we do not want a half-sized swimming pool but a full-sized swimming pool of Olympic standard that negotiations are still going on. Since the Budget sitting last year, a team of experts has been engaged to draw up the Master Plan for the development of Nanyang University. Regarding the complaint by the Member for Delta against sports activities being held in the rain, I can say that this only enhances the argument of the wisdom of making students do national service before they join the university.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the nature of the Minister of State's answer, 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 203. Sir, in moving this amendment, I am seeking elucidation from the Minister of State for Education on the matter of students' hostels and staff quarters. Sir, this question was raised in last year's debate on the Development Estimates in this House. At that time, there was a vote of $500,000 for the construction of staff quarters. But according to this year's Development Estimates, the same amount of $500,000 is being re-voted for the same purpose. We can see from this that there has been a prolonged delay in the construction of staff quarters. Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand that the provision of quarters to the staff of Nanyang University is considered an urgent matter. There are about 30 members of the staff in Nanyang University waiting for staff quarters. Furthermore, Sir, because Nanyang University is situated in an outlying area, lack of quarters will cause considerable inconvenience to the staff, and it will also aggravate the difficulty of recruiting more staff for Nanyang University, since new staff will have to travel all the way up there to work. As a result of this, I would like to ask the Minister concerned the reasons for the delay.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think I can elaborate any more than what I have said when I answered the question put by the Member for Delta. It is considered as part and parcel of the Master Plan, and this is being considered by the Ministry.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, since he has said that staff quarters is part and parcel of the whole development plan, we must wait for the Master Plan to be approved before we can do anything. In that case I would like to know when the Master Plan will be approved and when will such approval be announced. Sir, in last year's debate, in answer to my question, the Minister of State said that as soon as the Ministry of Education received the 10-year development plan for Nanyang University it would be announced. This can be found in Volume 30 of Hansard, Col. 1293. I would like to ask the Minister of State to implement what he said last year.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Education has already received the 10-year development plan. I believe the Council of Nanyang University has issued a statement and the local press has fully publicised this. As to when we can implement the Master Plan, we have only gone to the stage of conceptual planning and have not drawn out the physical development plan as yet.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister of State tell the House how much time will be taken to finalise the work of consideration?

(In Mandarin): What kind of work?

(In Mandarin): How much time will the Ministry take to consider the Master Plan?

Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said we have only received the conceptual plan. We have not done the physical planning of the Master Plan yet.

(In Mandarin): In view of this, I beg leave to withdraw, Sir. 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 301*(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Cheong Yuen Chee). I am glad to note, Sir, that the Government plans to build three primary schools, one of which will be in Tiong Bahru. I would like to ask the Minister concerned where will the new school be built, and when will construction commence? I hope the Minister will not consider my request as excessive. Sir, according to the 1970 census, there were in Tiong Bahru about 7,652 children in the age group of five to nine. These children should by now already be in primary schools. But this figure does not include those children who have moved into the Housing and Development Board flats in my constituency in the last two years. At the present moment, there are 33 classrooms in the three primary schools in my constituency, and they can accommodate a maximum number of 2,640 students if there are double sessions running with an accommodation of 40 students per class. I hope the Minister concerned will sympathetically consider the urgent request of my constituents to build a school early.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in implementing our school building programme as contained in the Development Plan, we do not take into consideration the needs of each constituency but the area as a whole. With respect to the proposed primary school at the junction of Jalan Membina and Jalan Bukit Merah, we hope to commence construction work within this financial year.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the shortage of primary schools in Toa Payoh is an annual problem. Every year, parents clamour to enrol their children in schools near their homes. Some of them even had to camp overnight at these schools to ensure that their children are registered. There are only three primary schools in Toa Payoh proper and 11 other schools in Toa Payoh constituency. But they are all sited outside the Toa Payoh housing estate. I understand there are several sites reserved by the Housing and Development Board for the construction of primary schools in Toa Payoh. I would like to ask the Minister of State how many of these sites have been reserved by the Ministry of Education and how many have been taken up by private organisations for the construction of primary schools in Toa Payoh?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not able to give the exact details of how many private organisations have taken up the offer, but I can say that plans are being finalised to resite in Toa Payoh housing estate two aided primary schools and three aided full-schools, that is, a primary and a secondary school housed in one building. There are also plans to build three other primary schools as replacements in that area in the future.

(In Mandarin): In view of the Minister of State's reply, I beg leave to withdraw, Sir. 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 item 001 of subhead 401*(* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Cheong Yuen Chee). Sir, I note that although a sum of $1 million has been allocated for the construction of new secondary schools, none is to be provided for Tiong Bahru constituency. I am jealous about this. In his answer to my question just now, the Minister of State for Education said that his Ministry was still considering the 10-year development plan in which the building of new secondary schools would depend on the needs of the various constituencies. Sir, I would like the Minister of State to take note of the statistics I am going to quote, which I hope will help him in his consideration of the 10-year development plan. According to the census taken in 1970, Bukit Ho Swee had about 7,363 children between the ages of 10 and 14; Delta 6,385; Bukit Merah 9,039; Queenstown, 5,993; and Tiong Bahru 8,094. In all these constituencies, Sir, Bukit Ho Swee has two secondary schools with 60 classrooms; Delta, two secondary schools with 46 classrooms; Bukit Merah, one secondary school with 25 classrooms; Queenstown, three secondary schools with 100 classrooms. In Tiong Bahru, there is none. Sir, by giving all these statistics, I am not complaining that there are more secondary schools in other constituencies. But the Minister of State concerned has answered me earlier that schools are built according to the needs of the area as a whole. That being so, according to the 1970 census, there are altogether 36,874 children in the correct age group for admission to secondary schools in the five constituencies. And there is a total number of eight secondary schools, housing 231 classrooms with accommodation for 18,480 students. It would appear, therefore, that there is an acute shortage of secondary schools for these five constituencies, it means that there is only one place for every two students in these five areas. I hope the Minister concerned will look into this.

I am not moving, Sir.

Sir, I value the Member for Tiong Bahru's appreciation of the difficulties we are facing. In fact, in view of the predicted shortage of places at Secondary I level, the Ministry of Education has, at the beginning of this year, expanded the facilities of all the secondary schools in the Queens-town area, which includes Tiong Bahru. As a result, only a few hundred students were posted out as against a figure of over a thousand last year. However, we have earmarked two new secondary schools to be built within the Queens-town area in our Development Plan. Of course, the Member will also appreciate that we are at the moment faced with the fact that the bulge of the population is in this age group, and it will only level off around 1976.

I beg leave to withdraw, Sir. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon-

Mr Ch'ng, amendment (7).

I am not moving, Sir.

(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 401. Sir, in moving this amendment, I am raising the question of building a secondary school in Jurong. On two previous occasions, I have asked the Minister concerned to consider building a secondary school in Jurong Town. I am glad to note that, in the Memorandum on the Development Estimates for the next financial year, the Ministry has finally agreed to allocate the sum of $1 million for this purpose. This is good news for the people living in Jurong Town. Therefore, I only have to ask the Minister as to when will building work commence. 3.45 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, details of the plan for the school building are now being finalised for tendering. If everything proceeds according to schedule, the school should be ready to admit its first batch of students by January 1974.

(In Mandarin): I thank the Minister of State for Education for his answer. 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. Mr Speaker, Sir, in moving this amendment, may I ask the Minister of State for Education whether any provision is being allocated for the extension of the existing secondary school in Jurong. I have appealed to the Minister on several occasions to extend Jurong Secondary School. The Jurong Secondary School is one of the smallest secondary schools in Singapore and it lacks many facilities. In view of the increased population in my constituency of Jurong, there is an urgent need to extend the Jurong Secondary School. I believe the Minister has received a very detailed memorandum from the principal of this school requesting funds for the urgent extension of the school. I do not like to repeat the reasons for this extension, but to ask the Minister whether any provision has been made for the extension of Jurong Secondary School.

Mr Speaker, Sir, if my memory serves me right, the present Jurong Secondary School has only eight classrooms. It will, therefore, be extremely uneconomical to spend large sums of money to extend it into a standard type secondary school, especially when we are going to build a 24-classroom secondary school in Jurong.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Jurong Secondary School is for children living in Jurong Town. According to the Development Plan, Jurong Town will soon have a population of 100,000. The Jurong Secondary School also caters for children living in Chua Chu Kang and The surrounding areas. According to investigations, there are altogether 47 Primary VI classes in this area with a student population of 9,000. In addition to the Jurong Secondary School, there is the Jalan Lama Secondary School. However, these two secondary schools are not big enough to accommodate all the students who would be leaving primary school. There is, therefore, an urgent need to extend the Jurong Secondary School. Even if the number of classes is not extended, there should at least be more facilities so that the students will feel that their own school is comparable with other schools. The students of Jurong Secondary School will, therefore, not be ashamed of their own school because of the lack of laboratory facilities. I would appeal to the Minister of State to consider this question seriously.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully agree with the Member for Jurong that there should be sufficient places for students in any given locality. However, in the case of the Jurong Secondary School, I think any extension to the school will take just as long a time to complete, and it will probably cost more than building a new school. The whole point of the question is whether it would be better to build a new secondary school or to spend as much money on extensions to this particular school.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not satisfied with the answer given by the Minister of State. Jurong Secondary School has a great prestige built up over the years, lit has twice won first prize in the horticulture competition organised for schools in the whole of Singapore. The students have also done very well in the field of sports. Academically too the students have shown a very good performance. Therefore, my request is worth serious consideration by the Minister of State. Even though he does not wish to build more classrooms, he should build more laboratories. There is only one laboratory now, and that is used for biology, chemistry and other experiments. What about a domestic science laboratory? I think it is a question worthy of his consideration.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not deny that the Jurong Secondary School has done very good work over the last few years. But the proposed plans for the extension to the school, referred to by the Member for Jurong just now, are, I am afraid, too elaborate. The proposed extension will cost almost as much as building a new school, and therefore we cannot consider any proposal of that magnitude.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister of State then consider this? If it is agreed not to extend the number of classes, will he consider the provision of additional laboratories for domestic science and other necessary facilities?

Mr Speaker, Sir, there are about 12 Government schools in the Queenstown area. We are at the moment engaged in a very interesting experiment of building a "special facilities" room. Perhaps the needs of the Jurong Secondary School can be considered in a similar light.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, 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 503*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong) Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State whether he is prepared to make some provision to rebuild Loke Yang Public School. May I say something about this school? This school was originally situated at the 16th m.s. Jurong Road. It was later demolished as a result of a resettlement scheme. The authorities concerned had reserved two acres of land at the 9 m.s. Lim Chu Kang for the re-building of this public school. I understand that all the villagers have been moved out from the Jurong area. They are mainly poor farmers. It is, therefore, unfair for them to bear the cost of rebuilding this school. I hope the Ministry of Education will provide some funds, at least on a dollar-for-dollar basis, to help these people to rebuild Loke Yang School.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to raise two questions under this subhead. The vote under this subhead is in respect of Capital Grants to Government-Aided Schools. This is a form of financial assistance to the aided schools for various expenditures. I understand that it is quite difficult to get approval for such grants. For instance, certain schools have applied for assistance to repair school equipment and furniture, such as chairs, but their applications have usually been turned down because of the tedious procedure involved. I hope the Minister of State will look into this matter to see whether there is any truth in such allegations. The provision of $1 million for the next financial year is quite a large sum of money. I wish to know whether any applications have already been made in this regard.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I just wish to raise one question about aided schools. I cannot understand why the Umar Pulavar Tamil School at Maxwell Road has no field or a playground. I wonder whether the Minister can provide a playing field for that secondary school.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in answer to the question raised by the Member for Sembawang, I believe he is aware of the policy on capital grants. This policy has been enunciated by my Minister in answer to a question raised during the debate on the Main Estimates. There is no point for me to dwell on it again. As regards the particular point he has raised, if my memory serves me right, the Ministry has not yet received any proposals, and therefore I am not in a position to answer him one way or another. With regard to the question raised by the Member for Jurong, I am sure he realises that there are sufficient places for primary school entrants in Singapore, except perhaps in those schools which are located out of the way. There are primary schools in certain areas which are not, in fact, fully occupied. Therefore, we cannot consider any request too generously. However, if he has any case which he thinks deserves special consideration, will he please let us know. I think the Member for Sembawang has also asked for the names of schools which have applied for capital grants. I am afraid I do not have the details with me now. If he so wishes, he can give notice of a Question for Oral Answer, and I shall then give him the full details. In answer to the Member for Anson, I am not very familiar with the Tamil school in the Anson constituency. There are playing fields in the other schools in that constituency, and I am sure the students from that Tamil school can use them. Alternatively, they can make use of the community centres in that constituency.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, when the site at Lim Chu Kang area was being selected for a school, a representative of the Ministry of Education was present. Therefore, the Minister of State for Education cannot deny that his Ministry is not responsible for re-siting the Loke Yang School. However, I would like to ask the Minister of State whether he will give sympathetic consideration to an application by this school for funds to rebuild it.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am aware that Loke Yang School has to be resettled. However, as I have said, I have not as yet received any proposals for grants.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, my question is this. If he were to receive an application from Loke Yang School for financial assistance, will he give it favourable consideration?

Mr Speaker, Sir, we will consider the application in accordance with the policy enunciated by my Minister.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the reply by the Minister of State, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 4.00 p.m.

(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 603. Sir, the provision for the Hotel and Catering Training Centre is $258,600. I would like to raise five questions: (1) What are the actual conditions of training at this Centre? (2) What are the courses offered by this Centre, and is there a course for the training of cooks? At present with so many hotels and restaurants being set up, there is an acute shortage of cooks. Many of the cooks working in our restaurants at present have come from abroad, and we have to spend a lot of foreign exchange on them. If we can train our local people to be cooks, we can reduce the foreign exchange spent on importing foreign cooks. (3) What are the qualifications required for admission to this Centre? (4) What are the fees charged by the Centre for each student? (5) What is the duration of each training course? Will it take six months or one year to complete a course?

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Sembawang has asked various questions about the Training Centre. I think the best answer I can give is to ask him to pay a visit to the Hotel and Catering Training Centre so that he can see for himself how the Centre is being run. Among the courses run by the Centre, there is a course for the training of cooks. As regards the qualifications required for the admission of students, this is largely dependent on the type of training course that the student is applying for. There are various kinds of courses available, each requiring a different standard of qualification. As regards school fees, the amount is dependent on the duration of the course and the different levels of training to be provided. For instance, for the training of cooks, the duration of the course is long and the fees will have to cost more.

(In Mandarin): Sir, how many cooks can we train in a year?

(In Mandarin): Sir, I do not have the actual figures, but I believe that it is about 100.

(In Mandarin): Sir, in view of the satisfactory answer given by the Minister of State for Education, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $20,207,770 for Head 41 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 51 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Sim Boon Woo) Sir, a sum of $190,000 has been provided for the T.V. Outside Broadcasting Equipment. Under this subhead, I would like to raise two queries to the Minister: (1) Can the Minister give this House a detailed information regarding this Equipment? (2) Is there any plan for the setting up of colour T. V, in Singapore? Many countries, including some South-east Asian countries, have introduced colour T.V. As an advanced country in this region, we should now give early consideration to the provision of colour T.V, so that our people can enjoy their programmes better.

Mr Speaker, Sir, has the Minister any plans to start a third T.V, channel, especially for Tamil and Malay programmes?

Mr Speaker, Sir, we have two outside broadcast vans, and they are used to cover events occurring in the various parts of Singapore, such as National Day parades, sports activities and, occasionally, variety shows at the National Theatre. The vans were purchased in 1962 at a cost of $794,000. They are useful for covering events live. But because of the lack of crew, we have not been able to use the vans as much as we want to. The second query is about colour T.V. This is a very complicated matter. Of course, colour T.V, is the logical follow-up of the black and white T.V. that we now have. The problem is: do we have enough technicians to run a station for telecasting colour programmes? As it is now, we are actually short of technicians. Therefore, it is not possible at this stage to say with any certainty when we can introduce colour T.V., but we are certainly travelling on that course. The problem is much more complicated than it seems. For instance, there are at present three different systems used by countries all over the world for colour TV. Firstly, there is the N.T.S.C. -National Television System Committee - which is used by the United States, Canada, Mexico, Philippines, Japan and Taiwan. The second system is S.E.C.A.M. - do not ask me what it is, because I am as ignorant as some Members are. All I know is that it is called S.E.C.A.M, and it is used by France, the U.S.S.R, and certain Eastern European countries. The third system is P.A.L. It is used by most Western European countries, including the United Kingdom, and it is going to be used by Australia and New Zealand. The important consideration here is to choose a system that is used by the majority of the countries in the world. If we were to choose the wrong system, then we may come up with many difficulties in the future, such as programme exchanges, spare parts, and others. For the moment, it appears that the P.A.L, system is gaining the upper hand. So much about the systems that we have to choose from. The other point is that if we want to run our colour T.V, as successfully as we want it to be, then it is only logical that as many viewers as possible do enjoy our colour T.V, programmes. At the present moment, I am afraid this is not possible because of the high cost of a colour T.V. set. I understand that an ordinary colour T.V, set costs between $1,000 and $2,000 each. Even though we are getting this 13th salary payment, I do not think colour T.V, is within the reach of many people in Singapore. I hope that the day will come when these colour T.V, sets can be produced in such large numbers that their price can be brought down to a level where many people can enjoy this service. It is no use spending millions of dollars to provide a service which can only satisfy the luxurious needs of a small section of our people. The other aspect of the problem is that it takes a long time to put this service into operation. Take, for example, Australia. Since 1967 it has committed itself to colour T.V, but up to now it has still not telecast any colour T.V, programmes yet. From this example, we can see that we have barely the knowledge of how to initiate such a scheme. All I can say is that at the present moment we are travelling on that course. We have sent two engineers to Germany for training, and another two will be sent in the near future to, possibly, the British Broadcasting Corporation in England. When they return, we hope to be able to build up a nucleus of engineers to start this service. But I am not able to say when it will be because of the many problems which I have outlined just now. As regards a third T.V, channel, I do not think it is possible to provide because we do not have enough channels on our T.V, sets. If we want to have a third channel for Singapore - the other two are occupied by the Malaysian network - we have to introduce a different system, which again is a very costly matter. Therefore, I do not think it is possible to introduce a third channel at the present moment. 4.15 p.m.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I thank the Minister for his very detailed explanation of the problems. I am glad to hear that his Ministry has sent two engineers abroad for this sort of training, and that he is paying close attention to the development of colour T.V. In view of this, I believe that very soon our people will be able to enjoy colour television. Although the Minister cannot say for certain when we can have colour television, what he has said augurs well for our people to know that very soon they will be able to enjoy colour television. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 103*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting) Sir, I would like to ask the Minister for Culture for further details about the capital development aspect of this subject. The Memorandum on the Development Estimates says that an amount of $500,000 is provided for work to commence on the Adult Education Production and Training Centre. Sir, could we be informed what will be the total capital development cost for this project? In respect of contributions to this project, what will be our share of responsibility, as against the responsibility of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung? Perhaps the Minister could also touch on the benefits that will accrue to Singapore with the physical location of the Centre here.

Sir, last year there was a token provision of $10, but for this year a sum of half a million dollars is being allocated for this project, that is, the Adult Education Television Service. Just now, the Minister of State for Education mentioned that the S.E.M.S, project would complement that o the Adult Education Television Service. In this respect, I would like to know from the Minister for Culture what programmes and courses will be organised by this Adult Education Television Service, in view of the fact that the setting up of the A.E.T.S, is the result of a joint venture between the Singapore Government and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. The information I am seeking on this topic is quite similar to that asked by the Member for Katong. With the programming of this service, I wish to know what is the medium of instruction and which level of the adult population are we trying to programme this service for.

Sir, this Adult Education Television Service is not so much a joint venture. It is actually a joint effort between the Singapore Government and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung to provide training in adult education television programmes for countries in this part of the world. The Centre is known as the Centre for Production and Training of Adult Education Television (CEPTA T.V.). CEPTA T.V, will be sited at the R.T.S, complex; iii fact, it is just a stone's throw from the present T.V, complex. The cost of the building is estimated at $1 million to be totally borne by the Singapore Government and the cost of the equipment, which is estimated at $6.5 million, will be borne by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is not possible to say now what kind of courses will be conducted or what language medium will be used for the training of these programme producers. What I can say now is that it is not so much a centre for the production of adult education programmes but a place to train producers so that they can return to their respective countries and produce their own adult education programmes. I think Singapore, as well as many other countries in this part of the world, is in great need of such training facilities, and it is to our great benefit to have the Centre here in Singapore. That is as much as I can disclose for the time being.

I thank the Minister for his reply, and beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. In the absence of Mr Sim Boon Woo,, the following amendment, standing in his, name, was not proceeded with - That the sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 104.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 001 of subhead 201. Sir, I notice that out of a provision of $1 million in the last financial year for Works and Buildings, only $14,000 has been spent and the balance of $986,000 is being revoted this year, together with an increase in the allocation, making a total provision of $2 million for the next financial year. I would like to seek clarification from the Minister for Culture as to what progress has been made with regard to the new Radio Studios and Office Buildings. With this additional provision I believe there must be some real need for it, and I therefore hope that the studios will be ready soon. In this respect I would also like the Minister to inform this House whether the construction of the building has been completed, and when will it become operational? Moreover, with the setting up of the new studios, will there be a new radio station over the air?

Sir, the new radio station complex costing about $2 million will be going up very soon. The project will be open to tender at the end of this month. I was advised that the building works will take at least 18 months to complete. Therefore, the installation of the equipment and other facilities will take another six months. Iii all, that will take us to the middle of 1974. But the operation of this new complex will solve a lot of problems, one of which is congestion in office and studio space. As to the query about whether a new radio station will be launched when the radio complex is ready, the answer is no. We already have quite a few stations in service now. In fact, we have altogether eight different wave lengths, four in the AM, and four in the F.M, service, and with one F.M, stereo station thrown in. Since we already have a lot of broadcasting outlets, the problem is not to increase the number of stations, but to improve the quality of the programmes. That is what we are trying to do.

I thank the Minister for his reply, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong - That the sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.

I am not moving, Sir. In the absence of Mr Cheong Yuen Chee, the following amendment, standing in his name, was not proceeded with - That the sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 403.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 51 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 404. Sir, I merely wish to ask the Minister where will this Katong Library he sited. The Memorandum on the Development Estimates says "it is proposed to build another branch library in the Katong/Joo Chiat/Siglap Area." Presumably the designation of these districts refers to constituencies. I would like to know what is the estimated population that will benefit from this provision, and what sort of investigation or data has led to the siting of this library. I reserve further comments for the Minister's reply.

Sir, if the Member for Katong thinks that the library will be sited in his constituency, I am afraid he will be disappointed. It will not be sited in his constituency, but in a district which we have always called vaguely "Katong District". Therefore, the name "Katong" is quite relevant to the site for the library which we are going to provide. The site will be in the Katong Estate, Phase II Development, on reclaimed land between Joo Chiat Road and Still Road. The library will serve a densely populated area. It will be about two miles away from the Tanjong Rhu Housing Estate, which the Member for Katong has so fondly referred to. Therefore, his constituents will have easy access to this new library. I was told that a new housing estate will he built in this area, and, therefore, a library there will serve much more people than if it were sited merely in the Katong constituency. I think we should look at it this way: a library should serve not just one constituency. If we are to provide each constituency with a library, we will run out of funds in no time. The problem is how to distribute the services of a library so that several constituencies can share one library. In this respect I think the proposed site should serve the purpose. 4.30 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, with respect to the Minister's view that we should not site a library in each constituency, I would like to point out that, apart from the establishment of this new library in the new development area, there is also, already, a library in the Too Chiat constituency serving the people in that area. Too Chiat constituency is in very close proximity to this new library. If this is so, I would suggest that perhaps we could have a small library in the Katong constituency too, or at least extend some kind of service from this new district centre to the Katong constituency. Sir, the point 1 would like to raise is that the development of this new housing estate would be finer than that which is characteristic of the Tanjong Rhu Housing Estate, The majority of people in the Tanjong Rhu Housing Estate are living in one-room and two-room flats, and it will therefore be more convenient if some provision not necessarily such a library - were made for them. This would be better than to site a library close to an area where the characteristic of the housing is large bungalows and houses that belong to the more affluent people. In view of what I have said, perhaps the Minister will consider extending at least some sort of service to the people in the Tanjong Rhu Housing Estate. If the Minister does not wish to answer, but wishes to consider - Mr Jek Yeun Thong rose -

I see that he wishes to answer.

Mr Speaker, Sir, when it comes to considering where to site a library, I think we should not be parochial in our approach. In fact, Katong constituency is now served by two libraries, one in Too Chiat and one in Siglap. Though they are both quite small libraries they serve the purpose for the time being. By siting this new library in the reclaimed land, we hope to serve a much bigger population than just Katong constituency because, unlike what the Member for Katong has described just now that the place will be full of large bungalows and so on, it is not quite true, and I understand that the Housing and Development Board has plans to build fairly big flats in the housing estate there.

Four and five-room flats!

Yes. So I think the population there will be quite large in, say, 1974, when this project will be put into operation. Further, by siting this library away from the Katong constituency, we have the advantage of not only serving Katong but also the rural areas like Changi, Siglap, Tam-pines and many others. This will, in fact, benefit much more people, including the poorer people living in the rural areas, than just those living in Tanjong Rhu flats.

Mr Speaker, Sir, all I am saying is that, since both Siglap and Joo Chiat have each a library, can the provisions of this new central library be extended by way of a better mobile service to the Tanjong Rhu area, which is in my constituency? Never mind if Katong cannot get the same provision a the other constituencies, but at least he can afford the provision of a mobile library service. Otherwise, it is very unfair; but as the Member for Anson would say, "What to do!"

It is not just a matter of what to do. We can do something. For instance, after we have set up this new branch library, and if we find that the present Too Chiat Library is too close to it, we may even consider taking it away, and, if the Member for Katong can put up concrete proposals, set it up in his community centre. I think that may solve his problem. But for the time being we have to make-do with the two libraries in Joo Chiat and Siglap.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am sure the Minister will give consideration to the proposal that we will put forward later on. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $5,492,000 for Head 51 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 52 - The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon -

I am not moving, Sir.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 52 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201. Sir, this vote of $150,000 is for rural community centres. I would like to take this opportunity to praise the People's Association for promoting the various activities in community centres. I would also like to thank the management committees of the community centres for devoting their time and effort in promoting many useful kinds of activities. Mr Speaker, Sir, in all we have about 190 community centres, including those in the rural areas. However, the provision of $150,000 for this financial year is inadequate to meet the needs of the rural community. Therefore, I would like the Minister to ask for more money from the Minister for Finance. Although there are nine community centres in my constituency, I still think they are not enough because the rural community is spread over a very wide area. But in town, the area is very small and one or two community centres will serve the purpose. For example, there are 15 community centres in Chua Chu Kang constituency, which is six more than my constituency. There are also 15 community centres in Jurong. However, I still think there should be more community centres for Chua Chu Kang and Jurong constituencies, because more and more people are shifting in to these rural areas. Therefore, we should build more community centres for the rural areas. I would like to ask the Minister whether he has any plans to build a rural-type community centre for Sembawang out of this vote. There are two villages in my constituency with a population of about 500 families. They have asked for the provision of a community centre.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member is rather covetous, not only in other respects but also in respect of community centres. If that is what he wants, the answer is no. In fact, we are going to cut down the number of community centres in his constituency, because we feel that they are not being properly used. The problem is not how many community centres we should have, but how are we going to use them to the best advantage so that they can provide beneficial and useful amenities to the people. If you have a very good and active community centre, it is as good as having 10. For instance, there is only one community centre in my constituency. I think the Member for Tanglin has not even got a standard-size community centre in his constituency. In the case of Sembawang, there are already three standard-size community centres and six rural-type community centres. And we feel that many of them have not been properly made use of or under-used. So we may even initiate plans to cut down the number of community centres in Sembawang.

(In Mandarin): I would like to lodge a protest against the Minister. I have only brought forward the views of the people from my constituency. There is a real need for more community centres in my constituency, because I have toured my constituency and the people there have made such requests to me. Perhaps the Minister has got his information from the wrong sources, and I would like the Minister to rescind his order to reduce the number of community centres in my constituency. This is tantamount to a threat on his part. If he withdraws his threat, then I will withdraw my amendment. But he should reply to some of my questions first.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I think it is necessary to make a study of the activities of the community centres. We are going to initiate plans to find out whether or not they have been properly used. And if they are not used, I think it is only fair that we should close them down, because you just cannot have a centre when nobody wants to use it. It is true that people want community centres, but they want good and active ones. So the solution really is not to have more centres but to have good organisers in them so that they can rally the interest of as many people as possible. As I have said, you may only have one community centre, but if you can make it a success, it is worth more than 10. The emphasis is on quality, not quantity.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply, but I would like to tell him that all the nine community centres in my constituency are fully utilised. For example, during the day, every centre conducts kindergarten classes, and during the night, cooking and sewing classes are conducted in these centres. I would like to make a request for yet another community centre on a new site in Sembawang. I hope the Minister will consider my request. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $370,000 for Head 52 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. 4.45 p.m. Head 61 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 61 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 203. This vote of $45,000 is for the building of a Cellular Block, Female Prison at Changi. Can the Minister please answer five questions which I am going to ask him? They are: (1) Has any training been provided for the inmates in this Female Prison? (2) Does the training include any handicraft work? This kind of training will enable the female inmates to earn a living when they leave the prison. (3) Are the inmates given any allowances for attending training courses? (4) How do we sell the handicraft work of the inmates? (5) How many female inmates are there in this prison, and how many of them are illegal immigrants?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I see that the Member for Sembawang is now interested in female prisons! The provision of $45,000 shown under this subhead in the Development Estimates for 1972-73 is the amount necessary to meet the balance of expenditure for the project which has a total cost of about $180,000. To-date the expenditure is $142,554. In the female prison, the emphasis, of course, is on rehabilitation. There is a rehabilitation programme aimed at assisting the inmates to return to the community as law-abiding and socially useful persons. This programme includes the following: training in self-control and discipline; vocational training and work; moral training and the cultivation of social consciousness; group work and female counselling work. They are also given opportunities to learn skills, to improve their work habit and to participate in work for which they are paid a fair wage, ranging from $1 to $10 per week according to their skills and industry. For those who are involved in productive work, like tailoring, laundering or the manufacturing of stuffed dolls, an industrial bonus at piece-rate is payable, in addition to the normal prison earnings. They are not eligible for any prison earning for the first month. However, thereafter they are graded according to their performance and are paid as follows: (a) eight cents per day and 15 cents bonus for each completed week; (b) 10 cents per day and 20 cents bonus for each completed week; (c) 15 cents per day and 30 cents bonus for each completed week; (d) 20 cents per day and 40 cents bonus for each completed week; and (e) 25 cents per day and 60 cents bonus for each completed week. On an average, Sir, a female prisoner gets approximately $5 a week as industrial bonus. Higher earners can get as much as $10 per week. We have a showroom at Changi Prison where the articles made by the prisoners are on show. There is also a showroom at the Singapore Council of Social Services building at Penang Lane. If the Member is interested, he can visit these showrooms. At the moment, there are 26 female prisoners. Off-hand, I cannot tell the Member the number of illegal immigrants. Anyway, I am told that most of them are immigrants or aliens. The rest were convicted for various offences, ranging from murder to theft. There were times when the highest muster for any one day exceeds 100.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I wish to ask another question. What are we going to do with the illegal immigrants? Are we going to deport them after locking them up for some time?

Mr Speaker, the question of illegal immigrants is in the hands of the Ministry of Home Affairs. If I get a clearance to send them back to their own country, then they will be sent back; otherwise we will have to keep them here in Singapore.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the detailed explanation, 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 61 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301. Sir, this vote is intended for the building of a fire station in Jurong. Sir, in last year's Budget Estimates, there was a provision of $242,100 for the building of a fire station in Jurong. Jurong urgently needs a fire station. I spoke at length on this matter last year, and in reply to my question the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs said that this fire station would be built sometime in 1971 or 1972. The Minister can refer to Hansard, dated 25th March, 1971, at col. 1337. However, construction of this fire station has not yet commenced. And we are now coming back to this House to approve the same vote. I would like to know why there is a delay in building this fire station at Jurong. Can the Minister say definitely when will work begin on this fire station?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I regret that, although the project for the fire station at Jurong was approved in this House this time last year, work on the building of the fire station has not yet started. The Jurong Fire Station project is now being evaluated by officials in the Ministry of Finance. When the project papers are finalised, they will be put to the Development Planning Committee for consideration. It is not, therefore, possible for me to inform the Member for Jurong as to when the fire station will be built, because formal approval has not yet been granted by the Development Planning Committee. As to the reason for the delay, this can only be attributed to the need for costing. This was only completed in January 1972. We were advised by the Senior Architect of the Public Works Department that the cost of building the fire station would amount to $750,000 approximately. The Member will appreciate that development projects from the various Ministries are submitted to the Ministry of Finance and the Economic Development Division who will then process these projects in accordance with their priorities. The Jurong Fire Station project is now receiving the urgent attention of the officials of that Division. The proposal to build a fire station was first mooted in June 1966 for inclusion in the 1967 Development Estimates. This proposal was considered and approved by the Development Planning Sub-Committee which had recommended a sum of money towards the project. The approval was conveyed to us on 21st August, 1968. However, on 14th November, 1968, my Ministry was advised that the Minister for Finance had decided not to proceed with the Jurong Fire Station project and, as a result, the Fire Brigade head of expenditure was deleted from the 1969 Development Estimates. The Minister for Finance was then of the view that the Jurong industrial town would be adequately served by the Alexandra and Bukit Timah Fire Stations. My Ministry subsequently re-submitted the proposal for a Jurong Fire Station, and it was included in the 1971-72 Development Estimates. Negotiations have been concluded with the Jurong Town Corporation for a suitable site for the fire station, and cost estimates have been submitted to the Ministry of Finance. Sir, as the situation stands now, it is anticipated that construction work cannot begin before June or July this year.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like the Minister to take personal note of this matter and to expedite the building of this fire station. I hope it can be built as soon as possible. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $961,200 for Head 61 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 71 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 71 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 101. Sir, I welcome the increase in provision for the development of parks in both the MacRitchie and Seletar Reservoirs. In view of the fact that more and more people now live in high-rise flats, more open spaces and parks will be required by these teeming flat dwellers for their relaxation and recreational activities during week-ends and public holidays. In this respect I would like to know what recreational amenities will be provided in the parks. May I suggest that more pavilions be built in these parks and more grounds be made available for children to romp around, as they are generally brought there by parents to play. There should also be some food stalls, although the Memorandum on the Development Estimates states that some refreshment kiosks will be set up there. Sir, I would also like to know what has happened to the proposal to set up a miniature zoo at the Seletar Reservoir by a Government-sponsored organisation. What progress has been made in this respect, and when will this zoo be ready for public view?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Utilities Board has already initiated plans to provide more and better facilities at the parks at MacRitchie and Seletar Reservoirs. The provision of $170,000 for development at MacRitchie Reservoir will be utilised for the construction of an additional car park and the development of a landscape area along Lornie Road to provide additional amenities, such as large lawns which would be suitable for family picnics and a play area for children. Simple shelters and benches will also be provided, and planting will be incorporated in this area. Although there is already a tea kiosk at the MacRitchie Reservoir, which provides refreshments to visitors, additional food stalls have also been constructed recently in the vicinity. The provision of more than $181,000 for development at Seletar will be utilised for the construction of a bandstand, fountains, ice-cream and refreshment kiosks, benches, an additional car park and toilets, augmenting the existing children's playground, rock garden, marsh garden, shelters and landscaping. The zoo at Seletar is being looked after by the Singapore Zoological Gardens, a Government-owned public limited company incorporated under the Companies Act. This zoo is expected to be opened to the public either at the end of this year or, at the latest, in early 1973. A sum of about $600,000 has already been spent by the Company in respect of salaries for staff and landscaping, buildings and staff quarters, and the building of animal enclosures, and installations. An additional sum of more than $3,300,000 has been committed to provide a car park and access road to the zoo entrance and construction of enclosures, administration block, and other buildings.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I must thank the Minister for Law and National Development for his detailed reply, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 71 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 302. Sir, the provision of $10 million for this subhead is a fairly large amount. Members in this House will be interested to know more from the Minister as to what these properties are, where they are situated, and for what purpose?

Sir, the Singapore Government proposes to purchase, and to pay from this provision, certain properties belonging to the United Kingdom Department of Environment, and NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institute). They are housing estates in Braddell Rise/ Braddell Hill, Poulden Court at Seletar, Chia Keng II at Yio Chu Kang Road, Ministry of Transport godowns at Alexandra Road, and NAAFI properties - Britannia Club at Beach Road and Somerset House at Grange/Somerset Roads. These properties are for long-term development requirements of Government for public housing, industrial and recreational uses.

Sir, may I further ask the Minister what will happen to the Britannia Club, and whether this property will be made available to the public for recreational purposes?

We will take over the Britannia Club and we will pay for it. I do not know whether our Army, Air Force and Navy will take over, but if they do, it means the public will be out.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $20,538,200 for Head 71 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

I propose to take the suspension now. Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.

I suspend the sitting now and shall take the Chair again at 5.35 p.m. Sitting accordingly suspended at 5.05 p.m. until 5.35 p.m. Sitting resumed at 5.35 p.m.

Resolved, That progress in the Committee of Supply on the Development Estimates for the financial year 1972-73 today be reported immediately after completion of the discussion on Head 76, and leave be sought for the Committee of Supply to sit again on Monday,. 27th March, 1972.-[Mr Barker].

Debate in Committee of Supply resumed

5.37 p.m. Head 72 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 72 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 004 of subhead 201. Sir, the provision of lorry parks by the Ministry of National Development is indeed a welcome move. Many lorries and trailers are parked along roadsides, causing unnecessary traffic hazards. I would suggest that legislation be introduced to compel these drivers to park their lorries and trailers and heavy-duty lorries in parking bays designated for them. I would also like to ask the Minister what is the capacity of the lorry park that is proposed to be built at Lorong Kebun Limau?

Sir, the Car Parks Division has proposals for the development of a centralised lorry park initially at Lorong 1, Geylang, to accommodate the lorries at present parked in season car parking places in the City centre. If this lorry park is inadequate, the development of another lorry park at Lorong Kebun Limau will be considered later. The Singapore Lorry Owners' Association feels that as there are 4,000 lorries in Singapore, the proposed parking sites will be insufficient, and they have asked for more sites at Newton, Redhill and Pasir Panjang. As for legislation, although it is proposed to amend the Motor Vehicles (Parking Places) Rules, 1959, in due course to prohibit the parking of heavy lorries (especially lorries with cranes) in any parking place in the City area throughout the day and night, it is not the intention to prevent lorries from parking in other places, such as private compounds, garages, Housing Board estates, or even the Jurong Town Corporation's industrial estates.

Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 72 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 205. Sir, in moving this amendment, I merely wish to seek clarification from the Minister for Law and National Development. Although the purpose of this pro-vision is to resite the motor repair shops, which are now scattered in the City area and along trunk roads, may I know whether the intention is to centralise the motor repair workshops located in this area? Furthermore, will those workshops, which are unaffected by public projects, be allowed to apply for sites in the centralised motor repair shop area, when completed?

Sir, a census taken last year revealed that there are about 70 workshops, engaged in motor repairing, located at Bukit Timah Road, Sembawang Road, Jalan Pandu and Jalan Pasar. Their operations have contributed quite a great deal to the problems of noise, air and water pollution. They have also contributed to traffic obstruction and, in some cases, have even caused accidents. It is, therefore, proposed to resite some of these workshops on a four-acre site off the 12th milestone Woodlands Road. After the acquisition of land and resettlement, the actual construction work will take about one and a half years. The Housing Board is also developing a centralised motor workshop complex at the Thomson Road industrial estate for the purpose of resettling motor workshops affected by public schemes. Initially, these two centralised workshop areas will be allocated to clearance cases only. But it is hoped eventually to resite all such shops, which now operate along main roads and in the Central area, to several centralised motor repair shops away from the City.

(In Mandarin): Sir, can the Minister say whether the motor repair shops affected by clearance will be given priority of place at the centralised motor workshop complex at Sin Ming Road?

Mr Speaker, Sir, though I do not qualify to take the place of the Minister to answer the Member for Sembawang, I am quite positive that this must be so. Perhaps the Minister will bear me out on this. Sir, in view of the very detailed reply given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn 5.45 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 72 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 304. Sir, this amendment concerns reclamation work, Phase IV, taking place from Bedok to Tanah Merah Besar. I would like to request the Minister to bear in mind the following factors. Most of the residents living in Bedok, Padang Terbakar, Kampong Ayer Gemuroh and Tanah Merah Besar are fishermen and farmers. Consideration should be given to see that no hardship or inconvenience is caused to these farmers, fishermen, or the residents due to reclamation works. If any land is to be acquired, the affected families should be fairly compensated. Of course, the purpose of reclamation work is to add some more land to our Republic, but if it is carried out without sufficient foresight and due attention to the existing conditions of the area, this may cause untold hardship to the residents in that area. There are many small canals in this area earmarked for the reclamation project. These canals serve as outlets to the sea for the fishermen. When these canals are filled up, the fishermen will not be able to push their sampans out to the sea nor will they be able to berth their fishing boats or sampans. Sir, as it is, the area between Bedok and Telok Mata Ikan is low-lying and often gets flooded when heavy rain falls or when the tide is high. The filling up of these canals will, therefore, be another cause for floods in this area. I am told, Sir, that floods bring untold damage and misery to the residents in the affected area as a whole. It is hoped that the Minister will give full consideration to these problems before the actual reclamation work commences.

Sir, Phase IV of the reclamation scheme from Bedok to Tanah Merah will cause some inconvenience to the people living along that part of the coast. With reclamation, inconvenience is unavoidable. However, every effort will be made by the Housing and Development Board to minimise the inconvenience and to prevent any hardships to those affected. In its experience in reclaiming land from Bedok to Tanjong Rhu, the Board has learned from its few mistakes, and I am sure they will be more careful with the second stretch. The Member will be pleased to learn that there is no proposal to acquire the land along the coast above the high-water mark. This reclamation will only be confined to the coastal foreshore. As for the danger of flooding, the major canals serving the area, namely, Bedok canal, Sungei Mata Ikan and Sungei Ayer Gemuroh, will be extended across the reclaimed land into the sea so that the existing stretch in the area will not be affected. During the progress of reclamation, the Board will also construct more drains to facilitate the flow of rain-water from the foreshore to the sea. As for the fishermen living along the coast, they will be able to retain the use of these canals as an access for their boats. From our experience in reclaiming the coast along the Siglap area, the fishermen are, in fact, now using the new foreshore for pitching their boats. All they have to do is to walk the additional distance of the reclaimed land in order to get to the sea. This takes about five minutes. I would urge the Member himself to let my Ministry know if there is any part of the reclamation work which leads to the inconvenience of the residents there or if any canals are blocked, thus causing floods.

In view of the assurance given by the Minister that the Board will minimise any inconvenience or hardship, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting - That the sum to be allocated for Head 72 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 501.

I am not moving, Sir. The sum of $43,569,610 for Head 72 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 73 -

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 104. Sir, a few days ago we have been debating on the fact that the prices of agricultural produce have dropped to a very low level recently. Even the price of pigs has been going down sharply, causing heavy losses to the farmers. According to a general investigation, one of the reasons is that the Central Abattoir in Jurong has adopted a working system of one rest day every week. Because of this, the usual number of pigs sent on that particular day was not slaughtered. According to calculations that number will total up to 5,000 pigs per month owing to rest days. I believe the Minister is as concerned as Members on this side about the interest and welfare of the farmers. I appeal to him to reconsider the matter of allowing the Central Abattoir to close for one rest day every week. This should stop, and the Abattoir should be opened throughout the whole week.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I rise to support the motion moved by the Member for Jurong. The request he has made is also the request and the fervent hope of the people in Jalan Kayu. To my mind, the 7-day working system as adopted by the Central Abattoir until now was a very practical one, even in respect of administration. The question of a rest day can be easily solved in other ways. This problem also relates to the question of rural abattoirs. I remember two years ago in this House I made a request for the setting up of rural abattoirs in the rural areas. Two years have elapsed, and I still cannot find its inclusion in the Development Estimates.

Sir, the weekly rest day on Mondays for butchers slaughtering pigs at the Central Abattoir in Jurong and the French Road Abattoir was introduced last year after representations were made to the Government by the Singapore Pork Merchants Association. But if all concerned feel that the rest day is not necessary, the existing arrangements can be reviewed. As for the price of pigs, I believe it is influenced by more important market factors than just having another working day for the butchers. As an indication of this, the total number of pigs slaughtered in both abattoirs has maintained its steady normal increase since the implementation of the rest day. My Ministry itself would prefer to have a 7-day week, but we cannot force people to work for seven days. A 7-day week means you get good fresh pork for seven days of the week. It is not a question of the farmers as against the butchers. But somehow the question of farmers and butchers went on to the abattoir. As for rural abattoirs, recent studies have shown that there is no immediate need for rural abattoirs. But it is not a lost hope or a lost cause. It is still very much in the mind of my Ministry, .but there are no immediate plans for their implementation.

(In Mandarin): In view of the fact that the Minister has said that he will review the matter of getting the Central Abattoir to carry on business for seven days a week, 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 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 202*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Teong Eng Siong) Sir, this vote is for Intensive Farm Improvement Schemes. I have noticed that this year's vote is a mere sum of $6,100. As compared with the provision for last year, this is a huge reduction. I do not know whether the programme has been well implemented and achieved success, or whether there is no need to further this scheme.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I merely want to raise one question under this subhead. I feel that the vote of $6,100 for this year for Intensive Farm Improvement Schemes is too meagre. I want to know how the money is to be spent in this regard. 6.00 p.m.

Sir, the Intensive Farm Improvement Scheme has been, in fact, in progress since 1968 and is now coming to its end-phase. Hence, the diminishing financial provision for it. But the two Members need not be concerned. When the project was first approved, there was a provision of about $220,000 for capital expenditure. The bulk of this provision has been utilised for land, buildings, furniture and equipment. The balance which has been revoted this year, and about which the Member for Sembawang enquires, will be used for the purpose of a few more pieces of equipment. Researches, which have been initiated, have been made towards improving the yield of our crops by the selection of good parent plants, through better fertilising practices, and through better control of pests and diseases. In fact, experiments have been carried out at the Sembawang Field Station and the demonstration farm at Lim Chu Kang. The results of these experiments are passed on and made known to the farmers through the extension service or training courses organised by the Department of Primary Production.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. 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 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 302. Sir, a period of three years has passed since the Central Fish Market opened for business. During this time, the fish merchants and fishmongers have been co-operating and working together under the give-and-take spirit, which is in the interests of the consumers and for the progress and development of the country. Members may recall that when the idea of the Central Fish Market was fish mooted, it met with considerable opposition from the fish merchants and fishmongers. Subsequently, after consultations and discussions between the parties concerned, some agreement was reached and the fish merchants agreed to move over to the Central Fish Market. According to officials of the Singapore Fish Merchants Federation, one of the terms of agreement was that the temporary offices in the fish market would be rebuilt after a period of two years. Sir, these temporary offices are made of planks and each office measures roughly 15 feet x 10 feet x 10 feet. They are very small and the height is low, and under the scorching sun they are as hot as oven. Apart from space for desks and cupboards, there is no room left to put even a canvas bed for the workers to rest. I understand that some of the plank walls of these offices have already been attacked by termites. Sir, the question of rebuilding the temporary offices has always been troubling the fish merchants there. They have referred this matter to the Primary Production Department several times but have not received any satisfactory answer. I understand, Sir, that the Primary Production Department is now thinking of extending the auction market itself. Between extending the auction market and rebuilding the temporary offices, I think the latter is more urgent. The Minister concerned should give priority to this matter. Sir, the next matter I wish to deal with is the management and administration of the market. I have received several complaints that the management and administration of the market is very poor. Sir, I took up the matter of security of the market with the Minister for Home Affairs yesterday in this House. This is related to the management of the market. I feel that the passes required for entering the market should not be issued at random. Furthermore, there should be stricter check-points at the entrance to ensure that bad elements are not allowed in. I also understand that there is no full-time staff to take charge of administrative and management matters in the fish market. The Primary Production Department sends a man there about two or three times a week to look things over, and on each occasion the officer will stay there for about one or two hours. After that, he will have to go to Changi to attend to other matters. I cannot blame him for that. But whenever this officer is not present at the market, the fish merchants will have nobody to turn to for help. So under these circumstances it is difficult to expect the management of the fish market to be efficient. I hope the Minister will ensure that the Primary Production Department will send a full-time man to take charge of the market.

Sir, there are altogether six supervisory officers and 12 subordinate staff on duty at the fish auction market. Each morning, during the auctioning period, their duties are to see that the fish merchants, auctioneers and retailers, conduct their business in an orderly manner and that the facilities of the auction market are properly made use of. These officers also patrol the market and its surroundings. Supervision-wise, there have, in fact, been a few instances where the fish merchants have complained to the Department that these officers have been too strict in the enforcement of rules and regulations at the auction market. Sir, the gates to the fishing port are manned by two security guards per shift. These guards are retired police officers, whose duties are to check on persons entering the fishing port area. However, as the number of people entering the gates is about 3,000 per night in about 500 vehicles, it is practically impossible to check every person entering the market as this would cause a long queue and much inconvenience. As for the site of the buildings, may I say at the outset that when this idea of transferring the fishermen or the fish merchants from Ellen borough Market and Clyde Terrace Market to Jurong was first thought of, there was, as the Member for Jurong has pointed Out, considerable opposition. There were protests to the M.P.s concerned. There were protests also to more senior and more powerful Ministers. But finally we managed to get them to shift. Within two months, they threw a tea party to which I was invited, which means that we were correct in getting them there. But to recapitulate, as for the buildings, the Primary Production Department has erected three blocks of temporary timber offices for the use of these fish merchants. The Department did not undertake to construct permanent offices for the fish merchants. In fact, the Department is of the view that the private sector should erect their own facilities. So a number of commercial companies engaged in the catching and auctioning of fish have constructed their own offices as well as fish processing installations. The Department itself is prepared to recommend to the Jurong Town Corporation, which owns the land at the fishing port, to lease land to fish merchants who wish to construct their own permanent offices, or to lease a piece of land to the Fish Merchants Association for them to construct offices for their members.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand that not all the fish merchants are rich people. But some may be rich. Those who are rich want to invest their money in deep-sea fishing and other business ventures. So they do not have adequate cash to build their own permanent offices. In this respect, can the Minister suggest to the J.T.C, to build offices and rent them out to the merchants'?

I will certainly make that recommendation. However, what I am more concerned with is not the fish merchants or vendors of fish, who have already been given space in the market, but for others who are even poorer and who have no space within that market and have to rent a little space from those who have places in the market. I understand that they are being held practically to blackmail, and it is my duty first to help these fish merchants or fishmongers without proper accommodation, rather than to build permanent buildings for those who have already been given accommodation and who are, in fact, making quite a bit of money by subletting little portions of space for the use of smaller fishmongers.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad to hear that the Minister knows what is going on in the market. This is praiseworthy. I must show my appreciation for his concern in this respect. Sir, in view of the Minister's promise to make a recommendation to the J.T.C, to build offices and to let them out to the fish merchants, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 307. Sir, subhead 307 deals with the development of Kangkar Fishing Base, which is in my constituency. This fishing base has been in existence for several decades. It has developed from a small fishing village into a thriving fishing base in that part of Singapore. Sir, although its contribution to our economy may be small in terms of percentage, but in terms of dollars and cents its contribution is about $7 million per annum since 1969. The small fishing fleet has also grown to over 100 fishing boats. Last year in this House, I brought up the difficulties encountered by those involved in the fishing industry at Kangkar. For example, with the increase in the number of fishing boats, there was lack of proper facilities for unloading catches of fish, and owing to the narrowness of that particular end of the Serangoon River there was congestion and overcrowding of boats trying to find anchorage facilities. 6.15 p.m. The existing jetty at Kangkar is far too small and narrow. Therefore, as 1 have mentioned earlier, I made an appeal to the Minister for Law and National Development in this House that his Ministry should look into this matter together with some other matters which I raised. Today I am happy to note that there is a provision of $100,000 in the 1972-73 Development Estimates for the development of Kangkar fishing base. According to the Memorandum, the development will provide landing and other facilities for the fishermen operating at Kangkar. I would like to know whether the Primary Production Department has any other plans to develop this fishing base, in view of this year's provision.

Mr Speaker, Sir, at the last Budget session the Member for Punggol inquired whether there were plans to develop the Kangkar fish market and what action was being taken. It was as a result of his representation that my Ministry took this matter up with the Ministry of Finance. As a result, the Ministry of Finance agreed to provide $100,000 for the project, which will be in two parts. First, there will be an extension to the existing jetty. The proposed extension is an L-shaped jetty to be added to the existing one, so that the facilities for boats and fishermen will be extended. Secondly, there will be a new fish market near the jetty comprising an open shed 120 feet x 60 feet occupying an area of about 7,200 square feet. This is about double the area of the existing market,

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for having made this provision. 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 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 902. Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a provision of $100,000 under this subhead for the acquisition of land. I would like to ask the Minister two questions. First, is there any plan to acquire land in specific areas? Secondly, for what development purposes is land acquisition necessary?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Sembawang Research Station occupies an area of about 40 acres of land, and this is the area it has occupied since its establishment in 1959. Over the years the programme for research and experimental work has increased to such an extent that much of the land apportioned for use by the various sections of the Station has now been fully utilised. In order to meet the future demand for more land, as more research and experimental projects are undertaken, the Primary Production Department has acquired 50 acres of the adjoining rubber estate. The land acquired is located immediately south of the existing station. Action is now in hand to prepare and develop this additional land to meet the needs of some of the new projects to be carried out by the Research Station. In fact, the extra land will be used for experiments and research on horticulture, livestock production, and freshwater fish culture. Research on horticulture will include plant breeding, pest and disease control, soil studies and orchid and mushroom cultivation. Livestock production studies will include growth rate, feed conversion, housing and waste disposal of pigs and poultry. Freshwater fish culture work will comprise nutrition, spawning techniques, selection and hybridisation.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his detailed answer to my question. All these plans will certainly contribute to the development of agriculture. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,648,700 for Head 73 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 74 - The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Yeow Chong -

I am not moving, Sir.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 74 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 212. The provision of $4 million under this subhead is for the development and improvement of parks and open spaces. In recent years the Government has launched intensive programmes to build more parks and to beautify our open spaces so that more recreational facilities will be provided for our people. These programmes are praiseworthy. For this year, Sir, a provision of $4 million is allocated for the development of parks and open spaces. I am sure this development plan will be warmly appreciated by the people. However, I wish to ask the Minister one question. Is there any plan to build a seaside park in Sembawang? There should be a plan to provide recreational facilities for the people living in Sembawang. Moreover, the seaside park can become one of the tourist resorts in Singapore. We will be killing two birds with one stone.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the development of parks is currently under planning and design. It is expected to be implemented this year, but it will not be completed this year. The project includes the East Coast Park on the reclaimed land between Bedok and Tanjong Rhu, the Woodlands Park near the Causeway, Kampong Java park at the New Cemetery Road, the Central Park at Fort Canning Hill, Rochester Park, Tanah Merah Park, Pearl's Hill Park, Labrador Hill, Mount Faber Park extension, and a park in Sembawang. The Member for Sembawang is a lucky man today. He has his Sembawang Research Station extended. He is now going to have a park with an area of 35 acres at the 15th m.s. Sembawang Road, opposite the Sembawang School, and extending right to the sea. The Member for Sembawang will have a seaside park where not only his constituents but he himself can rest after a hard day's work.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I must thank the Minister deeply for this plan. Of course, this park is not for the use of people of Sembawang alone. It is also meant to be a tourist resort. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $9,142,400 for Head 74 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 75 -

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 102. Sir, with the exception of Lengkong Tiga. Kampong Pachitan area and in Kampong Eunos, all roads in the eastern sector of Jalan Eunos have been made up under section 19 of the Local Government Integration Act. The conditions of these roads are similar to any other public roads. I believe the Minister can imagine the speed with which traffic moves along these roads. When motorists reach the junctions of these roads, they are in a hurry to cross the road. They do not know who should give way. This is because of the lack of traffic signs at these road junctions. The only exception is the road junction at Jalan Senang and Jalan Lapang. The traffic sign was put up only a few weeks ago. In fact, I have appealed to the Traffic Police to provide more traffic signs, but the answer I have received is that the provision allocated for this purpose has already been spent. Therefore, with this new provision of $100,000 for the financial year 1972-73, can the Minister give an assurance that traffic signs will be installed at all these road junctions?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Kampong Kembangan Citizens Consultative Committee did make a request for the erection of 12 STOP signs at road junctions in that area. Two of these signs have since been erected. There was a lack of funds in the last financial year, but we are getting more money this year. Like the Member for Kampong Kembangan, I myself feel that more STOP signs should be erected at road junctions in order to prevent nasty accidents. I would suggest that he press on with his representation, and I myself will see what I can do at my end.

(In Malay): In view of the Minister's assurance, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 6.30 p.m.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 010 of subhead 201. Sir, in moving this amendment, may I range over my amendment* (6) which is related? * The amendment reads as follows: (6)That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 314.

Yes.

(In Malay): Sir, last year an amount of $500,000 was allocated for the extension of the Pan-Island. I want know why another sum of $300,000 has been provided for 1972-73, which is more than half of the amount provided for the last financial year, when only little work is left to be done. Can the Minister explain the plans that require this provision of $300,000 for 1972-73? Similarly, for the extension of Sims Avenue (from Paya Lebar Road to Changi Road), a sum of $600,000 was provided for the last financial year. The construction work from Paya Lebar Road up to Jalan Eunos has been completed, and the road is now being used. What is left to be done is the extension work from Jalan Eunos to Changi Road. Sir, from the point where work on the new road ends up to the frontage of the Muslim Women's Welfare Home at Jalan Eunos to Changi Road is only a quarter of a mile. Can the Minister explain why such a big vote of $300,00() for this year, which is more than half of the provision for the last financial year, has been provided for this extension work?

Mr Speaker, Sir, funds provided under item 010 of subhead 201 are for the construction of that section of the Pan-Island Expressway from Paya Lebar Road to Jalan Eunos. Work on this project was delayed by the presence of squatters along the proposed alignment of the road. But to-date most of the squatters have been moved, and about 90 per cent of the project has been completed. The sum of $300,000 has been provided for 1972-73 merely to complete the project. There is the cost of compensation for resettling the remaining squatters, and the payment of some bills which have not yet been paid for work already done. It is not unusual that every year bills for work done could not meet the deadline for that financial year, and have to be met out of the funds for the following financial year. The other matter raised by the Member concerns the extension of Sims Avenue from Paya Lebar Road to Jalan Eunos to form part of a one-way system, comprising Geylang Road and Sims Avenue, in order to ease the heavy traffic along Geylang Road. This extension was completed in 1971. I think the Member will agree that it has done considerably to brighten life in that area. It has also eased the traffic problems and, all in all, it has been a tremendous success. This additional sum of $300,000 provided for the next financial year is to complete this one-way system. We will be widening that stretch of Sims Avenue from Paya Lebar Road to Lorong 3, Geylang Road, away from Changi Road. And we will also construct a link road between Sims Avenue and Kallang Road. Hence the provision of 5300,000. The Member will be interested to know that this one-way system will ultimately he extended beyond Jalan Eunos towards Changi Road.

(In Malay): Sir, just now the Minister stated that the vote is for the payment of bills which have not been paid. Does this provision include the payment of compensation to the squatters who have been affected?

Yes, part of it.

(In Malay): Sir, can the Minister explain what are the plans for the extension of Sims Avenue to Changi Road?

Mr Speaker, Sir, to describe the extension in words. It is best shown by way of a plan which I do not have with me now, hut I am prepared to show it to him. Roughly extension, or a continuation of the present extension, from Sims Avenue towards Jalan Eunos, it would carry on parallel to Changi Road, and meet Changi Road somewhere near Kampong Chai Chee. At the moment, Sims Avenue is parallel to (ieylang Road. Part of it has been widened. We will be widening that part of Sims Avenue from Paya Lebar Road to Lorong 3; call it Phase II if you like. Phase III will again be an extension or a continuation of that road, i.e., Sims Avenue, towards Changi, and running parallel to the big road, Geylang Road, which at present is a double carriageway running past the old Garrick Theatre. That is the best that I can explain in words! If the Member is interested in knowing what lands will be affected by this extension, I suggest that he sees the plan for himself.

(In Malay): Sir, I thank the Minister for his explanation, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Cheong Yuen Chee -

I am not moving, Sir.

Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 306*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs J. F. Conceicao and Sim Boon Woo.) Sir, this is a provision for pedestrian overhead bridges and underpasses. I wish to find out from the Minister whether there are plans to build a pedestrian overhead bridge or an underpass across Mountbatten Road at a point somewhere near Guillemard Road. 1 consider it necessary. Let me give the reasons. When games are held in future at the Sports Complex in Kallang Park, there will be, as can be expected, a heavy volume of traffic as well as a big crowd of pedestrians going to and returning from the games. A specially strong pedestrian overhead bridge, or preferably a big underpass, would draw the crowd of pedestrians away from the road, leaving it entirely free for the use of vehicles. Otherwise pedestrians will find it difficult to cross Mount-batten Road before and after the games. Sir, the bulk of the population of my constituency live in the Old Kallang Airport Estate, which is directly opposite the Sports Complex and separated by Mountbatten Road. An overhead bridge or underpass across Mountbatten Road will be convenient for some of my constituents, who are sports enthusiasts, to walk across to the Sports Complex instead of going there by car or bus, which may add to the traffic congestion that is expected there. In fact, most of the people who do not own cars will benefit if there is a pedestrian overhead bridge or an underpass for them to go across Mountbatten Road to the Sports Complex. Sir, I would like to hear the Minister's views.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to bring to the Minister's notice a certain oversight in the building of an overhead bridge in my constituency, which I am sure is not characteristic other overhead bridges - I hope not anyway. The overhead bridge I am talking about is the one standing across Mountbatten Road from the vicinity of the Jalan Batu housing complex on one side to the vicinity of Tun Sen Lanang School on the other. The steps leading up to the bridge on the Jalan Batu side are very well constructed, and there seems to he logic in the construction of two stairways down to the pavement. But on the other side of the bridge at Tun Sen Lanang School, there is only one stairway down leading to within one and a half feet of the road. One would imagine that the stairway of an overhead bridge should open out on to the pavement away from the road, and not immediately on to the road. The whole purpose of the pedestrian bridge is to get pedestrians away from the road. But this bridge seems to be leading pedestrians back on to the road. I had occasion to talk this matter over with one of the Minister's officials, and as a result a railing has been placed to protect the pedestrians, should a bus or a vehicle come too close to where the pedestrian bridge ends up on the road. But I would imagine that if such a thing should happen, this railing will not be very much of a protection to pedestrians. I would urge the Minister to ask his officials to consider working out a safer way for my constituents to go from one side of Mount-batten Road to the other.

Mr Speaker, Sir, action has already been taken in the light of the Member for Katong's representation to widen the footpath in front of the steps of the overhead bridge in question, and to make a slight realignment of the roadside kerbs. As the Member has pointed out, a 30-foot long railing has also been erected as a further safeguard. If the Member is still not satisfied, we will proceed further to meet his complaint. As for the Member for Mountbatten, investigations carried out have shown that very few pedestrians cross that portion of the road referred to by the Member. Besides traffic flow along Mountbatten Road is regulated by traffic light controls at Guillemard Circus and the junction of the Old Airport Road and Mountbatten Road, thereby facilitating pedestrians crossing the road. A pedestrian overhead bridge is, therefore, not necessary at this juncture. However, on completion of the National Stadium, which is what the Member is looking forward to, the Public Works Department will certainly review the situation and build an overhead bridge, if it is considered necessary. In my view, without even looking into the future, I am sure the Member is right in saying that an overhead bridge will be needed when the Stadium is completed. The provision of an underpass is, I am afraid, not feasible as the location in question is just by the side of a big canal. 6.45 p.m.

In view of the answer given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave withdrawn.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 006 of subhead 310. Sir, in moving this amendment, I merely wish to draw the attention of the Minister for Law and National Development to some of the bus shelters from Upper Serangoon Road, 64 m.s., to Punggol Point. I notice that some of these bus shelters are not only small but also are without stone benches, especially those shelters along Punggol Road. Sir, last year I also had occasion to make some requests for more bus shelters along Punggol Road, where there was a need for them. In this respect, I would urge the Minister to consider my suggestion.

Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to ask the Minister two questions. Firstly, last year I made some requests for bus shelters to be erected in Toa Payoh. This has been done, but apparently most of the bus shelters are second-hand and they appear to have been taken from other areas and dumped in Toa Payoh. Surely a new town like Toa Payoh deserves something more attractive than second-hand bus shelters! Secondly, the question of bus bays. I believe that when bus bays are constructed, arrangements should be made with the relevant authorities to site the bus stands near the bus bays. There is one bus bay in Toa Payoh which has not been used. The bus bay is constructed but the bus stop is far away from this bus bay, and one long trailer has monopolised it as its parking lot for several months. I would like to seek clarification from the Minister on this.

Sir, in the outlying rural areas like Punggol, where bus commuters are fewer than in the urban area, standard rural bus shelters with a floor area of about 60 square feet are considered adequate. Seats are not provided for the shelter as they take up too much standing room. But where the needs are justified, bigger bus shelters are constructed, like those along Upper Serangoon Road in Punggol, which have been provided with seats. Altogether six new bus shelters along Punggol Road were constructed in 1971, in response to requests from the public and the Citizens' Consultative Committee. More bus shelters will be provided if these are requested for and found necessary. As for the Member for Toa Payoh, I do not know why a trailer is parked on the bus bay, but if he will let me know where this bus bay is, I will ask my officials to look into it. We can build bus bays, but we cannot force buses to stop within them. Nor can we prevent trailers from parking in bus bays until we get to know about it. As for second-hand equipment, perhaps anything second-hand is better than none. I hope the department did not pull them out of Punggol and put them in Toa Payoh. I agree with the Member for Toa Payoh that a new town like Toa Payoh needs new bus shelters. I promise that I will do my best not to renovate the old but to give him new bus shelters.

Sir, the Minister has just mentioned that since Punggol is an outlying area, therefore, the bus shelters there are much smaller. Let me say that even if these bus shelters are pulled out of Punggol, I do not think they would be put in Toa Payoh. Another matter which the Minister just pointed out is that since the bus shelters along Punggol Road are smaller, about 60 square feet, therefore, there is no need to have seats. Sir, in the light of some vigorous comments from this House last week with regard to commuters having to wait for quite some time before a bus comes along - I believe to some extent this is also true for bus commuters in the Punggol Road area - I would urge the Minister to reconsider my request before asking for permission to withdraw my amendment.

Sir, though these bus shelters in Punggol are small, six of them were built last year. Six is a considerable number compared with that for Tanglin! I have always stated that we are open to request. If the Member for Punggol can justify his representation, we will certainly provide him with bus shelters, perhaps even bigger ones with seats thrown in.

Sir, I must thank the Minister for his assurance, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $15,803,000 for Head 75 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 76 - The following amendments stood on the Order Paper Supplement - Tuan Hail Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi: (1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 76 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 128. Mr Ng Yeow Chong: (2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 76 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 401.

I am not moving, Sir.

I am also not moving, Sir. The sum of $5,726,000 for Head 76 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Pursuant to a resolution of the House, Mr Speaker thereupon left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Development Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1972, to 31st March, 1973, and ask leave to sit again on Monday, 27th March, 1972.

So be it.

Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." -[Mr Barker]. Adjourned accordingly at Five minutes to Seven o'clock p.m.