The text
ORAL ANSWER TO QUESTION - HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS - (Day-lighting for common internal corridors) 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.
ORAL ANSWER TO QUESTION - HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS - (Day-lighting for common internal corridors) 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [1st Allotted Day].
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 2.32 p.m.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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 -
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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 -
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 I am not moving, Sir.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 Sir, in the light of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 I thank the Minister for his reply. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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?
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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 -
That the sum to be allocated for Head 31 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 304.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 Mr Yeo is not here. The sum of $2,157,800 for Head 31 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 32 -
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 (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?
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 (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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 (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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 (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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 Yes.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 (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?
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 (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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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?
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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 -
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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?
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 In that case, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 (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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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!
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 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-
That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 003 of subhead 203.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 I am not moving, Sir.
DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST - APRIL, - 1972, TO 31ST MARCH, 1973 (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.