Hansard, 1974-08-28

PERMISSION TO MEMBERS TO BE ABSENT Under the provisions of clause 2 (d) of Article 30 of the Constitution of Singapore, I have granted permission to the following Members to be or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any Committee of Parliament to which they have been appointed) for the periods stated:- Dr Augustine H. H. Tan (Whampoa) - from 1st to 13th April and from 17th to 29th June, 1974. Encik Othman Bin Wok (Pasir Panjang), Minister for Social Affairs - from 13th to 15th April and from 13th to 22nd June, 1974. Mr Sim Boon Woo (Changi) - from 15th to 25th April, from 10th to 24th June and from 8th to 17th July, 1974. Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol) - from 20th to 26th April and from 23rd to 28th June, 1974. Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon (Tiong Bahru) - from 22nd to 28th April and from 30th June to 6th July, 1974. Mr Hon Sui Sen (Havelock), Minister for Finance - from 24th to 30th April, 1974. Mr S. Rajaratnam (Kampung Glam), Minister for Foreign Affairs - from 6th to 10th May, 1974. Encik A. Rahirn Ishak (Siglap), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs - from 7th to 10th May, 1974. Haji Ya'acob Bin Mohamed (Kampung Ubi), Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office - from 9th to 14th May and from 8th July to 7th August, 1974. Mr N. Govindasamy (Telok Blangah) - from 25th May to 30th June and on 28th and 29th July, 1974. Mr Ong Pang Boon (Telok Ayer), Minister for Labour - from 1st to 12th June and from 14th to 22nd June, 1974. Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong) - from 1st to 14th June, 1974. Mr Tay Boon Too (Paya Lebar) - from 3rd to 9th June, 1974. Mr Ong Soo Chuan (Nee Soon), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs - from 3rd to 16th June, 1974. Mr J. F. Conceicao (Katong) - from 6th to 25th June and from 7th to 18th September, 1974. Mr Hwang Soo Tin (Jalan Kayu) - from 8th to 15th June, 1974. Dr Lee Chiaw Meng (Farrer Park), Minister for Education - from 8th to 30th June, 1974. Mr Chor Yeok Eng (Bukit Timah), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment - from 10th to 23rd June, 1974. Mr Tang See Chim (Chua Chu Kang), Deputy Speaker, - from 13th to 16th June and from 10th to 20th July, 1974. Mr Chan Chee Seng (Jalan Besar), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs - from 14th to 30th June, 1974. Mr Lee Kuan Yew (Tanjong Pagar), Prime Minister - from 15th June to 3rd July, 1974. Dr Ong Leong Boon (Kim Seng) - from 16th June to 15th July, 1974. Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang) - from 25th June to 15th July, 1974. Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah) - from 25th June to 24th July, 1974. Mr Phey Yew Kok (Boon Teck) - from 1st to 10th July, 1974. Mr Lee Khoon Choy (Hong Lim), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs - from 1st July to 31st December, 1974. Mr Jek Yeun Thong (Queenstown), Minister for Culture - from 7th to 14th July, 1974. Mr Lee Yiok Seng (Bukit Panjang) - from 8th to 22nd July, 1974. Mr Wee Toon Boon (Sepoy Lines), Minister of State for the Environment - from 16th to 31st July, 1974. Mr Chua Sian Chin (Mac Pherson), Minister for Health and Home Affairs - from 15th August to 1st September, 1974. Mr Cheong Yuen Chee (Toa Payoh) - from 18th to 27th August, 1974. Mr Ivan Baptist (Potong Pasir) - from 22nd August to 1st September, 1974. Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin (Kampung Chai Chee), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture - from 23rd August to 19th September, 1974. Dr Chiang Hai Ding (Ulu Pandan) - from 31st August to 8th September, 1974. Mr Ahmad Mattar (Leng Kee), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education - from 31st August to 22nd September, 1974. Mr L. P. Rodrigo (Serangoon Gardens) - from 1st to 5th September, 1974. Mr Ang Nam Piau (Thomson) - from 1st to 22nd September, 1974. YEOH GHIM SENG Speaker, Parliament of Singapore

ASSENTS TO BILLS PASSED The following Bills were assented to 29th March, 1974 by the President of the Republic of Singapore on the dates stated: - 28th March, 1974 Telecommunication Authority of 2nd April, 1974 Singapore Bill. 29th March, 1974 (i) Supplementary Supply Bill; and (ii) Supply Bill. 2nd April, 1974 Property Tax (Surcharge) Bill. 25th April, 1974 (i) Parking Places Bill; (ii) Securities Industry (Amendment) Bill; (iii) Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill; (iv) Mutual Benefit Organisations (v) Martial Arts Instruction Bill; and (vi) Companies (Amendment) Bill. 27th April, 1974 National Registration (Amendment) Bill. YEOH GHIM SENG Speaker, Parliament of Singapore

MASS TRANSIT STUDY - (Presentation of Report) Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to table Miscellaneous Paper No. 3 of 1974, a report of the Singapore Mass Transit Study, Phase I, in this House? I shall be referring to this Paper when we come to Question No. 6 for Oral Answer on the Order Paper for today.

MASS TRANSIT STUDY - (Presentation of Report) Yes.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND CONTRIBUTIONS - (Purchase of flats built by Housing and Urban Development Co. (Pte.) Ltd.) asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider extending the provisions of the Central Provident Fund (Approved Housing Schemes) Regulations, 1968, to purchases of flats to be built by the Housing and Urban Development Company (Private) Limited, so that persons in the middle-income group may make use of the amounts standing to their credit in, and their contributions to, the Central Provident Fund for the purchase of such flats.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND CONTRIBUTIONS - (Purchase of flats built by Housing and Urban Development Co. (Pte.) Ltd.) Mr Speaker, Sir, Members will recall that the Central Povident Fund (Approved Housing Schemes) Regulations, 1968, were primarily designed to encourage home ownership among the lower income group. Notwithstanding that, I told the House last March that this policy would be reviewed in 1976 with a view to extending the provisions of the regulations to the middle income group. My Ministry understands and appreciates the problems and difficulties faced by the middle income group in purchasing a flat or a house and we are in full sympathy with them. We have therefore decided to review the policy this year instead of in 1976. Members of the House will be glad to know that my Ministry has decided in principle to allow the middle income group to use part of their CPF savings for the purchase of flats to be built by the Housing and Urban Development Co. (Pte.) Ltd. The details of the middle income housing project are being worked out by the Housing and Urban Development Co. (Pte.) Ltd. Once these are finalised, the rules and regulations governing the use of CPF savings by the middle income group for the purchase of these flats will be worked out and announced. This scheme will be available only for housing units built with Government funds, for example, those built by the Housing and Development Board and the Housing and Urban Development Co. (Pte.) Ltd.

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - (Additional facilities and construction of second runway) asked the Minister for Communications, in regard to the Paya Lebar International Airport, (a) if it is proposed to erect a step-like platform in the Waving Gallery to enable more people to watch aircraft landing and taking off; (b) if he will consider the provision of bigger lockers for the use of transit passengers and a restaurant or refreshment room on the ground floor of the terminal building; and (c) with the heavy aircraft traffic, what is the progress in the construction of the second runway and when it will be completed.

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - (Additional facilities and construction of second runway) Mr Speaker, Sir, I regret to inform the hon. Member for Anson that the waving gallery at Paya Lebar International Airport was closed with effect from 19th March, 1974, for conversion into offices, in view of the shortage of such space at Singapore Airport. An announcement to this effect was made in the press. As for the provision of bigger lockers for transit passengers, I would like to inform the Member that the present luggage locker service which commenced business in February this year has 51 standard-sized lockers to accommodate normal-sized baggage. Larger-sized baggage, which cannot go into any of the standard-sized lockers, are being accepted at the operator's counter for storage behind the counter where some open storage space is available. The Department of Civil Aviation has requested the operator to provide bigger lockers and the operator is presently looking into this request. As for the provision of a restaurant or refreshment room on the ground floor of the Passenger Terminal Building, with the current heavy passenger traffic which is increasing, it is not considered desirable to re-assign space on the ground floor for restaurant or refresh- ment area, as such facilities would occupy a very large area. The present airport restaurant at the Passenger Terminal Building occupies almost the entire first floor above the public Main Concourse. Easy access from the ground floor has been provided to enable passengers as well as their well-wishers to patronize the restaurant. Furthermore, in the departure/transit hail, restaurant facilities have also been provided for transit passengers to have their meals and refreshments, if needed. Although approval for the construction of the second runway was given by the Development Planning Committee in July, 1973, no actual construction work has begun. The subject is still under review consequent to the steep rise in oil fuel early this year, and we are watching the impact on the rate of traffic growth. However, land acquisition and resettlement are proceeding for the second runway. If traffic warrants it, the second runway could be ready by the early 1980s.

POSTAL SERVICE - (Transfer of Division I Officers) asked the Minister for Communications how many Division I Officers in the Postal Service have been transferred to other departments of the Public Service since March, 1973, or how soon such transfers will take place.

POSTAL SERVICE - (Transfer of Division I Officers) Mr Speaker, Sir, since March, 1973, three Division I Officers in the Postal Services Departn:ent have been transferred out as follows: 1. An Assistant Controller of Posts, with 2 years 6 months' service in the Department, was absorbed into the Statistics Service and attached to the Ministry of Labour as from 16th August, 1973. 2. An Assistant Controller of Posts, with a degree in Engineering, took up the appointment of Mechanical Engineer in the Public Works Department with effect from 1st November, 1973. He had 1 year 5 months' service with the Postal Services Department. 3. An Assistant Controller of Posts, with 2 years 8 months' service in the Department, was absorbed into the Administrative Service with effect from 1st January, 1974, but remains in the Postal Services Department on secondment basis for a period of one year with effect from 1st January, 1974, or until the vacancy is filled, whichever is earlier.

POSTAL SERVICE - (Transfer of Division I Officers) Mr Speaker, Sir, why was the Mechanical Engineer recruited into the Postal Services Department in the first instance?

POSTAL SERVICE - (Transfer of Division I Officers) Sir, the Postal Services Department is a closed service, and if someone with a degree in Engineering applies for a post in the Postal Service and is accepted, I see no reason why we should not allow him to work there. But after working for some time, he shows more interest in some other department and, in fact, that was the reason why he was transferred out.

POSTAL SERVICES - (Motorised delivery of mail in rural areas) asked the Minister for Communications (a~ how many scooters and motor cycles (including reserves) are available in the Postal Services Department for the delivery of mail in the rural areas; and (h) how successful has the use of these motorised units been in expediting the delivery of mail in the rural areas.

POSTAL SERVICES - (Motorised delivery of mail in rural areas) Mr Speaker, Sir, 88 out of a total fleet of 124 motor scooters are available for delivery duties in the rural areas. It is the view of the Postal Services Department that the use of scooters in the rural areas has been successful. In these areas, the delivery beats cover relatively longer distances of travel between the delivery post office and the first delivery point. The delivery points are also more scattered. Use of scooterised beats in the rural areas has reduced the travelling time of postmen by about 60 per cent, and each scooterised delivery beat can handle up to 33 per cent more mail traffic than a bicycle beat.

POSTAL SERVICES - (Motorised delivery of mail in rural areas) Mr Speaker, Sir, are all the motor scooters serviceable?

POSTAL SERVICES - (Motorised delivery of mail in rural areas) Sir, the answer is yes.

POSTAL SERVICES - (Motorised delivery of mail in rural areas) Sir, are there sufficient spare parts for the motor scooters?

POSTAL SERVICES - (Motorised delivery of mail in rural areas) Sir, the Postal Services Department has four spare motor scooters and nine spare motor cycles. These are not included in the total fleet of 124 motor scooters which I have just given.

LAMINATED DRIVING LICENCES - (Issue of, and insertion of date of original issue) asked the Minister for Communications if he will consider the issue of laminated driving licences and the insertion of the date of original issue in such licences so as to indicate the driving experience of holders.

LAMINATED DRIVING LICENCES - (Issue of, and insertion of date of original issue) Mr Speaker, Sir. it is the intention of the Registrar of Vehicles to issue laminated driving licences with the inclusion of the date of original issue of a driving licence to indicate the driving experience of the holder of such a licence. As priority is given to public bus transport, the vocational and driving licences of bus drivers and conductors are being replaced first. The exercise to replace existing licences started on 15th July, 1974, and as on 19th August, 1974, 2,935 or 63 per cent of bus drivers and 2,648 or 65 per cent of conductors have been issued with laminated licences. In the second phase, the vocational licences of taxi-drivers and general driving licences will be replaced. As there are 14,397 taxi-drivers and 533,631 general driving licences as at 31st March, 1974, officers in the Registry of Vehicles and Computer Services Department of the Ministry of Finance will be making a joint study on the implementation of this phase.

MASS TRANSIT STUDY - (Progress made) asked the Minister for Communications what progress has been made in the Mass Transit Study, and whether there is any recommendation made or decision reached on the subject so far.

MASS TRANSIT STUDY - (Progress made) Mr Speaker, Sir, the long awaited Final Report on Phase I Mass Transit Study has at last been completed and, with your permission, I have earlier on tabled it in this House as a Misc. Paper No. 3 of 1974. This is the Report in Brief, as the actual Final Report is somewhat voluminous with 232 pages and quite technical in character. The Consultants, Wilbur Smith and Associates, in association with Parsons Brinkerhoff - Tudor-Bechtel who prepared the report for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in short, the World Bank, as Executing Agency of the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of the Republic of Singapore indicated several reasons which make it vital that any transport policy needed to support the development envisaged for Singapore must provide for a Mass Transit System. The study examined six alternative systems, viz. (a) an extension of the existing road-based all-bus system on shared rights-of-way; (b) three rail-based systems; and (c) two all-bus mass rapid transit systems incorporating grade-separated busways. Each of these systems was evaluated in terms of operational feasibility, economic costs and benefits and impacts on the community. From the evaluation, the Consultants have recommended a rail-based mass rapid transit 3R system for further detailed study. Briefly, the recommended system has a total length of 24 miles, of which 10 miles would be underground and the balance at surface or at elevated levels. A total of 31 stations are planned, of which 16 would be underground. The rail system envisages a network of connections from Jurong in the west through the Central Area to Siglap in the east, with a branch line from the Central area through the Orchard Road corridor, thence to Toa Payoh and ending at Ang Moh Kio to the north. The estimated cost of the recommended 3R MRT system (according to 1972 prices) is $698 million which, however, does not include the cost of rolling stock or financing costs. Government has since decided to proceed with further Phase II detailed study of the recommended MRT system in respect of the engineering, economic and financial feasibility and which is expected to be completed, within a period of six months. The objectives for the Phase II study are as follows: (a) Soils tests along the proposed railway route, with special reference to those sections for which underground construction is recommended; (b) Updated estimates of construction costs, to an accuracy of approximately 20 per cent; (c) Analyses and comparisons of fare structures, ridership and revenues for the railway and scheduled bus services; (d) Updating of costs and benefits for the years 1982 and 1992, and calculations of financial and economic rates of return for alternative investment sequences of the MRT system, having regard to: (i) the impact of planned highway investment, and (ii) the proposed short-term measures to promote the efficient use of existing transport facilities.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES - (Setting up of co-ordinating body) asked the Minister for Culture whether any decision has been taken with regard to the setting up of a co-ordinating body for youth activities.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES - (Setting up of co-ordinating body) Mr Speaker, Sir, it has been decided that a National Youth Co-ordinating Committee be established to co-ordinate youth activities in Singapore. The Committee will comprise representatives from the Ministries of Social Affairs, Education, Culture, Labour and the People's Association. The People's Association will chair the National Youth Co-ordinating Committee.

COMMUNITY CHEST - (Setting up of) asked the Minister for Social Affairs whether it has been decided to set up a "Community Chest" for charitable organisations.

COMMUNITY CHEST - (Setting up of) Mr Speaker, Sir, there has been some publicity in recent months on the establishment of a Community Chest in our Republic. I am sure that the Member for Jalan Kayu is aware that the Singapore Council of Social Service is actively working on the establishment of a Community Chest with the aim of centralising fund-raising efforts to finance voluntary welfare activities in the Republic. My Ministry supports the concept of a Community Chest. The establishment of such a Community Chest will result in an efficient utilisation of public donations for those in need and, moreover, by preventing the duplication and profusion of fund-raising efforts by the various voluntary welfare organisations, the Community Chest would enable these voluntary welfare organisations to concentrate mainly on welfare work per se and to increase its efficiency and scope to meet the welfare needs of the community.

CARE FOR THE AGED AND AGED SICK - (Adequacy and co-ordination of services) asked the Minister for Social Affairs (a) what was the total number of (i) aged persons, and (ii) aged sick persons maintained by the various charitable homes for each of the five years from 1969 to 1973; (b) whether he has any plan to organise more adequate services for these categories of people; and (c) if he will encourage and assist in the setting up of a National Association for the aged and the aged sick so as to coordinate efforts in this direction.

CARE FOR THE AGED AND AGED SICK - (Adequacy and co-ordination of services) Mr Speaker, Sir, according to available records maintained by the Social Welfare Department, the total number of aged persons in the various charitable homes was as follows:- Year Number 1969 471 1970 467 1971 538 1972 608 1973 669 The total number of residents in the Woodlands Home for the Aged administered by the Social Welfare Department was:- Year Number 1969 375 1970 433 1971 437 1972 463 1973 564 There is no accurate record of the number of aged sick persons in the various charitable homes known to the Social Welfare Department. According to records maintained by these homes, the number of aged sick persons was as follows: - Year Number 1969 295 1970 316 1971 438 1972 436 1973 451 The only Government Chronic Sick Hospital has about 100 aged sick persons under its care. The Member for Jalan Kayu will agree that caring for the aged and aged sick, as in all welfare efforts, must be a community responsibility involving both the efforts of the Government and the private sector. There is happily no lack of initiative from both these sectors in the planning and implementation of more adequate services for the aged and the aged sick. Although both the Government and voluntary welfare organisations do provide institutional care for the aged and the aged sick, this we recognise is, at best, only a poor substitute for family care. Recent developments in the Republic have been in the direction of establishing facilities and services which will encourage the aged as well as the able-bodied persons to continue living and participating in the community. In the planning of more adequate services for these categories of people therefore, both the Government and voluntary welfare organisations have borne in mind the need for a balanced approach and have taken steps both to improve facilities and increase accommodation in institutions for the aged as well as to introduce new services which will enable the continued participation of the aged in the community. As far as Government effort is concerned, in addition to the construction of four new dormitories in the Woodlands Home for the Aged to accommodate a greater number of aged persons, the Department of Social Welfare is proposing the setting up of Area Social Welfare Centres in the various housing estates which will provide, among other services, the establishment of Old People's Clubs where the aged could have the opportunity of socialising with others, engaging in leisure activities and on the whole leading a more meaningful life. In keeping with the new thinking not to isolate the aged from the community, the Government recognises the need to assist the aged to continue living with their families. The revised Income Tax laws which allow for tax relief for maintenance of aged parents and grandparents is one of the positive measures by the Government in this direction. In the voluntary sector, the Singapore Council of Social Service is setting up a Home for the Aged at Mandai. A community Home for the Aged in a housing estate at Henderson Hill has been implemented successfully, and this has encouraged other efforts by the Singapore Council of Social Service to explore the possibility of establishing a paying hostel for old people at Housing and Development Board estates. It is envisaged that with the longer life expectation which people now enjoy, the problem of the care of the aged will become more acute. There will, therefore, be necessity for the activities of the various organisations concerned with the care of the aged to be co-ordinated. It may not, however, be necessary to set up a National Association for the aged sick but to have such co-ordination done through existing facilities now available. It may be possible for the Council of Social Service whose objects are "to co-ordinate voluntary welfare activities in Singapore not only as between member organisations of the Council but also with other organisations" to undertake this function.

CARE FOR THE AGED AND AGED SICK - (Adequacy and co-ordination of services) Sir, would the Parliamentary Secretary please inform the House whether there is any intention to lay down minimum standards in the running of these homes, with particular regard to the health and medical care, and also to control the activities of some of these homes which are being run along commercial lines?

CARE FOR THE AGED AND AGED SICK - (Adequacy and co-ordination of services) Mr Speaker, Sir, these are good suggestions, and we will give consideration to them.

DEVELOPMENT OF KAMPONG SAN TENG asked the Minister for Law and National Development what is the overall development plan in the Kampong San Teng area and when the development will take place.

DEVELOPMENT OF KAMPONG SAN TENG Mr Speaker, Sir, in the long term, the Kampong San Teng area may be developed for housing and industrial estates, but at the moment there is no planned development programme.

TANJONG RHU HOUSING ESTATE - (Provision of car park, lifts and rubbish chutes) asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ask the Housing and Development Board to give consideration to (i) converting the planted area along Kampong Kayu Road and next to the Geylang River into a car park; and (ii) constructing additional lifts and rubbish chutes for Blocks 10 to 13 in the Tanjong Rhu Housing Estate.

TANJONG RHU HOUSING ESTATE - (Provision of car park, lifts and rubbish chutes) Sir, the Housing and Development Board does not consider it advisable to convert the site between Kampong Kayu Road and Geylang River into a car park, because there are sufficient car parks at Kallang Park within walking distance of the housing estate. The flats, Sir, referred to in the Question, are the emergency-type flats. It is difficult to install additional rubbish chutes for these flats without major reconstruction. However, the Board will study the feasibility of installing additional lifts in the flats, provided the costs are not prohibitive.

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD - (Reasons for increased service/conservancy charges) asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will give reasons to justify the quantum of the recent increases in service/conservancy charges in the Housing and Development Board housing estates.

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD - (Reasons for increased service/conservancy charges) asked the Minister for Law and National Development for the details of the financial and other factors that have necessitated the recent increases in the Housing and Development Board conservancy charges.

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD - (Reasons for increased service/conservancy charges) Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I would like to answer Questions 12 and 13 together in order to avoid repetition.

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD - (Reasons for increased service/conservancy charges) Yes.

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD - (Reasons for increased service/conservancy charges) Thank you, Sir,I refer Members to the budget of the Housing and Development Board for 1974/75, which was published in the Government Gazette on 24th May, 1974. The Board will spend $40 million on management, maintenance and repairs in its estates for the current fiscal year. It hopes to recover $18 million from its collection of service and conservancy charges at the old rates. The increases in service and conservancy charges will bring in another $15 million, making a total of $33 million. So the Board has still to provide a subsidy of $7 million for the maintenance and management services to its estates. The financial statements which I referred to do not include the capital costs of constructing swimming pools, sports complexes and recreational and other amenities in the housing estates, nor the increase in loan servicing expected for all new Government loans as a result of the new Central Provident Fund rates. Members will recall that when I announced in Parliament on 30th November last year the increases in the selling prices of Housing Board flats, I also informed Members that the service and conservancy charges for HDB flats will be increased in 1974 and that rentals may be increased. Rentals have not been increased but the service and conservancy charges have been revised with effect from 1st July, 1974. The reasons for the revision have been explained in the press statement issued at the time. The service and conservancy charges have never gone up since 1960 when flats were first built for rental by the Housing and Development Board nor for flats sold under the Home Ownership Scheme, first introduced in 1965. Most of the tenants in flats built by the former Singapore Improvement Trust do not pay any service and conservancy charges. This is an anomaly. In the last 10 years, there have been mounting increases in the service and conservancy costs. The charges for water used in cleaning the common areas have increased by about 248 per cent. Charges for electricity for lighting of public areas, the running of lifts and power to pump water to the roof tank has increased by about 69 to 70 per cent. Wages of workers and salaries of management staff have also increased with the National Wages Council recommendations and higher Central Provident Fund contributions, while the inflation in our construction industry has raised the costs of redecoration and maintenance works by more than 100 per cent. Lift contractors charged from $30 to $50 per month to maintain a lift in 1964. Now they charge $80 per month. Residents in Housing Board estates now enjoy better environment, services and amenities than they did 10 years ago. More greenery, gardens and playgrounds have been added in the estates. Sports complexes and swimming pools are provided in each new town. There is emergency repair service round the clock for repairs to electrical and sanitary fittings in their flats. They can call upon the service of the Lift Rescue Unit. Residents will enjoy even better environment, services and amenities in the future. Swimming pools and other sports facilities are being extended to old housing estates. The first such swimming pool is under construction for the Old Kallang Airport and Tan jong Rhu Estates. Other swimming pools are being planned for the Bukit Ho Swee and Alexandra Estates while a sports complex will serve residents in the Tiong Bahru, Redhill and Henderson Road Estates. The increase in service and conservancy charges has been modest. They appear large only because they had not been gradually adjusted since 1960. For the 66,744 owners of Housing Board flats, the maximum increase (for the larger-sized flats) is only $10 per month. Fifty-five per cent of these owners are using their CPF credits to pay for their flats. The only cash outlay per month for their homes is the service and conservancy charges and property tax, which together come to less than the rental they would otherwise have to pay. The Housing and Development Board subsidises the rents of tenants. It cannot subsidise increases in service and conservancy charges. The 90,450 tenants of Housing Board fiats, who previously enjoyed lower service and conservancy charges than owners, have to pay the same rate as owners of Housing Board flats. But to minimise hardship, the increase ranging from $6 for 1-room (emergency) flats to $18.50 for 4-room flats, is being implemented in two stages. To equalise subsidies between old and new flats, service and conservancy charges for sold SIT flats are now the same as for owners of HDB flats. 14,990 tenants of SIT flats will now pay service and conservancy charges similar to HDB tenants. These SIT tenants have been enjoying free service and conservancy for the last 17 years. This was due to an administrative oversight. Nevertheless, to relieve hardship, the Housing Board has implemented the increase of these charges also in two stages. The Housing and Development Board has to revise the service and conservancy charges to be more equal in its treatment of old and new tenants, and between owner-owned and rented, premises. Lastly, may I remind Members that the Board must also be ready to meet increased subsidies as interest rates for loans from CPF funds go up for the new estates.