Volume 94 Monday No 26 7 November 2016

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS

Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer Not Answered by End of Question Time

Page

24. Trends and Penalties for Jaywalking (Ms ) 1 30. Fund Allocation to Agencies Based on Qualitative Indicators (Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin) 2 33. Adoption of WHO Suicide Prevention Strategy (Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin) 3 34. Wage Differential of Ex-offender Placed in a Job through SCORE (Mr ) 5 35. Unsolved Hit-and-Run Traffic Accidents (Ms ) 5 38. Mandatory Insurance Coverage for Contract Workers (Ms Chia Yong Yong) 6 40. Tighter Regulation of Home Renovation Contractors (Er Dr ) 7 44. Encouraging Residents and Volunteers to Help Curb High-rise Littering (Miss Wei Ling) 8 45. Action against Errant Renovation Contractors (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 9 48. Parallel Road to KPE as Additional Route for Motorists Travelling between Hougang and Ubi (Mr ) 10 50. Conditions for Granting Exemptions for Mother Tongue (Mr ) 11 53. Police Action in Hostage Case Involving Two-year-old Child in Sembawang (Dr ) 12 54. Possibility of Dual Citizenship for Singaporeans (Mr Chun Fai) 12 55. Publicity of Workplace Safety Practices by Premises Owners (Mr ) 13 58. Affordability of Childcare Services since 2008 Review (Mr ) 14 61. Freezing or Reducing Land Rent for JTC Land as Measure to Help SMEs (Miss ) 15 62. Competition between Local Retailer and Offshore Online Retail Shops (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 16 63. Update on Completion of Terminal 4 at Changi Airport (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 17 65. Reasons for Higher Bills for Patients with Integrated Shield Plan Riders (Assoc Prof Pei Siong) 17 66. Singaporean Co-workers Guarantors for Foreign Nurses (Ms K Thanaletchimi) 18 67. Verification of Foreign Nurses' Qualifications (Ms K Thanaletchimi) 19

68. Measures to Deter Social Media from Sowing Discord among Racial and Religious Groups (Ms Joan Pereira) 20 69. Ensuring Quality of Elder-friendly Features in Studio Apartments (Mr ) 21 70. Regulations for Motorcyclists Riding in HDB Void Decks and other Public Spaces (Mr ) 22 71. Motor Vehicle Accidents Involving Injury or Death of Elderly (Dr ) 22 72. Operating Cost Considerations in Transport Fare Reviews (Assoc Prof Randolph Tan) 23 73. Actions against Foreign Entities that Undermine Singapore's Racial or Religious Harmony (Mr ) 24 74. Evidence that Legal Online Gambling Reduces Illegal Online Gambling and Would Not Result in Overall Increase in Gambler Numbers (Mr Leon Perera) 25 75. Inclusion of Slightly Older Lifts in Lift Enhancement Programme (Mr Pritam Singh) 26 78,79,80,81. Quality Control for Lift Installation and Maintenance (Ms , Ms ) 27 82. Contingency when Lift Companies Exit Singapore's Market (Ms Tin Pei Ling) 30 84. Service Standards for HDB's Replies to Residents (Ms ) 30 85. Extent of HDB's Authority in Water Leakage Repair Incidents where Homeowners are Uncooperative (Ms Foo Mee Har) 31 86. Safety Measures for Rides at Fun Fairs, Carnivals and Theme Parks (Ms Joan Pereira) 32 87. Temporary Centre for Hawkers Affected by Fire at Jurong West Market and Coffeeshop (Mr ) 33 88. Ramps for HDB Flats with Steps at Entrances (Mr Yik Chye) 34 89. Lifts for Private Buildings More than Three Storeys in Height (Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye) 35 TRENDS AND PENALTIES FOR JAYWALKING

24 Ms Chia Yong Yong asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Government has studied the trends in increased jaywalking; (b) what are the numbers of jaywalkers over the last five years; (c) how many of them have been warned or penalised for jaywalking; and (d) what are the Government's plans to penalise jaywalking and ensure that jaywalking will be brought under control.

Mr K Shanmugam: To get a sense of the jaywalking situation, the Police monitor two indicators: the numbers of fatal and injury accidents involving pedestrians who jaywalked. In 2011, there were 25 fatal accidents and 292 injury accidents involving jaywalkers. In comparison, in 2015, there were 22 fatal accidents and 208 injury accidents involving jaywalkers. While the numbers of fatal and injury accidents involving jaywalkers have fallen, nevertheless, jaywalking remains an issue we are concerned about. We need both enforcement and education to tackle this issue. The Traffic Police (TP) deploys officers at jaywalking hotspots to enforce against jaywalking and educate pedestrians on safe road use. On average, in the last five years, TP issued about 7,400 warnings or summonses for jaywalking each year. TP regularly engages pedestrians on road safety and good road-use practices, especially the young and elderly, who are more vulnerable. Last year, TP partnered Shell to organise the 35th Shell Traffic Games to educate primary school students on road safety. TP also partnered the Singapore Road Safety Council, Tote Board and Singapore Pools to organise the Road Safety Concert for the Golden Age to educate elderly pedestrians about safe road-use. TP will also be launching another road safety campaign targeting the elderly later this year. The campaign will provide an easy self-test kit for elderly pedestrians to learn more about their visual, hearing and reflex capabilities, and help them better understand themselves and the risks of jaywalking. The Government will continue to implement road safety features for pedestrians. For example, LTA has installed metal barriers along the road or centre divider to discourage jaywalking. LTA will also build more pedestrian crossings to facilitate safe crossing. TP works closely with LTA on the “Silver Zone” initiative, which brings senior-friendly road safety 2

features to matured estates with high concentrations of elderly folks. LTA will expand the Green Man Plus Scheme, which allows seniors extra time to cross the road by tapping their senior citizen EZ-Link cards. It is also the pedestrians’ individual responsibility to ensure that they practise good road safety habits, including not jaywalking. We would like to remind pedestrians to always use proper pedestrian crossings, for example, traffic light junctions, zebra crossings, overhead bridges and underpasses. All road users have a part to play in keeping our roads safe. Other road users, including motorists and cyclists, also need to look out for pedestrians. Back to Contents FUND ALLOCATION TO AGENCIES BASED ON QUALITATIVE INDICATORS

30 Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked the Minister for Finance (a) whether the Ministry has explored using qualitative indicators versus quantitative performance indicators to determine how funding is allocated for different agencies; and (b) how has the Ministry worked with the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Ministry of Education to measure social and cultural impact.

Mr : The Government strives to ensure that public monies are well spent to achieve their intended outcomes. In our evaluation of programmes for funding, we are open to considering all forms of performance indicators that help provide a more holistic assessment of their impact. This includes both qualitative as well as quantitative indicators. While current performance indicators tend to be quantitative in nature, we complement these with qualitative indicators. For example, when looking at public housing, we use both quantitative data, which include home ownership rates and debt servicing ratio for applicants for new flats, and qualitative indicators which include regular surveys of residents on factors such as satisfaction with the living environment. Both quantitative and qualitative indicators are considered to refine our housing policies and programmes, improve town designs and guide how we allocate resources for public housing. Each Ministry is accountable for its respective outcomes. MOF supports each Ministry’s work in their development of performance indicators that balance between helping to capture their impact, while not being too onerous to track. These are regularly reported for each Ministry 3

as part of the annual Revenue and Expenditure Estimates released during Budget. In addition, every two years, the Ministry of Finance works with agencies to publish the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review (SPOR), which takes stock of Government programmes. This includes social and cultural impact, which is measured through a wide range of indicators such as healthcare affordability, the resilience of families, and the incidence of volunteerism. For instance, to track efforts in strengthening families, the Ministry of Social and Family Development monitors indicators such as social attitudes towards family life from periodic surveys. The Ministry of Education tracks indicators such as the number of students who progress to Secondary and post-Secondary education, and the international ranking of our education system. The Ministry of Health tracks indicators on waiting times, bed occupancy rates and public satisfaction with public hospitals and polyclinics. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth monitors volunteerism rates but also qualitative indicators such as the attitudes of youth to helping the less fortunate and contributing to society. We are mindful that not every policy outcome can be tracked by a single set of numbers. While quantitative indicators provide a measurable and comparable basis for evaluation of an agency’s programmes, qualitative indicators can provide further insight into outcomes that are difficult to measure. We will continue to seek assessing programmes from multiple dimensions. Back to Contents ADOPTION OF WHO SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY

33 Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry is adopting the suicide prevention strategy recommended by WHO and, if so, how has it been adapted for our context; (b) what measures have been taken to reduce the stigma about help-seeking for suicide attempts; and (c) how does the Ministry work with the police to ensure that those arrested for attempting suicide are provided sufficient psychological support especially those who appear mentally unstable.

Mr : Singapore adopts a multi-pronged approach to prevent suicide, in line with the recommendations under the WHO Public Health Action for the Prevention of Suicide Framework. Government agencies and stakeholders in the social sectors work together to prevent suicides by promoting upstream prevention, encouraging help seeking, providing support to at-risk groups and offering crisis support. 4

First, in the area of prevention, we seek to build mental resilience in our population and increase public awareness of the importance of good mental well-being. Students in our schools are taught social-emotional skills and coping strategies, as well as how to look out for one another and to seek help from trusted adults if necessary. In the community and at workplaces, Health Promotion Board (HPB) offers programmes to promote mental health literacy. It also conducts workshops to provide our elderly tips on mental wellbeing and resilience. Second, we have various programmes to reduce the stigma about seeking help for mental issues. Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) such as the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), have been active in promoting public awareness on suicide prevention. Silver Ribbon (Singapore) is another organisation that has been combating stigma about mental illness. It reaches out to persons who need help in building mental wellness and encourages them to seek early treatment. In addition, IMH also conducts public education programmes in schools and in the community. Third, we have put in place services and programmes to provide support to those identified to be at higher risk. For instance, students identified to be depressed or are at risk of suicide are typically referred to school counsellors, or the Child Guidance Clinic in IMH for more challenging cases. For young persons between 16 and 30 years old, the Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT), located at SCAPE Youth Park, provides a one-stop centre (CHAT Hub) for mental health help and resources. Within the community, Family Service Centres (FSCs) provide counselling and support services to families and individuals with social and emotional difficulties. Senior Activity Centres organise befriending programmes to reach out to elderly persons who live alone in rental flats so as to prevent social isolation and depression. Schools, FSCs and VWOs are in turn supported by the Response, Early Intervention, Assessment in Community mental Health, or REACH, teams set up by IMH. These are multidisciplinary teams that provide training and support to partners so as to strengthen their ability to identify and manage at-risk youths and children and to make appropriate referrals. Fourth, we have services in place for individuals in crisis who need urgent help. SOS operates a 24-hour hotline to counsel persons in distress. IMH also operates a 24-hour Mental Health Helpline manned by counsellors who are trained to de-escalate situations, assess and triage cases, and activate home visit teams quickly if necessary. For cases of attempted suicide, the Police may refer the person to SOS for counselling, or 5

engage the next-of-kin to assist in supporting and caring for the person. If there are clear signs indicating possible mental instability, the Police may refer the person to the IMH for an assessment. The person may be warded at IMH for care and treatment if necessary. The reasons for suicides are often complex and multi-dimensional. Each suicide is one too many. We will continue to improve our inter-agency and multi-prong suicide prevention efforts. Back to Contents WAGE DIFFERENTIAL OF EX-OFFENDER PLACED IN A JOB THROUGH SCORE

34 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Home Affairs in the last five years (a) what is the average wage differential of an ex-offender who secures employment through the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) compared to the median industry wage in the relevant industries; and (b) what is the number of white collar or office-based jobs that SCORE has matched ex-offenders to.

Mr K Shanmugam: Based on the employment facilitated by SCORE in 2015, the median salary of ex-offenders was on average about 10% lower than the median salary for similar occupations in the market. Of the 2,157 inmates assisted by SCORE in 2015, 1% (or 30) were matched to white- collar jobs. This figure has been fairly consistent over the last five years. The employers’ support for the acceptance and fair employment of ex-offenders is key in helping them rebuild their lives. As ex-offenders make the effort to turn over a new leaf, we hope that society, including employers and the community, will stand ready to support them. Back to Contents UNSOLVED HIT-AND-RUN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

35 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) to date, how many hit-and- run traffic cases remain unsolved; (b) whether the Ministry has an information network which includes workshops to report on suspicious damaged vehicles and immigration officers to do the same for vehicles leaving Singapore; and (c) what other measures are in place to apprehend drivers on the run.

6

Mr K Shanmugam: Since 2015, there were a total of 233 hit-and-run accidents involving injuries and seven involving fatalities. About one-third of those involving injuries, which comprise the bulk of such accidents, have been solved. Of the seven fatal hit-and-run accidents, all but one have been solved. As part of investigations into such accidents, the Traffic Police (TP) will examine all available forensic evidence as well as camera footage from the accident scene and its vicinity. TP will also appeal for witnesses through multiple platforms such as displaying witness appeal signs at the accident location and broadcasting appeal notices via mainstream and social media. Once the identity of the offender or vehicle is established, TP will spare no effort to bring the offender to task. TP also work through various partners like the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the insurance and motor workshop industries to locate the vehicles. TP obtain accident information, including the damage to the vehicles, from the General Insurance Association. TP will also engage motor workshops as part of its investigations. We take a tough stance against motorists who flee from an accident scene. All motorists must stop when they are involved in an accident and render aid to the victim. Severe penalties are meted out to hit-and-run offenders to deter motorists from fleeing from the accident scene. Offender can be fined up to $3,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to a year. The offender will also be disqualified for driving for at least a year. These charges are in addition to charges under the Penal Code if death or hurt were caused in the accident. Back to Contents MANDATORY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CONTRACT WORKERS

38 Ms Chia Yong Yong asked the Minister for Manpower whether there are any plans to protect contract workers with mandatory insurance cover to be purchased by companies contracting their services, particularly health, personal accident and life insurance.

Mr : Contract workers can be under "contracts of service" or "contracts for service". A contract of service is defined by an agreement between an employer and an employee which includes the terms and conditions of employment. In a contract for service, an independent contractor, such as a self-employed person or a freelancer, is engaged for a fee to carry out an assignment or project. 7

All local employees who are under contracts of service are entitled to have medical benefits through mandatory employer and employee Medisave contributions. Employees can use these Medisave contributions to pay for MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans premiums. In addition, all employees are also eligible under the Work Injury Compensation Act for work injury compensation if they are injured at work or if they contract an occupational disease. Companies who contract services from self-employed individuals under contracts for service are not required to buy insurance for these individuals. This is because there is no employer-employee relationship between them. Nonetheless, self-employed persons are required to contribute to their CPF Medisave accounts if they earn an annual net trade income of more than $6,000. These contributions can likewise be used to pay premiums for MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans. Contract workers who are under contracts of service can contact MOM for assistance if they are not provided with statutory benefits that they are entitled to. Back to Contents TIGHTER REGULATION OF HOME RENOVATION CONTRACTORS

40 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether there are plans for greater regulation of home renovation contractors to have a minimum entry level for such contractors; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider requiring such companies to post a bond before they are allowed registration with HDB or BCA.

Mr : BCA regulates construction works to ensure the structural safety of buildings under the Building Control Act. HDB requires renovation contractors to be registered under the Registered Renovation Contractors Scheme (RRCS) to ensure that renovation works in HDB flats do not affect the structural integrity of the building. Under HDB’s RRCS, renovation contractors must: a. Have a minimum paid-up capital of $30,000 if they are a private-limited company; b. Be registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority; c. Should have at least three years of experience in renovation works; d. Attend the training course on "Renovation for Public Housing" so that they are familiar with the rules and regulations in renovating HDB flats. However, both BCA and HDB do not regulate the quality and schedule of renovation 8

works. These are contractual issues between the contractor and their client. Home owners should consider engaging renovation contractors who are accredited under the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and/or renovation contractors’ associations. One such example is the joint accreditation scheme between CASE and the Singapore Renovation Contractors and Material Suppliers Association (RCMA). Contractors accredited under this scheme are required to post a performance bond to cover disputes arising from non-performance of the renovation contractor. Back to Contents ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CURB HIGH- RISE LITTERING

44 Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources instead of increasing deployment of cameras and enforcement staff to curb high-rise littering, whether the Ministry will consider enhancing ground enforcement by allowing residents on patrol or designated volunteers to submit evidence of the offence and enable NEA to take immediate action against the offenders.

Mr B M M: High-rise littering is an anti-social act and can be a serious offence which poses safety and hygiene problems to the public. However, due to the nature of the offence and our densely built-up housing estates, high-rise litterbugs can be difficult to identify and apprehend. When feedback on high-rise littering is received, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will work with the Town Councils and grassroots organisations to conduct outreach efforts to educate residents not to commit high-rise littering. The offences would usually cease after such outreach efforts. Where there are cases of persistent high-rise littering despite such efforts, NEA would deploy surveillance cameras at suitable vantage points to identify and apprehend the high- rise litterbugs. Between August 2012 and June 2016, NEA conducted more than 3,400 camera deployments and took more than 2,800 enforcement actions against high-rise litterbugs. The camera deployments have helped to increase the number of enforcement actions 90-fold since 2011 when surveillance cameras were first introduced. Today, officers are only stationed on the ground in a small number of cases where the deployment of cameras is not possible. We welcome the suggestion from MP Cheryl Chan and encourage members of the public, 9

including residents on patrol or designated volunteers, to provide any information or evidence of high-rise littering offences including video footage which can help NEA to conduct investigations to establish the identity of the offender and take appropriate enforcement action. Beyond enforcement efforts, it is important to involve the community and educate our young to take ownership of the environment. To this end, NEA, together with the Public Hygiene Council and partners of the Keep Singapore Clean Movement, have been working closely with the Ministry of Education to inculcate in students, the habit of keeping their homes, school compounds and common areas in the neighbourhood clean. We will also continue to work with the community to ensure that our enforcement and outreach efforts are effective in discouraging such inconsiderate and potentially criminal behaviour so that everyone can live in a clean and safe environment. Back to Contents ACTION AGAINST ERRANT RENOVATION CONTRACTORS

45 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) (a) how many errant interior renovation contractors have been taken to court over renovation disputes in the past three years; and (b) what regulations are in place to prevent errant contractors from setting up a new company to continue their misdeeds.

Mr S Iswaran: Renovation disputes may pertain to unfair practices. The Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA) protects consumers against unfair practices by retailers of goods and services, including renovation contractors. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received consumer feedback on about 400 renovation contractors annually from 2013 to September 2016, or about 6% of renovation businesses1 in Singapore. CASE successfully helped the majority of these consumers to resolve the disputes through negotiation and mediation. CASE did not file any injunction application with the courts against renovation contractors over disputes related to unfair practices under the CPFTA. Separately, about 160 consumer cases2 filed with the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) each year were disputes on renovations. CASE has worked with the Singapore Renovation Contractors and Material Suppliers

1On average, there were 6,550 renovation businesses in Singapore from 2013 to August 2016. 2SCT is not able to provide the number of unique businesses which have had cases filed against them. 10

Association (RCMA) on the CaseTrust-RCMA accreditation scheme. Renovation contractors who are CaseTrust-RCMA accredited provide prepayment protection, and offer consumers a CaseTrust standard renovation contract which provides consumers with cost transparency and accountability on deliverables. MTI regularly reviews the CPFTA to ensure that it remains relevant and offers appropriate protection for consumers. The Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament on 13 September 2016. The amendments strengthen the measures that may be taken against errant retailers, including renovation contractors, who persist in unfair practices. This includes appointing SPRING Singapore (SPRING) as the administering agency with investigation and enforcement powers, and additional measures that the courts may impose on errant retailers, such as requiring them to publicise injunction orders, and notify SPRING of changes to their employment status and business entities. This enables SPRING to monitor businesses and individuals who are under injunction orders to ensure that they comply with the orders, and SPRING will take timely action against them if they do not. The changes will come into effect by end 2016. Back to Contents PARALLEL ROAD TO KPE AS ADDITIONAL ROUTE FOR MOTORISTS TRAVELLING BETWEEN HOUGANG AND UBI

48 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Transport whether LTA will consider (i) building another road parallel to the KPE as an additional route for motorists travelling between Hougang and Ubi and (ii) increasing the speed limit to 90km/h along the stretch of KPE between Buangkok Drive and Defu flyover.

Mr : Building more roads to improve traffic speeds is not a sustainable option in land-scarce Singapore. Furthermore, studies based on the experiences of other cities have shown that building more roads only relieves congestion temporarily. Soon, more motorists will be attracted to use the additional roads, making them congested as well. The more sustainable approach is to encourage motorists to switch to public transport, manage traffic demand, and continue to tighten the growth of the vehicle population. We have recently added 15 new trains to increase the capacity of the North-East Line. We will introduce two additional bus services by the end of this year to bring residents living in the Northeast from 11

their homes directly to the city centre. We are also monitoring traffic speeds to see whether there is a need to introduce Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) on the KPE. We reduced the vehicle growth rate to 0.25% from 2015, and will consider whether to bring it to zero at the next review. For safety reasons, we cannot increase the speed limit of the KPE between Buangkok Drive and Defu flyover. The assessment is that this stretch of the KPE does not have sufficient sight distance for motorists to react to traffic or obstacles ahead if they are travelling above 80 kilometres per hour. Back to Contents CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING EXEMPTIONS FOR MOTHER TONGUE

50 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Education (Schools) (a) what constitutes "exceptional circumstances" in which Mother Tongue (MT) exemptions are granted to schoolchildren with diagnosed special education needs (SEN); and (b) how does the Ministry assess SEN children who are able to compensate for their learning disabilities currently by relying on memory or rote learning instead of comprehension and assimilation of MT but who will face pronounced difficulties in learning MT in the future.

Mr : A student with special education needs may be considered for exemption from Mother Tongue Language (MTL) if he or she has certified Special Educational Needs (SEN) that severely affect his or her ability to cope with learning MTL and with overall learning. In the assessment of severe learning disabilities, one key consideration is how well the child responds to instructions given by the teacher. Regardless of the compensatory approach used, the child’s rate of response to instruction is an important indicator of possible learning disabilities. Children with more severe learning disabilities have been observed to show relatively poor rate of response to instructions, and to have persistent difficulties in learning despite receiving appropriate teaching and intervention. The MTL exemption is given to students with SEN who are not coping well with their overall studies. This is to help reduce their total academic load so that they can cope better with the learning of other subjects. When reviewing applications for MTL exemption from students with SEN, the consideration is not just whether they have diagnosed special needs, but also how they are coping with their overall learning. 12

Students with SEN who are coping with their overall studies but have difficulty with the Standard MTL curriculum, should consider the option of taking MTL at Foundation level, which is less demanding, instead of seeking MTL exemption. The Foundation MTL curriculum at Primary 5 and 6, and the MTL "B" curriculum at Secondary and Junior College levels are focused on the development of oral and listening skills and have a much reduced demand on writing skills. Back to Contents POLICE ACTION IN HOSTAGE CASE INVOLVING TWO-YEAR-OLD CHILD IN SEMBAWANG

53 Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Home Affairs with regard to the recent hostage incident where a two-year-old child was held in a 17-hour standoff in Sembawang (a) why did the police not storm into the flat earlier and rescue the child; and (b) what were the considerations before the police decided to act.

Mr K Shanmugam: The priority of the Police in a hostage situation is to ensure the safety of the hostage, and the people in and around the incident location, such as the public and Home Team officers. Where possible, Police will seek to resolve the incident without any person coming to harm. The tactics employed to achieve this objective would vary according to the incident. I cannot go into the specific operational details for this case. In general, Police will engage the hostage-taker to seek a peaceful resolution, even if it could lead to a prolonged stand-off, such as in this case. There are risks involved for the hostage and people in and around the incident, when a storming operation is carried out. The Police did not storm into the flat earlier as it was assessed that the hostage-taker did not pose any immediate danger to the child if he was not provoked. As a result, the ground decision was taken to de-escalate the situation by deploying the Crisis Negotiation Unit to talk to the hostage-taker to persuade him to surrender. When negotiations were not successful, the Police had to assess the right timing to break into the flat without putting the child at risk. The Police eventually succeeded in rescuing the child, unharmed, and apprehended the hostage-taker. No one was injured in the operation. Back to Contents

13

POSSIBILITY OF DUAL CITIZENSHIP FOR SINGAPOREANS

54 Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai asked the Minister for Home Affairs what are the reasons for not allowing Singaporean citizens to hold dual citizenships and whether the time is now right to review the relevant rules.

Mr K Shanmugam: Singapore does not allow dual citizenship. We are a small and young nation and it is important that our citizens have a long-term commitment to building a future together. Singaporeans enjoy rights and privileges as citizens, and are expected to uphold the duties and responsibilities that come with citizenship. Allowing Singaporeans to retain or acquire a second citizenship is unlikely to enhance that commitment, but could instead dilute it. Back to Contents PUBLICITY OF WORKPLACE SAFETY PRACTICES BY PREMISES OWNERS

55 Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for Manpower what are the efforts undertaken to ensure that (i) premise owners publicize safe workplace practices or make adequate provisions to ensure that independent contractors operating in their premises are protected from workplace incidents; (ii) service buyers play an active role in safety discussions with independent contractors that they engage so that the incidents can be avoided; and (iii) greater publicity, training and educational efforts are channelled to creating safer workplaces for independent contractors.

Mr Lim Swee Say: Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, premise owners have to take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that their premises are safe for workers, including independent contractors. As required by the Act, premise owners need to conduct risk assessment to eliminate or mitigate any foreseeable risks before work activity can commence. Service buyers also play an important role in ensuring the safety and health of independent contractors. For instance, service buyers are encouraged to adopt the bizSAFE programme, introduced by the WSH Council, to build in-house WSH capabilities in risk management. They can even go a step further to procure services only from bizSAFE certified contractors. 14

Workplace Safety and Health is everyone’s responsibility. Independent contractors can take steps to enhance their workplace safety and health capabilities. They can enrol in safety and health courses offered by accredited training providers. They can access the wide range of free WSH information and toolkits, customised to suit different industry trades, on the WSH Council website. NTUC has set up the Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit (FSEU) to reach out to self- employed and independent contractors. FSEU can work with MOM and WSH Council to enhance WSH awareness and competency of freelancers and independent contractors. On a broader front, MOM and the WSH Council have stepped up WSH awareness activities all year round, including organising engagement forums in collaboration with industry partners. A WSH Campaign highlighting seven common causes of workplace safety incidents in hotspots such as working at heights and safe lifting operations was launched since June this year. The campaign educates workers, including independent contractors, on simple and practical measures to prevent injuries at work through pictograms. These are disseminated through the mass media, television commercials, radio advertisements and outdoor media. WSH is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders. Independent contractors too should play their part and ensure that they carry out work in a safe manner. MOM and WSH Council will continue to work closely with our tripartite partners to create safer workplaces for all workers, including independent contractors. Back to Contents AFFORDABILITY OF CHILDCARE SERVICES SINCE 2008 REVIEW

58 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how has the affordability of childcare services changed since the last review in 2008; and (b) whether the Ministry will review the basic subsidy of $300 for working mothers.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Providing affordable and quality childcare services for parents is a key priority for the Government. In the last few years, we have increased the provision of these services through our Anchor Operator (AOP) and Partner Operator (POP) schemes, which now make up almost half of the childcare market. Operators under the AOP and POP schemes are subject to fee caps of $720 and $800 (before GST) respectively, and controls over fee increases. Singaporean children enrolled in POP centres also benefitted from a one-off reduction in fees when the scheme was rolled out in 15

January this year. With these schemes in place, the industry median fee was lowered for the first time in at least a decade, from $900 to $856. In addition, the Government provides childcare subsidies to help defray the fees borne by parents. On top of the basic subsidy of $300 per month for working mothers, lower- and middle- income families who require more help have been offered additional subsidies of up to $440 per month since 2013. For example, a low-income family with a child enrolled in an AOP centre charging $720 (with GST) will only pay the minimum co-payment amount of $3 a month. More recently, the Child Development Account (or CDA) First Step grant was introduced this year. CDA funds can also be used to pay for education and healthcare needs of the child, including childcare fees. The multi-pronged approach of providing quality and affordable services through Anchor and Partner operators, complemented by Government support through the CDA and our childcare subsidy framework, has made childcare more affordable. We will continue to review our policies, including our childcare subsidies, to ensure that quality childcare remains affordable for families. Back to Contents FREEZING OR REDUCING LAND RENT FOR JTC LAND AS MEASURE TO HELP SMES

61 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) whether the Ministry will consider freezing or reducing the land rent component of the JTC Land Rental Scheme to assist our SMEs in view of the slowing economy and difficult business conditions ahead.

Mr : JTC benchmarks its land rents internationally to ensure that they are competitive. It also adjusts the rents based on local market conditions. Over the past year, JTC has reduced its land rents by between 8% and 17%, in line with market movements. It will continue to ensure that the rents remain affordable for our industrialists, including SMEs. Apart from this, JTC has been supporting SMEs in other ways. For example, JTC has released more land through the Industrial Government Land Sales programme in the past five years. This has increased the supply of industrial space in the market. Market space rents have correspondingly moderated. From now till the end of 2017, about 3.0 million sqm of industrial 16

space is estimated to come on-stream, which is higher than the average annual supply and demand in the last three years, of around 1.9 million sqm and 1.2 million sqm respectively. This is likely to exert further pressure on market rents. JTC has also improved market transparency by publishing more granular price and rental information on its website. In addition, JTC has developed, and will continue to develop innovative multiple-user ready-built facilities to strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs. These developments cluster companies and facilitate industry collaboration. They also contain shared facilities and services that help companies reduce their upfront capital investment and operating costs. Back to Contents COMPETITION BETWEEN LOCAL RETAILER AND OFFSHORE ONLINE RETAIL SHOPS

62 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) (a) how does the Government ensure a level playing field between our local retailers and online shops operated offshore in terms of the goods and services tax due; (b) how does the Ministry regulate such operators and enforce fair trading practices and protection of personal data; and (c) how many cases of online retail fraud have been reported in the past five years.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Goods and services tax (GST) is levied on the import of goods into Singapore. All local businesses and individuals, including consumers making purchases from online shops located offshore, are required to pay GST when the goods are imported into Singapore. The only exception is where the goods are imported via air or post3 and the value of the goods fall below $4004. The concession is given in recognition that the compliance cost could outweigh the GST collection if every import, regardless of value, is subject to GST. The Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act ("CPFTA") provides the same protection to consumers who make purchases from online retailers or brick-and-mortar shops. This means that actions can be taken against errant online retailers under the CPFTA. SPRING Singapore, as the administering agency for the CPFTA, is empowered with investigation and enforcement powers to take action against errant retailers which persist in unfair practices. The collection, use and disclosure of personal data in Singapore comes under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA),

3Refers to air freight and post parcels. 4GST is not payable if the value of the goods are $400 or less. 17

which is enforced by the Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA5). The PDPA is a baseline law that is applicable to all organisations that engage in the collection and processing of personal data in Singapore, regardless of whether they have a physical or online presence. Enforcement of Singapore legislation against online retailers located offshore with no presence in Singapore is challenging. This is a practical jurisdictional issue which is not unique to Singapore. Hence, consumers need to be aware of the risks of purchasing from online retailers located offshore and take extra steps to protect themselves before making their purchases. This could include checking reviews on the reputation of websites and retailers, refund policy and mechanisms, and conditions regarding the use of consumer’s data. In the past five years, the Police have handled an average of 1,000 cases per annum involving online fraud. These usually involve advance payments made to online retailers which subsequently do not deliver the goods. Back to Contents UPDATE ON COMPLETION OF TERMINAL 4 AT CHANGI AIRPORT

63 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether Changi Airport Terminal 4 will be completed and open for use ahead of schedule; and (b) what is the expected number of visitors that Terminal 4 will handle in its first three years of operation.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Construction of Changi Airport Terminal 4 is progressing well and is on schedule to be completed by the end of this year. This will be followed by operational trials and testing. We expect the terminal to commence operations in the second half of 2017. Terminal 4 is expected to handle between eight and 10 million passengers annually in the first three years of operation. Back to Contents REASONS FOR HIGHER BILLS FOR PATIENTS WITH INTEGRATED SHIELD PLAN RIDERS

65 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health concerning the Health

5The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) has been subsumed under the Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) with effect from 1 Oct 2016. 18

Insurance Task Force report (a) whether the Ministry will (i) study whether it is overconsumption by patients, over-servicing or overcharging by healthcare providers, or poor oversight by private insurers that have led to higher bills for patients with Integrated Shield Plan riders covering the entire bill and (ii) determine the causes before making co-payments by patients with Integrated Shield Plans compulsory.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: The objective of the Health Insurance Task Force (HITF) is to achieve more efficient and sustainable outcomes for patients, healthcare providers and insurers. This is an important priority as we face an ageing population in Singapore. We are currently studying the HITF’s recommendations. As the Task Force highlighted in its report, the issue is multi-faceted and there are many factors that contribute to the increase in health insurance claims costs. Examples include the longer life-expectancies for our ageing population, better access to healthcare services, advancements in healthcare technology and drugs, over-servicing or over-consumption of healthcare, as well as the design of some health insurance products. All stakeholders have a role to play in managing healthcare costs and insurance claims. Healthcare providers should ensure that treatments provided are appropriate for the patient’s needs; patients need to make informed decisions on their choice of healthcare services; and insurers should ensure that their products are designed to encourage appropriate care. Over the years, the Government has taken steps to enhance fee transparency to help patients and healthcare providers make informed choices. We have also designed our healthcare financing system to include co-payment, to encourage prudence and appropriate care. Our shared objective is to achieve a more sustainable and affordable healthcare system, and deliver greater value and better outcomes for our patients. Back to Contents SINGAPOREAN CO-WORKERS GUARANTORS FOR FOREIGN NURSES

66 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Health (a) whether Singaporean colleagues of foreign nurses are allowed to be guarantors for them instead of confining this to only their family members before the healthcare institutions grant these foreign nurses sponsorship for further studies; (b) how many cases have there been where the sponsored nurses are unable to complete their studies or become uncontactable after their studies without fulfilling 19 their bond; (c) how much liquidated damages have been paid by guarantors and how many of the affected guarantors are Singaporeans; (d) what level of responsibility should employers bear and what measures are in place to prevent the number of defaults or failures in their course of study; and (e) whether the Ministry will continue its effort and resources to sponsor foreigners to study nursing in Singapore and to what extent.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: A Singaporean colleague of a foreign nurse is allowed to be a guarantor for a foreign nurse pursuing further studies under a sponsorship in the public healthcare sector. Such sponsorships are awarded based on the candidates’ merit, including their performance, potential and commitment to serve in our public healthcare sector. Over the past five years, our public healthcare institutions awarded over 3,600 nursing sponsorships. Four hundred and forty-eight of these sponsorships were awarded to non-Singaporean nurses. Of these, four nurses were unable to complete their studies. Two of them paid liquidated damages and another compensated by serving a bond. Our public healthcare institution is following up on the remaining nurse. Over the past five years, no guarantor was required to pay liquidated damages. Our public healthcare institutions closely monitor the academic performance of all sponsorship recipients. Those who have difficulties meeting the minimum course grades will be given closer supervision. Those who have non-academic issues affecting their training will be provided support and counselling. With an aging population, we will need more nurses to support our growing healthcare needs. Our priority is to continue growing the number of local nurses, and we have stepped up efforts to attract more locals to join nursing. Over the last five years, the total number of local nurses has grown by about 2,700 to about 26,000 in 2015. However, we will still need foreign nurses to supplement our local manpower. Foreign students who are sponsored to undergo nurse training are required to serve a bond in our public healthcare sector upon graduation. We will continue to offer such sponsorships in order to meet our national needs. Back to Contents VERIFICATION OF FOREIGN NURSES' QUALIFICATIONS

67 Ms K Thanaletchimi asked the Minister for Health (a) how are foreign nurses' 20

qualifications being verified; (b) how are they tested for competency and emplaced in our healthcare system to ensure patient safety; (c) how are the foreign nurses treated if they fail to pass their probation; (d) whether these nurses can be retained by allowing them to work in the step-down care sector or nursing homes; and (e) whether the Ministry can help in this transfer effort when foreign nurses from various healthcare institutions do not meet the mark.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Foreign nurses need to meet the requirements set by the Singapore Nursing Board ("SNB") before they can practise in Singapore. Those who wish to be registered with SNB have to fulfil four requirements. First, they must be found suitable and offered employment by our local healthcare institutions. Second, they are required to sit for and pass the SNB’s Licensure Examination conducted in English for either Enrolled Nurse ("EN") or Registered Nurse ("RN"). Third, they must meet the minimum standards in English language proficiency, demonstrated through passing recruitment interviews and the SNB’s Licensure Examinations. Finally, foreign RNs will be assessed on the job during the probation period of six to twelve months before they are "confirmed". The SNB conducts direct source verification of the professional qualifications of overseas- trained foreign nurses. This is done by requiring the foreign nursing educational transcript to be sent directly from the foreign educational institution to the SNB. Foreign nurses who do not meet SNB’s standards to be registered as RNs may be considered for enrolment as ENs, but they need to work under the supervision of RNs. Those who are not able to meet SNB’s requirements to be RNs or ENs can be hired as support care staff. RNs, ENs or support care staff can work in different care settings, including step down care facilities and nursing homes. However, regardless of the settings, they need to meet the respective job requirements to ensure appropriate patient care and safety. The decisions on employment and transfer of care staff are made by the respective healthcare institutions as they are in the best position to assess their suitability. Back to Contents

21

MEASURES TO DETER SOCIAL MEDIA FROM SOWING DISCORD AMONG RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS

68 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Home Affairs what are the measures and penalties to deter social media posts or online publications from sowing discord among different racial and religious groups.

Mr K Shanmugam: Racial and religious harmony is fundamental to Singapore’s peace and prosperity as a nation. Our laws against the incitement of hatred and disharmony between racial and religious groups are contained in the Penal Code, Sedition Act and Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. The Telecommunications Act also includes a provision that criminalises the sending of false messages. Offences under these laws are subject to imprisonment or a fine, or both, for a first offence. For example, Section 298A of the Penal Code criminalises the promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race, or any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious and racial groups. The offence under Section 298A is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine or both. Under the Sedition Act, it is an offence to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore, which is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to $5,000 or both, for a first offence. Subsequent offences are dealt with more severely. There have been prosecutions for transgressions. We should have no tolerance for those who seek to undermine Singapore’s racial and religious harmony. The Government will continue to take a tough stand against those who seek to do so. We will review our legislation, to ensure that they remain relevant. Back to Contents ENSURING QUALITY OF ELDER-FRIENDLY FEATURES IN STUDIO APARTMENTS

69 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for National Development (a) how does HDB ensure the safety and elderly-friendly features of HDB's studio apartments in new housing developments are built according to specifications before allowing elderly residents to move in; 22 and (b) who is responsible for fixing such inherent defects if they are detected after the defect liability period.

Mr Lawrence Wong: HDB complies with BCA’s Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment 2013 for the design of safety/elderly-friendly features of studio apartments. HDB engages a team of consultants to manage the construction of safety and elderly-friendly features to ensure that they are built according to the specifications. As part of HDB’s quality management system, HDB supervises, tests, audits and inspects flats throughout the construction process, to ensure the quality of flats delivered to home buyers. Where there are defects, HDB will require contractors to rectify them to HDB’s satisfaction before allowing residents to move in. After residents have moved into the flats, HDB will continue to assist residents who report defects to HDB. If defects are reported during the 1-year Defects Liability Period (DLP), HDB will arrange for the contractor to carry out the repairs. If any defects are reported after the DLP, HDB will investigate accordingly and arrange for repairs for cases where there are safety concerns due to the product design or installation. Back to Contents REGULATIONS FOR MOTORCYCLISTS RIDING IN HDB VOID DECKS AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES

70 Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for National Development what laws or regulations are in place governing those who (i) ride motorcycles and other similar vehicles in HDB void decks, pedestrian pathways and parks and (ii) use these areas as convenient shortcuts from HDB car parks to public roads.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Town Councils (TCs) manage and maintain common areas in HDB estates. They enforce by-laws that prohibit unauthorised off-road riding of motorcycles and other motorised devices on common areas, such as void decks, footpaths and neighbourhood parks. TCs can impose penalties against individuals who contravene the by-laws. In addition, the Police may step in to investigate and take action against errant motorists where there are any reported incidents involving rash acts that endanger the safety of others. Back to Contents 23

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS INVOLVING INJURY OR DEATH OF ELDERLY

71 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Transport over the past three years (a) what proportion of motor vehicle accidents involving elderly pedestrians resulted in (i) serious injuries or (ii) fatalities; and (b) what plans will the Ministry put in place to further enhance the safety of road crossings and reduce the incidence of such accidents.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: From January 2013 to August 2016, 4% of motor vehicle accidents involving elderly pedestrians resulted in serious injuries, and 11% in fatality. To enhance road safety for pedestrians, especially seniors, LTA introduced the Silver Zone programme in 2014. In the nine locations where Silver Zones have been implemented, so far, only one accident involving seniors has occurred, compared to more than 40 accidents in the five-year period preceding Silver Zones. We plan to expand to 50 locations in total by 2023. We have also introduced and are expanding other road safety features for seniors, such as the Green Man Plus programme, and road dividers at pedestrian crossings which allow seniors to pause safely in the middle of the road before resuming their crossing. Back to Contents OPERATING COST CONSIDERATIONS IN TRANSPORT FARE REVIEWS

72 Assoc Prof Randolph Tan asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether in decisions on fare reviews, the Public Transport Council balances considerations of the operating cost structure of public transport operators with ratings by commuters of the quality of their service; and (b) if it does not, what are the reasons for not doing so.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The Public Transport Council’s decisions on fare reviews are guided by the fare formula, which was last reviewed by the Fare Review Mechanism Committee in 2013. The decision then was to address the issue of service quality outside of the formula, so that the Government can regulate and work with the operators independently to improve service levels. This approach keeps the fare formula relatively straightforward, without the complication of differentiating fare adjustments on account of service quality. More importantly, it does not hinder our efforts to raise service levels. Since 2013, the rail 24

network has been expanded by 20 kilometres and the train fleet for the North-South and East- West Lines (NSEWL), North East Line (NEL) and Circle Line (CCL) has increased by about 25%, significantly alleviating train crowding. As part of the Bus Service Enhancement Programme implemented from 2012, 820 of the 1,000 buses planned for have been deployed on the roads. In line with these service level improvements, the percentage of commuters expressing satisfaction with our public transport services rose from 88.5% in 2013 to 91.8% in 2015. With the transition to the Bus Contracting Model and the New Rail Financing Framework, we expect service levels to improve further. However, the cost of improving service levels, and the corresponding extent of Government subsidies for public transport, will also increase. For instance, under bus contracting, the Government will be subsidising about $3.5 to $4 billion in the next five years. Similarly, on the rail side, due to the Government taking over ownership of the operating assets under the New Rail Financing Framework, the Government expects to spend over $4 billion on renewing, upgrading and expanding operating assets over the next five years. These will be on top of the $20 billion that the Government has committed to spend on building new rail lines in the same period. We are also requiring the rail operators to invest more heavily in maintenance to raise our rail reliability substantially. Realistically, it is neither possible nor sustainable to improve service standards without having fares keep pace with the rising costs. The current fare formula is valid for five years including for the 2017 fare exercise. The PTC will review the formula before its expiry next year, and take into context the changes to the public transport landscape. A fine balance is necessary to ensure that our public transport system remains financially and operationally viable while fares remain affordable. Back to Contents ACTIONS AGAINST FOREIGN ENTITIES THAT UNDERMINE SINGAPORE'S RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS HARMONY

73 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the laws of Singapore can be strengthened to ensure that our social and racial harmony will not be adversely affected by malicious lies published by foreign entities and which may have the effect of undermining racial or religious harmony.

Mr K Shanmugam: Racial and religious harmony is fundamental to Singapore’s peace and prosperity as a nation. Our laws against the incitement of hatred and disharmony between 25 racial and religious groups are contained in the Penal Code, Sedition Act and Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. The Telecommunications Act also includes a provision that criminalises the sending of false messages. Offences under these laws are subject to imprisonment or a fine, or both, for a first offence. For example, Section 298A of the Penal Code criminalises the promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race, or any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious and racial groups. The offence under Section 298A is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine or both. Under the Sedition Act, it is an offence to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore, which is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to $5,000 or both, for a first offence. Subsequent offences are dealt with more severely. There have been prosecutions for transgressions. We should have no tolerance for those who seek to undermine Singapore’s racial and religious harmony. The Government will continue to take a tough stand against those who seek to do so. We will review our legislation, to ensure that they remain relevant. Back to Contents EVIDENCE THAT LEGAL ONLINE GAMBLING REDUCES ILLEGAL ONLINE GAMBLING AND WOULD NOT RESULT IN OVERALL INCREASE IN GAMBLER NUMBERS

74 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether, to what extent and by what evidence the experience of Hong Kong and Norway (or that of any other countries studied by the Ministry) demonstrates that allowing some legal online gambling will (i) cause a significant switch of current illegal gamblers to legal gambling and (ii) not cause a significant expansion in the total population of gamblers for both legal and illegal gamblers.

Mr K Shanmugam: Similar to Singapore, Hong Kong and Norway have also allowed authorised operators to complement a general prohibition of remote gambling. These authorised operators run remote gambling services in a highly regulated environment. The nature of remote gambling, especially underground illegal gambling, is such that it is hard to get accurate details of the extent or the exact number of people who are gambling. There 26

may be a range of estimates, and this applies to any jurisdiction. There are some studies and analyst reports on the experiences of Hong Kong and Norway. They suggest that an exempt operator regime can mitigate the extent of unauthorised remote gambling. Hong Kong’s authorised operator, Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), launched its online betting service in 2001, and its mobile app-based betting in 2011. A report from H2GC consultancy estimates that the share of the remote gambling market in Hong Kong attributed to unauthorised offshore operators halved, between 2003 and 2015. Norway’s authorised operator, Norsk Tipping, launched online casino games in 2014. Gambling prevalence studies commissioned by the Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority indicate that the percentage of Norwegians who played illegal online casino games decreased by about one-fifth between 2013 and 2015. Hong Kong and Norway’s experience also suggest that allowing for authorised operators has not resulted in higher gambling participation rates. Studies commissioned by the Home Affairs Bureau in Hong Kong indicate that the share of the Hong Kong population that participated in gambling decreased from about 78% in 2001 to 62% in 2011. Studies commissioned by the Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority indicate that the share of the Norwegian population that participated in gambling decreased from about 70% in 2007 to 58% in 2015. Even as we take into account the experiences of other jurisdictions, we need to be careful about drawing strict parallels with them. Notably, the social context and the regulatory environment differ from one jurisdiction to another. So while we learn from their experiences, we will continue to closely monitor the situation in Singapore and make adjustments if necessary, to ensure that our Exempt Operator regime achieves its objective of mitigating law-and-order and social concerns arising from unauthorised gambling. Back to Contents

27

INCLUSION OF SLIGHTLY OLDER LIFTS IN LIFT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME

75 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will exercise flexibility in the qualifying criteria for the Lift Enhancement Programme and allow lifts that are marginally older than the 18-year threshold to qualify for the programme.

Mr Lawrence Wong: The Lift Enhancement Programme (LEP) is a significant effort by the Government to help the Town Councils to modernise their existing lifts. It is estimated to cost around $450 million, and will have to be implemented over a number of years. As a guide, HDB intends to implement the LEP for lifts that have been in operation for 18 years or less, as it makes more sense for the older lifts to be fully replaced by the Town Councils themselves. But HDB is still working out the implementation details of the LEP, including the detailed eligibility criteria, and will inform the Town Councils of the details in a few months’ time. Back to Contents QUALITY CONTROL FOR LIFT INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

78 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for National Development (a) what are the quality control measures in place for new public housing developments; (b) what will qualify newly- installed lifts as "lemons"; (c) whether "lemon lifts" should be accepted; (d) whether the Ministry will require the lift company to replace the "lemon lifts"; and (e) whether the Ministry will require the lift company to replace the lifts at Block 17B Circuit Road that have been persistently faulty since key collection.

79 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for National Development where the Town Council has done its duty to require lift contractors to conduct maintenance works, engaged specialised cleaners to clean lifts of debris and enforced policing of errant renovation contractors and yet lifts still break down in new estates like (a) what enforcement action can HDB take against lift manufacturers to protect residents affected by lift malfunctions; and (b) whether HDB requires lift manufacturers to replace lifts that have shown a systemic record of malfunctioning.

80 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for National Development where a lift contractor 28

has systematically shown an inability to rectify lift faults and the Town Council is stuck with the lift contractor as the sole proprietor of its technology and cannot go to other maintenance contractors, what recourse is available in the procurement contract between HDB and the lift contractor that can be relied upon to protect the interests of residents.

81 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB will consider (i) making a change in the design and use of lifts to stipulate that only one lift in a HDB block can be used for renovation and moving purposes so that the other lift in the HDB block can be dedicated to resident's daily use; and (ii) pre-installing CCTV cameras in lifts so as to monitor the behaviour of HDB licensed contractors and ensure the safety of residents during the renovation and moving-in period.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Lifts are an integral part of our urbanised, high-rise living environment. With some 24,000 lifts located in public housing estates, all of which are used on a high-frequency and daily basis, HDB takes a serious view of lift safety and reliability. This starts from the beginning at the lift procurement and commissioning stages, where HDB has in place a system of stringent quality control measures. First, HDB has a two-stage lift procurement process which takes into account the quality and reliability of lift contractors. At the first stage, lift contractors must meet a minimum criteria set by HDB - including the performance and track record of their proposed brand of lift. At the second stage, proposals are evaluated further with the Price-Quality Method (PQM), in which attributes such as the lift contractor’s performance, safety performance, and again, lift performance are taken into consideration. Second, before a lift is commissioned and turned on for operation, it is put under a series of checks and tests that are supervised by a third party Authorised Examiner. This is a regulatory requirement. To better ascertain the quality of lift installation and performance, HDB also conducts (i) an independent audit of key safety features; and (ii) a stress test of 1,000 start-stop operations. These additional tests are over and above existing regulatory requirements. Third, after the lift is commissioned, HDB’s term contracts provide for a one-year Defects Liability Period (DLP) - during which HDB imposes a requirement of not more than one lift breakdown per 10 lifts per month. Lift contractors that fail to meet this will be restricted from tendering for future HDB tenders unless they show improvements. Other penalties include 29 imposing liquidated damages on the contractor or debarment from all public sector works. These are the quality control measures in place from procurement up to the one-year DLP. Beyond the DLP, Town Councils enter into a separate maintenance agreement with their chosen lift contractors - be it the Original Equipment Manufacturer or a third-party lift contractor. Town Councils will have to specify their desired lift performance standards in their maintenance agreements. On Ms Sun Xueling’s concern about proprietary lift parts, I agree that it is important to ensure that third-party lift maintenance contractors have access to essential lift spare parts. This is so that Town Councils can choose the best contractor to do the job. The Competition Commission of Singapore has been investigating potentially anti-competitive behavior in the lift industry. Ms Tin Pei Ling and Ms Sun have asked whether HDB requires lift companies responsible for lift installation to replace lifts which are persistently faulty. In addressing lift faults, HDB takes a targeted approach to address the root causes of the issue. In the case of Block 17B Circuit Road, the high number of door-related faults in its new lifts abated after the lift company made adjustments such that the door is less susceptible to misalignment caused by lift users. Typically, lifts in new blocks experience such problems due to damage caused by renovation contractors and furniture movers who use objects to jam doors or leave debris on door sills. A replacement of the lift would not have addressed the issue. It may also incur more lift downtime and inconvenience to residents. Ms Sun has also suggested for HDB to consider designating one lift in each HDB block for renovation or moving purposes. HDB had previously conducted a pilot by designating a passenger lift in HDB blocks as a ‘service lift’. However, due to unbalanced usage patterns, the average waiting time for lift users increased significantly. This may bring about more frustration and inconvenience for residents. On Ms Sun’s other suggestion to pre-install CCTV cameras in lifts, HDB has started installing a Lift Surveillance System (LSS) in all new HDB blocks from 1st July this year. To sum up, HDB has in place a set of comprehensive quality control measures for the procurement of lifts. Nonetheless, all of us - the HDB, residents and also the Town Councils for lift maintenance - will have to work together to ensure that lifts remain well-functioning and safe for everyday use. We will continue to see how we can tighten our processes and standards to 30 ensure that our lifts are reliable and perform as intended. Back to Contents CONTINGENCY WHEN LIFT COMPANIES EXIT SINGAPORE'S MARKET

82 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for National Development (a) what will be the impact if a lift company folds or withdraws from Singapore; and (b) what is the Ministry's contingency plan when such an event occurs.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Singapore has an open and competitive market for lift installation and maintenance works. Lift owners can choose from a list of more than 100 lift contractors registered with BCA. This includes Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and third-party contractors. Given this range, if any lift contractor were to fold up or withdraw from Singapore, there would be other contractors for lift owners to engage. There may be concern about the ability to procure proprietary lift parts if an OEM were to fold or withdraw from Singapore. But this can be addressed. For instance, contractors can source parts from the OEM if it is still operating outside of Singapore. They can also look for compatible parts from other local suppliers. Yet another option is for contractors to consider modifying the lifts to use other types of parts that are available. For cases involving lifts in public housing estates, HDB will work with the relevant Town Councils to ensure a smooth transition by bringing on board another lift company that provides interim support and maintenance of the lifts. This will cover residents until a fresh tender for the maintenance contract is called and awarded by the Town Council. Where necessary, HDB will also work with the Town Council to assist in looking for appropriate replacement parts for the lifts. Back to Contents SERVICE STANDARDS FOR HDB'S REPLIES TO RESIDENTS

84 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for National Development what service standards and operating procedures does HDB apply when replying to residents on their feedback, complaints and requests for rectification of defects.

Mr Lawrence Wong: HDB will rectify defects for new HDB flats covered under the one- 31 year Defects Liability Period. In addition, HDB provides new flat owners with extended warranty coverage for three major defect types: five years for ceiling leakages and external seepage, and 10 years for spalling concrete. During the one-year Defects Liability Period, HDB sets up a Building Service Centre within the precinct to facilitate the defects reporting and rectification process for residents. When flat owners report defects directly at the Building Service Centre, they get to choose a date on the spot for joint inspection with HDB’s contractor, to verify the defects. For flat owners who send in their feedback via email or letters, the BSC will contact them within three working days to schedule the joint inspection. HDB aims to complete the rectification works within 14 working days. In exceptional or complicated cases where more time is required, flat owners will be informed of the expected completion date. Upon completion of rectification works, another joint inspection with the flat owner will be carried out to ensure that rectification works are carried out satisfactorily. For issues that may arise beyond the one-year Defects Liability Period, HDB will contact the flat owners within three working days of receiving the feedback, and advise flat owners accordingly. The appropriate follow-up action will depend on the nature and complexity of the defects. This is because such defects may be caused by a variety of reasons, such as the workmanship of HDB’s building contractors or the flat owners’ own actions. Back to Contents EXTENT OF HDB'S AUTHORITY IN WATER LEAKAGE REPAIR INCIDENTS WHERE HOMEOWNERS ARE UNCOOPERATIVE

85 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for National Development to what extent is HDB empowered to act in cases where water leakage occurs between floors and one of the parties refuses to cooperate to resolve the issue.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Flat owners are responsible to maintain the interior of their flats. In the case of ceiling leaks, both the upper and lower floor flat owners are jointly responsible, as provided for under the HDB Lease. Since 2001, HDB has provided assistance through the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) Scheme by arranging for the repair works and co-paying 50% of the cost. The upper- and lower-floor flat owners share the remaining 50% equally. While the GRA scheme has helped many flat owners, HDB has encountered some upper- 32

floor flat owners who do not cooperate and delay the repair unnecessarily. For such cases, HDB will engage the upper floor flat owners to seek their cooperation to carry out the repairs. Grassroots leaders may also step in to persuade them to cooperate. If all these efforts fail, HDB may apply for a Court Order to compel the upper floor flat owner to carry out the repairs. If the owner refuses to comply with the Court Order, the owner may be found in contempt of Court, which could result in a fine or jail term. As a last resort, Section 26A of the Housing & Development (Amendments) Act 2015 grants HDB the power to enter a flat with a warrant to carry out urgent repairs. This will help to address urgent and serious cases of ceiling leaks which can be a source of distress or even potential danger to residents if not resolved in a timely manner. HDB will only use these powers sparingly, after exhausting all other avenues to get the owner's cooperation. Back to Contents SAFETY MEASURES FOR RIDES AT FUN FAIRS, CARNIVALS AND THEME PARKS

86 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for National Development what measures are in place to ensure the safety of amusement rides including those at fun fairs, carnivals and theme parks and how often are safety enforcement and spot checks by qualified inspectors performed.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Amusement rides in Singapore are regulated under the Amusement Rides Safety Act (ARSA) administered by BCA. Under this regulatory framework, permits are required for the installation, modification and operation of amusement rides. Regular maintenance and inspections are also required. This framework ensures that rides are designed, maintained and operated according to internationally recognised safety codes and standards. For the installation of new rides and for major modifications to existing rides, a Qualified Person has to be appointed to review and certify the plans and safety assessments based on the technical codes. The Qualified Person must be a Specialist Professional Engineer registered with the Professional Engineers Board in the discipline of Amusement Rides Engineering. The ride operator oversees the safety of ride operations. Among other requirements, the ride operator needs to appoint a Ride Manager to manage and supervise the daily operation and routine maintenance of the ride. For example, the Ride Manager needs to ensure a thorough inspection before opening the ride for public use each day, and that only persons trained to 33 operate the ride can do so. In addition, amusement rides are required to undergo annual inspections and certifications by a Qualified Person. For major rides, the Qualified Person carrying out the inspection will need to be advised by a Conformity Assessor - a third party technical expert in assessing amusement rides. BCA also conducts inspections on the operation and maintenance of the rides. In 2015, BCA conducted about 300 inspections on the 110 rides in Singapore. If safety issues are detected, BCA will take enforcement action such as suspending the operations. We will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure that our amusement rides are designed, maintained, and operated according to prescribed safety standards. Ride users can also play a part in creating a safe and fun experience for themselves by adhering to the ride safety guidelines. Back to Contents TEMPORARY CENTRE FOR HAWKERS AFFECTED BY FIRE AT JURONG WEST MARKET AND COFFEESHOP

87 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for National Development with regard to the Jurong West market and coffeeshop which have been affected by a recent fire, whether HDB can consider funding, fully or partially, the building of a temporary market/ hawker centre while waiting for the completion of the permanent building.

Mr Lawrence Wong: In the event of a fire to HDB markets and eating houses which renders the premises unfit for use, HDB’s priority is to rebuild the replacement premises as soon as possible. This is to minimise the impact on the affected stallholders, and facilitate the return to normalcy for their business operations as soon as possible. HDB will bear the full cost of building the replacement premises. In the interim, HDB and other government agencies have provided immediate assistance and coordinated for help to be extended to the affected stallholders of Jurong West market. For instance, HDB has waived the rental for the operator of the market during the interim period when the replacement premises are being built. The Temporary Occupation License (or TOL) fees for the State Land on which the temporary market will be built, will also be waived In addition, NEA has offered the affected stallholders available market and food stalls where they 34

can conduct their businesses in the interim. More recently, the People’s Association and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) have held a job fair to assist the stallholders in finding alternative employment. These measures complement the commendable efforts of the Adviser, grassroots leaders and community in raising funds for the construction of the temporary market. We will continue to monitor the situation, and provide further assistance to the stall holders where needed. Back to Contents RAMPS FOR HDB FLATS WITH STEPS AT ENTRANCES

88 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the number of HDB flats that have multiple steps at the flats' entrance; (b) whether HDB has plans to install ramps for such flats at a subsidised cost to residents who need it for easier accessibility; and (c) when will be the estimated earliest time that ramps can be installed for such flats in view of the ageing population.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Some older HDB flats built in the 1970s and 1980s were designed with multi-step entrances to offer more privacy and added security for occupants of the flats. HDB estimates that there are more than 100,000 of such units. With an ageing population, elderly residents and wheelchair users living in these flats may now face difficulties negotiating the steps. HDB has been carefully studying this issue. There are challenges in implementing a common solution across blocks of different configurations. Any solution will likely have to be customised to the flat configuration, corridor space availability and the residents’ needs, without posing maintenance issues or obstructing the fire escape route. When we have developed the appropriate solutions, we could implement them as an expansion of Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) or through other programmes. HDB is also exploring with other agencies the options for financial assistance that could be provided for low income families who may need such ramps or platforms. Meanwhile, residents who wish to engage a private vendor to install customised ramps today can approach the HDB Branches. HDB is working towards offering a one-stop application service for residents by coordinating the application with the relevant regulatory agencies. This will make it easier for residents to install such ramps. Residents who need financial help for the 35

ramp installation may also approach VWOs or their Advisers for assistance. Back to Contents LIFTS FOR PRIVATE BUILDINGS MORE THAN THREE STOREYS IN HEIGHT

89 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the number of private buildings above three storeys that do not have lifts installed; and (b) whether there are plans to ensure or encourage owners of such private buildings to install lifts for easier accessibility by the elderly and less able-bodied.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Currently, our Building Control Regulations require buildings of five storeys or more to be provided with passenger lifts. Lift provision is not mandatory for buildings under five storeys. Hence, about 370 existing low rise commercial and institutional buildings do not have lifts installed. To nudge private building owners to voluntarily upgrade their buildings, BCA provides incentives via the $40-million Accessibility Fund. The Fund co-pays up to 80% of the construction costs for lift provision, capped at $300,000 per development. To date, the Fund has supported lift installations in 79 developments. We have recently extended the availability of the Fund until March 2022. Back to Contents

Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 7 November 2016