Tag Archives: HDB

Inflow of foreigners ‘must benefit citizens’

SINGAPORE must manage the inflow of foreign talent and other immigrants to ensure Singaporeans do not lose out but rather benefit from their presence, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said yesterday.

He said the Republic, which is already a cultural melting pot, will become even more diverse in the years to come.

‘Locals must accommodate the different habits, beliefs and practices of foreigners, and foreigners working and living here must respect local ways and habits and make an effort to integrate,’ he said.

‘Then, Singapore will be an oasis of harmony with a rich diversity of people, culture and ideas.’

Foreigners living and working here, however, must contribute to Singapore, said Mr Goh.

‘Those who come to drink from the oasis must add to our ability to replenish the water, and not just consume and deplete the stock,’ he said.

‘By this I mean that we must manage the inflow of talent and new immigrants to ensure that Singaporeans do not lose out and in fact benefit from their presence. Only then can we create a harmonious, cosmopolitan society.’ Continue reading

HDB informed residents of void deck conversion

I THANK Ms Elsie Tay for her letter, ‘Residents not told’ (Oct 16). Void decks are part of the common property owned by HDB. They are generally used for social and community facilities, such as childcare centre, residents’ committee centre, senior activity centre or kidney dialysis centre, for the benefit of the community.

To meet the evolving needs of the community, facilities like the new childcare centre at Block 339 Clementi Avenue 5 are added after consulting the authorities and local grassroots organisations.

Residents were told of the construction of the facilities via notices posted at the lift lobbies before the works were carried out.

The purpose of HDB’s polling exercises for the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) is to obtain residents’ consensus on the co-funding of upgrading cost by them. In the case of construction of new social or community facilities at void decks, no co-payment is required of residents. There is also no impact on service and conservancy charges due to the removal of void deck space of a block, because it is only a small part of the overall common property.

Ng Leong Keng
Deputy Director (Policy & Planning)
Housing & Development Board

Source : Straits Times – 3 Nov 2009