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<TR>May 10, 2009
YOUR LETTERS
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Competition will ensure fair prices
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->In the letter, '$500k bid: Is HDB setting precedent?' (April12), Mr Zhuang Kuan Song questioned the award of the tender for the proposed Sengkang market to the highest bidder and suggested that this could cause food prices to rise.
We would like to clarify that it is the Housing Board's existing policy to lease out shops, eating houses and other commercial facilities in the housing estates by open tender. This ensures fairness, objectivity and transparency in the allocation of such facilities.
The proposed new market and food centre is a pilot project to decide whether to resume building wet markets/food centres to promote community bonding and strengthen local identity.
To help keep the operating costs low, the HDB had specified that the market/food centre must be naturally ventilated.
=> Make peasants suffer to satisfy 1 Familee's greed?
Key considerations for the project include whether the new facility is viable and can respond to residents' needs.
The successful tenderer of this new development is an experienced operator of many eating houses in various HDB estates.
In setting the prices of the food to be sold, he will have to take into account the needs of his customers as well as competition from eating/shopping alternatives nearby.
On its part, the HDB will continue to build shops and eating houses in Sengkang, as demand for such facilities increases in tandem with the development of the town.
We thank the writer for the feedback. Kee Lay Cheng (Ms)
Deputy Director
(Land Administration)
Housing & Development Board
</TR>
<TR>May 10, 2009
YOUR LETTERS
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Competition will ensure fair prices
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->In the letter, '$500k bid: Is HDB setting precedent?' (April12), Mr Zhuang Kuan Song questioned the award of the tender for the proposed Sengkang market to the highest bidder and suggested that this could cause food prices to rise.
We would like to clarify that it is the Housing Board's existing policy to lease out shops, eating houses and other commercial facilities in the housing estates by open tender. This ensures fairness, objectivity and transparency in the allocation of such facilities.
The proposed new market and food centre is a pilot project to decide whether to resume building wet markets/food centres to promote community bonding and strengthen local identity.
To help keep the operating costs low, the HDB had specified that the market/food centre must be naturally ventilated.
=> Make peasants suffer to satisfy 1 Familee's greed?
Key considerations for the project include whether the new facility is viable and can respond to residents' needs.
The successful tenderer of this new development is an experienced operator of many eating houses in various HDB estates.
In setting the prices of the food to be sold, he will have to take into account the needs of his customers as well as competition from eating/shopping alternatives nearby.
On its part, the HDB will continue to build shops and eating houses in Sengkang, as demand for such facilities increases in tandem with the development of the town.
We thank the writer for the feedback. Kee Lay Cheng (Ms)
Deputy Director
(Land Administration)
Housing & Development Board
