Joint Press Release by the Land Transport Authority and Singapore Land Authority on Update on Hock Kee House

Status

• To date, owners of 32 out of 35 units of Hock Kee House (HKH) have accepted the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) enhanced special financial assistance package. Of these, owners of eight units have vacated their premises and returned the keys, while owners of the remaining 24 units have indicated that they will be moving out over the next two weeks.

Alternative premises

• Following the announcements on the acquisition of HKH and the enhanced special financial assistance package, LTA has been working closely with the owners and tenants to find suitable premises and provide any other assistance to help them in their relocation. For example, LTA facilitated discussion between owners and tenants of garage units and liaised with other agencies to arrange for the owners to view units that they are interested in. LTA will continue to assist the other owners in their relocation.
  
  
• In addition, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has been working with the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to assist some of the owners/occupiers of HKH in their relocation. HDB has assisted 7 owners with alternative accommodation, including interim housing. Another two owners' requests are being looked into.
  
  
• SLA assisted two owners to rent State properties for residential use. SLA is also helping the two owners to rent shop/office units.

Compensation for the owners of HKH

• The Government today informed the owners of units in HKH of the compensation for their units acquired to enable the LTA to resume the construction works for the Circle Line (CCL). HKH has to be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act (LAA) and demolished as it will be affected by LTA's deep excavation works, which are about to resume.
  
  
• The compensation was determined after the Collector had met almost all of the owners to hear their claims and requests for compensation. The Collector's Inquiry meetings were held from 5 to 8 Sep. The meeting with the owners of the last unit has been postponed to a later date at their requests. The Collector is the officer appointed under the LAA to deal with the compensation issues.
  
  
• The meetings with the Collector had proceeded smoothly. All the owners engaged their own private valuers. The Government is paying for the professional fees of these valuers, subject to a cap.
  
  
• The compensation under the LAA awarded to the owners is pegged to the current market value. This takes into account the recent transactions of units in HKH, which would have factored in the proposed CCL Paya Lebar Station that was announced in 2001.
  
  
• The compensation will be paid to the owner/mortgagee/chargee upon the surrender of the title deeds and possession of the property to the Government. The Government has sought the owners' cooperation to vacate their premises by 3 October.
  
  
• The Government has also taken into consideration financial hardship suffered by some owners arising directly from the acquisition. For such cases, the Government has worked out an ex-gratia payment, taking into consideration the personal circumstances of each case.
  
  
• We have also assured the owners of units in HKH that any owner who is not satisfied with the amount of the compensation award under the LAA, can lodge a Notice of Appeal with the Appeals Board (Land Acquisition) within 14 days of receiving the notice of award.