Clarification by Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This clarification concerns a factual correction made by Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon regarding the adjustment of high hawker stall rentals after the first tenancy term. Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon explained that stalls with initial bids of $8,000 or $10,000 are adjusted to assessed market rates for subsequent terms to ensure long-term sustainability. He specifically corrected his earlier statement to clarify that the median market rent for non-subsidised cooked food stalls is approximately $1,200, rather than $1,500 to $1,800. This adjustment mechanism is intended to help hawkers manage operating costs and support the broader goal of maintaining food affordability for the public. The correction ensures that parliamentary records accurately reflect the median rental benchmarks used to assist hawkers in transitioning to more sustainable pricing.
Transcript
The following statement was made by the Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Dr Koh Poh Koon) during Question Time for Question No 16 on “Impact of Escalating Hawker Stall Rentals on Food Affordability” at the Sitting on 9 September 2024:
The Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Dr Koh Poh Koon): For those who have, for example, bid a very high price, such as $10,000 or $8,000, in their first tenancy term, this price will hold. But following their first tenancy term, that price will be adjusted to the assessed market rent, which is about $1,800 to $1,500, thereabout. So, that will help to make the price more sustainable for this hawker in the longer term over the next tenancy terms. [Please refer to "Impact of Escalating Hawker Stall Rentals on Food Affordability", Official Report, 9 September 2024, Vol 95, Issue 140, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
Written statement by Dr Koh Poh Koon circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5):
I wish to make the following factual correction to my reply to the supplementary question from Member Mr Yip Hon Weng during Question Time at the Sitting on 9 September 2024. My reply should read as follows:
The Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Dr Koh Poh Koon): For those who have, for example, bid a very high price, such as $10,000 or $8,000, in their first tenancy term, this price will hold. But following their first tenancy term, that price will be adjusted to the assessed market rent, at which the median for non-subsidised cooked food stalls is about $1,200. So, that will help to make the price more sustainable for this hawker in the longer term over the next tenancy terms.