Enhanced Law Enforcement at Orchard Towers

17 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether increased law enforcement operations will be undertaken at Orchard Towers so as to reduce or deter any illegal or vice activities there, or around its vicinity.

18 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) in the past three years, how many police reports have been made on crime and vice activities at Orchard Towers; (b) what enforcement actions have been taken by the police; and (c) what plans does the police have to eradicate crime and vice activities at Orchard Towers.

19 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the current number of massage establishments in Orchard Towers; (b) whether the number of licensed and unlicensed massage establishments has increased or decreased in the past three years; and (c) whether there are plans to limit the number of licences issued for massage establishments located within one mixed property development.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Amrin Amin) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, with your permission, can I take Question Nos 17 to 19 together.

Mr Speaker: Yes, please.

Mr Amrin Amin: There are currently three licensed massage establishments in Orchard Towers. This number has decreased in the past three years, as Police have actively managed the licences they grant, to take into consideration URA's planning intent, feedback from the community, and the prevailing law and order situation.

Police have been taking enforcement action against unlicensed massage establishments at Orchard Towers, and the number has remained stable over the past three years. In 2018, Police detected seven such establishments, which have since been shut down. Five operators have been dealt with, of which four were fined, and one was issued a stern warning. Investigations against the remaining two are on-going. Police will continue its enforcement efforts in this area.

Police have deployed more resources there, including Special Operations Command troops. This enhanced presence is supplemented with an increased deployment of CCTV cameras to deter street-walking and other illegal activities.

Police have also maintained a strong tempo of enforcement operations. In 2018, 18 anti-vice operations were conducted at Orchard Towers and its vicinity, resulting in the arrest of 76 vice workers. These operations were on top of Police’s regular checks.

Police will continue to keep a close watch on the law and order situation at Orchard Towers and ensure the safety of the public.

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Speaker, Orchard Towers is in my constituency. I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his answer. I have three supplementary questions. Last Saturday, I visited Orchard Towers with my grassroots leaders and officers from the Police, NEA and LTA. I understand that there are currently more than 30 public entertainment outlets within Orchard Towers. Can I request that the Ministry consider setting a cap on the number of public entertainment outlets within one property development, especially within a mixed development comprising many residential units?

I would also like to ask the Police to consider not renewing some of the Public Entertainment Licences at Orchard Towers when they are up for renewal, especially for those with poor public order records.

During my walkabout at Orchard Towers, we saw a number of beauty salons there. From the look of the shopfront, I would be suspicious of the sort of treatments they provide. While I am glad to hear from the Senior Parliamentary Secretary that the Police have taken action against massage establishments, those with licences, at Orchard Towers, I believe the Police have also stopped issuing massage establishment licences there. I understand that these beauty salons do not require any licence to operate. I would therefore like to ask if the Police are taking any actions against these beauty salons to ensure that they do not circumvent the licensing regime and engage in vice activities.

Mr Amrin Amin: I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. Currently, there are 29 public entertainment establishments at Orchard Towers, of which 23 are nightlife establishments, and similar to the licences for massage establishments, Police actively manage the Public Entertainment Licences they grant, taking into consideration URA's planning intent, feedback from the community and the prevailing law and order situation. Given these considerations, Police are unlikely to grant new Public Entertainment Licences for Orchard Towers. This is publicised on the Police website.

Police conducts regular checks on the Public Entertainment Licensees to ensure that they comply with all licensing conditions. Licencees with infringements of licensing conditions may have their licence not renewed upon expiry. For those who more egregious infringements, their licences may even be suspended or cancelled by the licensing officer.

Police also conduct regular enforcement to ensure that operators do not circumvent the licensing regime and engage in vice activities. It is an offence for beauty salons, as the Member mentioned, to provide massage services without a licence under the Massage Establishments Act. An operator may be liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 or two years, or both. If vice activities are detected, the operator may be liable for additional vice-related offences under the Women's Charter.

Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his answer and I am glad that MHA is taking the issue of vice seriously. Sir, the activities of Orchard Towers spill out very publicly onto the pavements of Orchard Road, especially at night. It creates an unsafe and an uncomfortable environment for people who just want to have a decent meal in the buildings that surround Orchard Towers. Therefore, could MHA prioritise anti-vice raids on Orchard Towers to clean up that strip of Orchard Road? There is also an investigation into an alleged murder there. And I think this brings to bare the urgency of the task.

Mr Amrin Amin: We share the Member's concern. In fact, Police have been keeping up a strong tempo of enforcement actions on top of their regular checks and enhanced ground presence. I mentioned in my earlier reply that Police conducted 18 anti-vice operations at Orchard Towers and its vicinity in 2018 and these resulted in arrests of over 70 vice workers. Police will continue to keep a close watch over the law and order situation at Orchard Towers, including its vicinity.

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. I am just a bit concerned. I am just wondering if we stepped up enforcement in Orchard Towers, are we really addressing the root of the problem? Are we really tackling this vice issue or are we just going to move them to another place, which means we have an Orchard Towers Part II? And we are just spending our resources, just chasing our tail.

Mr Amrin Amin: I think the Member is right. There has to be an outlet for people to entertain themselves. I think that is a given. But what is important is the law and order situation has to be maintained and if the situation gets out of hand, the Police must ensure that whatever entertainment that we enjoy, do not cause inconvenience to others and pose law and order situations to the public.