Statistics on Halal Food Stalls in Hong Kah North SMC and Those Terminating Their Tenancies

18 Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for National Development (a) what number and percentage of HDB coffee shops in Hong Kah North SMC are currently halal food stalls; (b) over the past five years, what percentage of halal food stalls in Hong Kah North SMC have given up their tenancies; and (c) how does this percentage compare with non-halal food stalls.

Mr Desmond Lee: There are 11 Housing and Development Board (HBD) coffee shops in Hong Kah North Single Member Constituency. Of these, seven are rented out by HDB and four had been sold to private owners. As of 4 October 2024, 22 (or 21%) out of 105 stalls in these coffee shops are halal stalls. HDB does not have data on the number of stalls that have given up their tenancies because such stall tenancies are managed by the coffee shop operators.

Since 2005, HDB rental coffee shop operators are required to provide at least one halal stall under their tenancy agreement with HDB. Should any halal stallholder cease operations, HDB requires the coffee shop operator to find a replacement within the current tenancy period. HDB conducts onsite checks regularly and if the operator fails to find a replacement, HDB may decide not to renew the tenancy or, as a last resort, terminate the tenancy.