WE THANK Mr Chan Kok Keong for his feedback (’HDB’s ethnic quota policy needs tweak’, Sept 22). The ethnic integration policy (EIP) was introduced to achieve a healthy racial mix in HDB estates and prevent ethnic enclaves.
By providing HDB residents of different races with more opportunities to interact as neighbours, the policy fosters interracial understanding and strengthens social cohesion. The information on the eligible ethnic groups of buyers for resale flats is updated monthly to provide certainty to buyers and sellers on the availability of ethnic quota for the entire month. For instance, when the seller offers an ‘option to purchase’ to the buyer, the buyer will need time to exercise the option, obtain a letter of offer for a bank loan or an HDB Loan Eligibility letter for an HDB loan. Their resale application will not be affected by any changes in the ethnic proportion, as long as the resale application has been submitted within the same month.
However, applicants are more likely to be affected by any quota revision if updating the ethnic quota is done more frequently, as for example, Mr Chan suggested in shortening it to a bimonthly practice. The current combined quota for ‘Indians’ and ‘Others’ offers them a higher limit and greater flexibility. If they were treated as separate groups, their respective ethnic limits will have to be lower, making it harder for them in their flat purchases.
We will continue to review the EIP and the ethnic quotas regularly to ensure their relevance.
Lily Chan-Wong Jee Choo (Mrs)
Deputy Director (Policy & Property)
for Director (Estate Admin & Property)
Housing & Development Board
Source: Straits Times, 10 Oct 2009
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