En blocs also about greed and money

I refer to “Law’s purpose to maximise scarce land” (April 10). In his letter defending the 80-per-cent en bloc rule, Mr Ben Mathias Tan asserts that the law would have been struck down by the courts if it was so unfair. I find this logic questionable as it was the framers of law who implemented the en bloc rules. He also said such laws exist in Hong Kong and in spirit in our local Land Acquisition Act.

Perhaps Mr Tan should be reminded that apartment owners who bought their units prior to 1999 (before en bloc rules began), did so with the full expectation that it would be their choice and theirs alone to sell away their homes. When the law was first introduced in Parliament, it was done with the hope of expediting sales in prime estates which were run down.

Reasons of land scarcity? We do not experience it today. Buildings in good condition have gone under the hammer for financial gain. Others were allowed to become run down to justify sales. And to liken forced sale for profit motive to the need for building highways (Land Acquisition Act), is stretching the justification too far.

George Yeo Qiao Zhi