Pearls Centre owners seek higher payout for relocation

They hope collective sale potential will be considered as en bloc process has begun

Pearls Centre's property owners, displeased by the sudden news of relocation, have asked the authorities for more compensation, in particular taking into account its potential en bloc value.

The 23-storey, 99-year leasehold residential and commercial building in Chinatown had set up a collective sale committee about three months ago.

A valuer was to start work when the announcement came last Wednesday that the 43-year-old building would be acquired for the building of underground tunnels for the Thomson MRT Line.

The occupants of the 44 residential units and 199 shops there have two years to move out.