In this field "flats" means apartments — non-landed private housing a foreigner may buy without approval
A worked RES examination question on foreign ownership, from our Paper 1 bank — with the rule it turns on, and why each of the four options is right or wrong.
The question
A foreign buyer is shown a development described in its brochure as "flats", and, reading the word as he would in ordinary speech, takes it to mean HDB flats. On that footing he concludes that the units must be public housing that a foreigner cannot freely buy, and tells his agent he will look elsewhere. His agent says he has misread the word as it is used in this field.
Which statement is correct?
The answer, and why
Answer: B
The rule. In this field "flats" means apartments — non-landed private housing a foreigner may buy without approval. An HDB flat is meant only where "HDB" is stated expressly.
Why B is correct. The development of "flats" is apartments, which he may buy; his reading of the word as HDB, and his conclusion that he is shut out, is the error.
The other options.
- A accepts his misreading.
- C merges the two senses.
- D makes flats a restricted landed form.
Exam note. Reading "flats" as HDB led him to the wrong conclusion about his own eligibility. The word means apartments unless the three letters "HDB" appear.
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