THE Housing Board has won the 2008 United Nations Public Service Award for its home ownership programme.

The prestigious award is for 'Improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness in the public service' to HDB.

It is given to public institutions for their creative achievements and contributions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration.

Among the 12 winners worldwide, HDB is the only organisation in Asia to be honoured with the recognition by the UN this year.

HDB chairman James Koh Cher Siang and its CEO Tay Kim Poh received the award on behalf of the board in New York on Monday.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan congratulated HDB for its achievement, saying that the award 'is a tribute not just to HDB, but also to the Singapore people because the Home Ownership Programme is very much a part of our lives today'.

Started in 1964, programme houses 81 per cent of the population in some 900,000 flats across Singapore today.

Of these dwellers, about 95 per cent own their homes.