E.W. Barker
Singapore
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This is a simple Bill which seeks to amend section 33 of the Land Acquisition Act on the amount of compensation payable to owners of land compulsorily acquired under the Act.”
“For the five-year period from 1st July, 1981 to 30th June, 1986, the HDB demolished a total of 8,098 units. As the HDB's new accounting system was only implemented from 1st April, 1985, the Board does not have ready information on the value of flats demolished prior to 1st April, 1985. RELOCATION OF CREMATORIUMS 4.”
“The HDB did not allocate any MP's office to the previous PAP MPs for Anson and Potong Pasir constituencies. NUMBER OF H.D.B. UNITS DEMOLISHED 3.”
“I would not know. Why don't you ask them? I don't know. Sir, to put things in a nutshell, it is the legal profession amongst all the professions that help in the administration of Singapore. Doctors help to cure you of diseases.”
“I am not saying it's wrong. I am not telling you stories. I am relating. So they decided to take us on. When we went into Select Committee, the first day and the later part of the second day, there was confrontation between the Committee and the lawyers.”
“As the Member for Anson would know, the Minister for Law is not in charge of prosecutions or the conduct of any criminal proceedings in court, nor does he give any directives on these matters.”
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“Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he is aware of the low price of eggs in recent months and the hardships encountered by poultry farmers as a result; and what steps he proposes to take to maintain a stable price all the year round so as to enable poultry farmers to make a living with-out much economical hardship.”
“Member for River Valley, my Ministry has prepared the breakdown figures of expenditure for the period 1st January to 31st July this year in respect of trees planted and improvements of road side-tables in each constituency as shown in this table*(Appendix, cols. 247-50.). Appendix to Oral Answer to Question No. 32, cols. 210-11 (Cols 247-50) [Copies of table handed in and distributed to Members.] For the period from 1st January to 31st July this year, the total expenditure for all constituencies was $100,000 for labour and $79,000 for materials. It is expected that from 1st August, 1967, to the end of this year, $90,000 will be spent for works on levelling off road side-tables and $85,000 for planting of shrubs and trees. A Trees and Parks Executive Committee and a Trees and Parks Unit was formed in May this year. The main function of the Committee is to advise the Government on tree planting and park planning. The main function of the Trees and Parks Unit is to implement all schemes and projects formulated by the Executive Committee. After a series of meetings and site investigations carried out by the Committee and Unit, various projects for beautifying Singapore Island have been proposed. I do not propose at this stage to give particulars of these projects, but suffice it to say that since May this year up to August, the Trees and Parks Unit of the Public Works Department has already planted 7,000 trees all over the island. More trees will be planted in the next few months, and it is expected that not less than 12,000 trees will have been planted by the end of this year. LOW PRICES OF EGGS 33.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Tiong Bahru Road is currently a secondary distributor road and the proposal to convert this road into a dual carriageway is basically a long-term planning consideration. At present, it is not justifiable to widen this road into a dual carriage-way because of space limitation and because other roads in the network, like Outram Road, have not been widened. To widen Tiong Bahru Road alone will not serve any general purpose in easing the flow of traffic. However, the Member will be pleased to know that the Government is now undertaking a comprehensive study of the road network system for the whole of Singapore. Until such time when the overall position is assessed, it is not possible to justify the need to widen Tiong Bahru Road into a dual carriageway. However, it is anticipated that this road will be widened within the next five years but, of course, not into a dual carriage-way. LEVELLING OFF ROAD SIDE-TABLES AND PLANTING OF ROADSIDE TREES 32. Mr Lim Cheng Lock asked the Minister for Law and National Development how much money was spent in each constituency during the period 1st January, 1967 to 31st July, 1967 for (i) labour and (ii) materials for levelling off road side-tables and planting of roadside trees; how much money the Ministry has spent or proposes to spend for these two items in each constituency during the period from 1st August, 1967 to 31st December, 1967; and what further steps is he taking to implement the Prime Minister's call to make Singapore a garden city. Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, tree planting and improvements of road side-tables are not planned on the basis of the requirements of each constituency but on a pan-island basis. However, for the benefit of the hon.”
“Sir, I confirm that most of the warehouses or the owners of warehouses have shifted to other places. As far as zoning is concerned, the hon. Member for Mountbatten understands that land in Singapore is zoned according to what use can be made of it, such as agricultural land, land for warehouses or residential land. And if any of these Golden Mile squatters want to set up a warehouse in a residential area, naturally they would not be allowed. This will entail a change of zoning. But we always give consideration when these people are moved out, and if it can be done, for instance, on the outskirts of residential areas, my planners would recommend a change of zoning. As for the Chief Building Surveyor's Department, even if one owns the land on which one wishes to build, certain building regulations have to be complied with. The Chief Building Surveyor is not going out of his way to make difficulties for these people, but there are building by-laws and regulations which must be complied with. TIONG BAHRU ROAD (Conversion into dual carriage-way) 31. Mr Lee Teck Him asked the Minister for Law and National Development when work will commence on the proposed conversion of Tiong Bahru Road into a dual carriage-way.”
“Sir, the rate of compensation for a building is $2.50 per square foot if the owner can prove that the building was built pre-war or is covered by an approved plan from the Chief Building Surveyor. In all other cases, a building is compensated at $1 per square foot. For resettlement cases, a disturbance allowance of $250 for both hut owner and sub-tenant and a transport allowance of $100 for the hut owner and $50 for the sub-tenant is paid. Up to the 15th of August last, compensation paid amounted to $156,815. That is the total amount, Sir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, 409 squatter families, 74 small industries, 17 motor workshops, 26 shopkeepers and 81 small warehouses or stores have to be moved out to make way for the proposed Golden Mile project. 294 out of the 409 squatter families have been rehoused in the Housing and Development Board's flats at Bendemeer Road and Tanjong Rhu Estate, while the re- maining 115 families have elected to find their own accommodation. Of the 74 small industries, 10 furniture makers have accepted alternative accommodation in flatted factories at Bendemeer Road. 37 boat-builders and charcoal and firewood importers have been relocated in the Tanjong Rhu resettlement area. Four rattan processing and timber yard operators have been resited in the resettlement areas in Tampines or Lim Chu Kang, and 15 other small industries have found their own accommodation elsewhere. There are eight other small industries which are still on the site. However, four of these have already accepted alternative accommodation offered by the Board and they are expected to move to their new accommodation by the end of this month. Every effort is being made to find suitable sites for the remaining cases. All 70 motor workshops have found their own accommodation elsewhere. Of the 26 shopkeepers, six have accepted alternative shop accommodation in the Housing and Development Board's housing estates, and the remaining 20 shopkeepers have found their own accommodation. All the 81 small warehouses or stores have already been demolished as their operators have either cleared all their stores to their other warehouses or have found alternative accommodation. It will be seen that nearly all resettlement cases affected by the Golden Mile development have been satisfactorily resolved.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a traffic bridge across Geylang River linking the Old Airport Road and Dunman Road and on both sides of this bridge there are footpaths which are convenient for school children travelling on foot between Dakota Crescent housing estate and Broadrick Road Primary School. The Ministry of National Development is conducting investigations to ascertain how many school children living in Dakota Crescent housing estate are, in fact, studying at Broadrick Road Primary School and are, therefore, likely to make use of the proposed footbridge. If a case can be made out, a footbridge across Geylang River will be built at a suitable point. It is estimated that a footbridge will cost about $6,000. GOLDEN MILE SCHEME (Resettlement of squatters and relocation of industries, workshops and warehouses) 30. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Law and National Development the numbers of squatters' families, marginal industries, workshops, trades and warehouses affected by the Golden Mile scheme and whether they have been rehoused or relocated in alternative sites.”
“I would like to assure the Honourable Member that my Ministry has indeed been looking into various possibilities of providing more warehouse facilities both in the suburbs and near industrial areas to enable commercial houses and distributors of merchandise to relocate warehouse affected by urban renewal. The problem is not a simple one as the site selected should ideally be close to the harbour and railway station and preferably not too far from business centres for easy and cheap transportation of goods. More investigations and feasibility studies are being undertaken by the Urban Renewal Department. Eventually, land may have to be reclaimed from the sea along Pasir Panjang to provide a warehouse zone that will be generally acceptable. In the meantime, existing warehouses which are affected by urban renewal are given priority wherever alternative sites are available. Appendix to Oral Answer to Question 27, cols. 106-7 (Cols 0161-0168)”
“Yes, I am aware that there is an existing boatel operating near the sea-front at Kallang Park on a Temporary Occupation Licence at which boats can be moored, serviced or hired. The operator is also a distributor of outboard motors and accessories. Boating and ferry service faci lities are being included in the "Floating Restaurant Project", one of the 4 sites in the Kallang Park offered for lease by tender by the Government. WAREHOUSE FACILITIES 17. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether the Government will consider providing more facilities in the suburbs or near industrial areas to enable commercial houses or local distributors of merchandise to rebuild their warehouse affected by the urban renewal development, as warehousing forms an integral part of the entrepot trade of the Republic.”
“The industries or trades affected by the urban redevelopment and the Golden Mile Project which are relocated in the Tan jong Rhu Resettlement Area are those which require to be sited near the water-front. These include boat- builders, charcoal and firewood importers and such obnoxious industries or trades as wooden box makers, and blending and re-packing of black oil and other wood preservative oils. KALLANG PARK BOATING AND YACHTING FACILITIES 16. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he is aware of the existing facilities of a boatel near the sea- front at Kallang Park, and whether he will consider including boating and yachting amenities in the new redevelopment projects for tourism in Kallang Park earmarked for private development.”
“The real answer to the problem is to eradicate flooding completely. This is a difficult task but is being attended to. In fact several projects are being undertaken to eradicate or reduce flooding in certain areas, like the cutting of two canals in two phases from Bukit Timah Road to deviate the storm waters to Ulu Pandan and Kallang. URBAN RENEWAL 15. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Law and National Development what industries or trades affected by the urban renewal and the Golden Mile schemes are relocated in the Tanjong Rhu Resettlement Area.”
“The request for the installation of street lights along Ponggol Road from the 9 � m.s. to Ponggol Point will be considered by the Projects Committee at its next meeting and if the request is approved, the work can commence in early October 1967. FLOOD AREAS AND FLOOD WARNINGS 14. Mr Bernard Rodrigues asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether his Ministry will publish a pamphlet with a map showing the areas in Singapore subject to flood at times (a) when there is heavy rain, (b) when heavy rain coincides with high tides, and containing guidance on alternative routes to persons who normally travel through such areas; and whether he will request the assistance of the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Broadcasting in order to give early warning on flooded areas and frequent guidance on alternative routes at times of flood so that workers and school children will not be delayed on their way to or from places of work and school. Mr E. W. Barker: The Ministry of National Development has prepared maps showing the areas affected by floods early this year and the depths of the floods. These maps have been circulated to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Interior and Defence. This information, if necessary, could be published in the form of a pamphlet for the guidance of the general public. However, a pamphlet alone would be inadequate to alleviate problems caused by floods. Both the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Broadcasting have assisted in past floods in giving early warning on flooded areas and guidance on alternative routes at times of floods. Even the Army has assisted by transporting school children in badly affected area. However, these are only flood relief measures.”
“Prior to 1st March, 1961, plans for the construction of private streets by private developers were approved even though no provision was made for street lights. After 1st March, 1961, however, all plans for private streets must include provisions for street lights before they are approved. It is the policy of the Government so far as funds are available to install street lights along roads in private housing estates which have been declared public roads. But public funds for this purpose are not inexhaustible and furthermore, these funds have to be distributed among the various constituencies. As these funds are limited, priority is given to requests for street lighting where the need is more urgent. All requests for street lighting are therefore carefully processed by the Urban and Rural Services Committee and the Projects Committee before approval is given. STREET LIGHTS (Ponggol Road) 13. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether and when public street lights will be installed from 9 � m.s. Ponggol Road to Ponggol Point.”
“There are 5,658 applicants who have registered for Housing Board's flats for six months or more. Of these applicants, a few hundred have requested for specific housing estates such as Lavender Street where the present 2-room and 3- room flats are exclusively used to rehouse clearance families from the Golden Mile and Balestier Estate Renewal. All the rest have, however, been made offers but have refused the offers for one reason or another. The delay is due entirely to the applicants for being choosy and not due to any procedure of allocation adopted by the Board. As I have said before, any applicant who is not choosy about the locality can be accommodated immediately. There are 2-room flats available at Kampong Tiong Bahru at a rental of $55 per month and 3-room flats at Bukit Ho Swee at $60 per month. STREET LIGHTS (Private Housing Estates) 12. Mr Bernard Rodrigues asked the Minister for Law and National Development what is the policy of the Government in regard to the installation of street lights along roads in private housing estates which have been declared public roads.”
“Section 32 of the Port of Singapore Authority Ordinance, 1963, empowers the Authority with the approval of the Minister, to appoint a General Manager on such terms and conditions as the Authority may think fit. The present incumbent, Mr Goh Koh Pui, who is concurrently Chairman and General Manager of the Port of Singapore Authority, is a substantive Permanent Secretary, Superscale Grade C, now on secondment to the P.S.A. since 1st September, 1964. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS 11. Mr Bernard Rodrigues asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board the number of applicants who have been waiting for the Board's flats for six months or more and whether steps are being taken to expedite the allocation of flats to the applicants.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the fore-shore and sea-bed at Pasir Panjang Containing an area of approximately l0� acres as delineated on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 1/67" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, several projects are under consideration for making Singapore a more attractive tourist centre. Tourism has vast untapped potentials which we are determined to exploit to the full. This reclamation, which in volves an area of about 104 acres of foreshore and sea-bed fronting Haw Par Villa, is part of a development scheme estimated to cost about $414,000. The reclaimed land, together with a small area of adjoining State land, will be developed to provide tourist amenities such as night-clubs, restaurants and shops and will be an embellishment to the already well-established and popular Haw Par Villa. It is envisaged that the development, when completed, will give a further boost to our rapidly growing tourist industry. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the foreshore and sea-bed at Pasir Panjang containing an area of approximately 10� acres as delineated on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 1/67" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. ADJOURNMENT MOTION 6.19 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the clause be read a Second time." Shortly, this saving clause is to make it clear beyond any doubt that the Public Authorities Protection (Cessation) Bill will not affect the limitation period in respect of any cause of action arising prior to the cessation of the Public Authorities Protection Ordinance, 1948. It is intended that this new clause be inserted after clause 2. Question put, and agreed to. Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill. The Chairman: This new clause is to be inserted immediately after clause 2. Bill reported with an amendment; read a Third time and passed. RECLAMATION AT PASIR PANJANG 6.17 p.m.”
“Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 6.14 p.m. Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill. New Clause - " Nothing in this Act shall affect any Transitional proceedings if the cause of action arose or provisions. accrued before the date of the coming into operation of this Act, and the time for bringing proceedings in respect of any such cause of action shall, if it has not already expired on or before such date, expire at the time when it would have expired apart from the provisions of this Act.". - [Mr Barker]. Brought up, and read the First time.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. "That the Bill be now read a Second time." As you are aware, the Public Authorities Protection Ordinance of 1912 provided, inter alia, that legal proceedings against public authorities should not lie unless instituted within three months after the act, neglect or default com plained of. This Ordinance remained in operation in Singapore until 1955 when it was repealed by the Public Authorities Protection (Repeal) Ordinance. The object of the repeal was to assimilate the law applicable to proceedings against public authorities with that applicable in other cases, with the result that public authorities ceased to enjoy any privileged position in litigation. The repeal was also designed to bring our law in line with the law in the United Kingdom. After the formation of Malaysia, the Public Authorities Protection Ordinance, 1948, of Malaysia was extended to Singapore by the Modification of Laws (Government Proceedings and Public Authorities Protection) (Extension and Modification) Order, 1965, made under the Malaysia Act on the 25th of February, 1965. This Orthnance, which still operates in Singapore, provides, inter alia, that actions against public authorities shall be commenced within 12 months next after the act, neglect or default complained of. In consequence of the independence of Singapore upon separation from Malaysia, it is considered desirable that the Public Authorities Protection Ordinance, 1948, of Malaysia should cease to apply to Singapore and that we revert to the position where the law applicable to proceedings against public authorities is similar to that in other cases. The Bill now before the House seeks to do this. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the clause be read a Second time." This new clause is necessary so as to widen the Minister's powers to prescribe fees which are at present limited to prescribing fees for the grant of licences. It is considered that fees should be payable for the grant of exemptions as well, and this clause will enable such fees to be prescribed. It is intended that this clause be inserted after clause 9. Question put, and agreed to. Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the clause be read a Second time." Sir, this new clause seeks to make a consequential amendment which was overlooked earlier. It is intended that it be inserted after clause 7. Consequential amendments to the numbers of the subsequent clauses will have to be made. Question put, and agreed to. Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, In page 2, after line 5, to insert - "(a) by deleting the expression "(4) " appearing in the last line of the second proviso to subsection (1) thereof and substituting therefor the expression "(7)";". There are consequential amendments to re-letter paragraphs (a) , (b) and (c) as (b) , (c) and (d) respectively. Sir, these are all, in fact, consequential amendments which were overlooked earlier and are now necessary. Amendment agreed to.”
“This should effectively prevent the moneylender from suing in more than one court on the note or memorandum. Clause 8 is also an important amendment, for it proposes to make it a seizable offence for a moneylender to watch or beset the residence or place of business or employment of a debtor with a view to harassing or intimidating him. The enactment of this amending Bill should not give rise to any objection from honest moneylenders. It is, however, designed to deter dishonest moneylenders from continuing the harmful and unfair practices that have come to the attention of Government. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“Clause 5 proposes to remedy the situation by requiring moneylenders to make a loan of $100 or above in the form of a crossed cheque with the words "Licensed Moneylender" endorsed thereon. Any moneylender or his agent shall not present to any bank account any crossed cheque drawn by another moneylender or his agent and made payable to a borrower - sub-clause (3) . By sub-clause (4) a person who is not a moneylender shall not present to any bank more than two of such crossed cheques in any one month. A bank manager may be required to furnish information to the Public Prosecutor to facilitate the identification of any person suspected of having committed an offence under this clause, having an account with his bank - subclause (5). Clause 6 requires a moneylender to afford the Registrar access to the cheques issued by him which have been cleared and to any note or memorandum setting out a contract in which the moneylender is or has been concerned. Clause 7 is an important provision, for it requires moneylenders to endorse on their promissory notes the amounts of money they receive from their borrowers immediately after receiving such repayments. A penalty is provided for con travention of this provision. This clause seeks to remedy the usual complaint that moneylenders do not give receipts for or make any records of the sums they receive from their borrowers on account of principal or interest. And it further provides that if a moneylender has been convicted of such an offence, he will be unable to enforce the contract for the recovery of any monies due to him from the borrower. Finally, by sub-clause (6) , the court is empowered to endorse details of such conviction on the note or memorandum.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Hon. Members will recall that consequent to an Oral Question raised in this House at its sitting on the 20th December last year by the Member for Bras Basah on the Moneylenders Ordinance, 1959. 1 stated that consideration would be given to amend the Ordinance. The Bill before the House accordingly gives effect to Government's intentions in this regard, In the past, exemptions have been granted under section 2 of the Moneylenders Ordinance, 1959, far too freely to any body corporate or society which applied to be exempted from the provisions of the Ordinance. This practice has been found to be undesirable and will be discontinued. Clauses 2 and 9 accordingly empower the Minister to impose conditions when granting exemptions in future and initially restrict the period of exemption for a period of three years. Any body corporate which has been exempted up to the time that this legislation comes into force will continue to be so exempted until the end of this year. Thereupon it follows that such bodies corporate will have to apply for future exemptions to the Minister. Many borrowers complain that they receive from their moneylenders smaller sums of money than the amounts they were made to sign for on the promissory notes. Subsection (2) of section 16 of the Ordinance, which attempts to remedy the situation by requiring the moneylender to issue a crossed cheque, a crossed postal order, or a crossed money order niade payable to the borrower if the loan is $100 or above, has been found to be inadequate, as moneylenders can with a little ingenuity evade the provisions of the subsection.”
“I can assure the hon. Member for Delta that no diseased pork is sold in our markets. Whenever swine fever is reported or detected in a farm, the farm is completely isolated. No pigs, are allowed to go in or to be taken out. And any pigs that die as a result of the disease are buried on the spot. So consumers need have no fears that the meat or the pork that they are consuming is infected pork. BILLS INTRODUCED 4.22 p.m. LOCAL GOVERNMENT INTEGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Local Government Integration Ordinance, 1963 (No. 18 of 1963)", presented by the Minister for Health (Mr Yong Nyuk Lin); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. MEDICINES (ADVERTISEMENT AND SALE) (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Medicines (Advertisement, and Sale) Ordinance, 1955 (No. 19 of 1955)", presented by Mr Yong Nyuk Lin; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. RUBBER ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE (INCORPORATION) BILL "to provide for the incorporation of the Rubber Association of Singapore as a body corporate, for the conducting of a rubber market in Singapore, for the promotion and regulation of the rubber trade and industry, for the establishment of a Singapore Rubber Fund and for matters incidental thereto", presented by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr S. Ramaswamy) (for the Minister for Finance); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE (AMENDMENT NO. 2) BILL First Reading 4.26 p.m.”
“So far the assistance we have given is to vaccinate the pigs. But the only method of assisting farmers would be for my Ministry to liaise with the Ministry of Social Affairs. Though my Ministry is in charge of pigs, it is the Ministry of Social Affairs that assists farmers who lose their pigs. But so far no requests for assistance have reached us. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): Once the Primary Production Department has discovered that there is swine fever in an area, will the affected pigs be taken over by the Primary Production Department or returned to the farmers? This poses a threat to the consumers, as they are afraid that they might buy the diseased pork.”
“I am sure the amount charged for vaccination is not the prohibitive factor. It is rather ignorance and hoping for the best until the disease strikes the farm. And then they come running to the Primary Production Department. When that happens, sometimes it is rather late. So once again I say that if all farmers will come forward, if the vaccination is free, we will give it to them free. But they will not.”
“Although a large number of pigs have already been vaccinated, I agree with the hon. Member for Punggol that the only effective method is to vaccinate all pigs. But as I have said just now, many a farmer is reluctant to come forward and have his pigs vaccinated. The only way we can do it is to pass legislation to compel farmers to have their pigs vaccinated. But for the moment we do not think that such a measure is called for. We would rather use methods of persuasion than methods of compulsion.”
“Vaccinated pigs are protected for at least one year, probably more.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the first case of swine fever was detected in Singapore on 8th July this year. Up to 26th August this year, 57 cases of swine fever involving 680 pigs were reported and confirmed. A mass vaccination campaign has been and is still being carried out, and so far about 113,000 pigs at 1,485 farms have been vaccinated. Publicity is also being given in the Press and over radio and television and through the distribution of hand-bills to advise farmers to have their pigs vaccinated as early as possible. In addition, the import and export of pigs have been temporarily suspended. The disease has been brought under control, but its complete eradication cannot be expected in the near future in view of the fact that territories surrounding Singapore are also infected with the disease. Further, some ignorant farmers are adopting a wait- and-see attitude instead of getting their pigs vaccinated as soon as possible.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I reassure the Member for Choa Chu Kang that, whilst leaving them out in this Bill, we certainly do not intend that there should be no audit. As the Member is aware, there is a similar provision being made in the Companies Bill which is now before the Select Committee and which will be back in this House very soon. In view of the provisions in the new Companies Bill, these two provisions are considered redundant. Amendment agreed to. The Chairman: The renumbering of paragraphs consequential upon the deletion of paragraphs 4 and 6 will be done. In page 53, line 32, the word "Unit" spelt with a capital "U" is a clerical error, as the word used in the Schedule itself is spelt with a small "u". This correction will also be made. First Schedule, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Second Schedule ordered to stand part of the Bill. Bill reported with amendments; read a Third time and passed. 6.48 p.m. ADJOURMENT TO A DATE TO BE FIXED (Motion) Resolved, "That at its rising this day Parliament do stand adjourned to a date to be fixed." -[Mr Lim Kim San]. ADJOURNMENT MOTION”
“Sir, I beg to move, In page 53, lines 24 to 27, to leave out the whole of paragraph 6.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, In page 51, line 38, to leave out "Malayan" and insert "Singapore"; and In page 51, line 40, to leave out "Malayan" and insert "Singapore". These amendments are again necessary consequent on the issue of our own currency. Amendments agreed to. Amendment made: In page 53, lines 13 to 20, to leave out the whole of paragraph 4. -[Mr Barker].”
“Sir, I beg to move, In page 6, line 6, to leave out "Malayan" and insert "Singapore". The amendment is necessary consequent on the issue of our own currency. Amendment agreed to. Clause 4, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 5 to 88 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. First Schedule -”
“Clause 67 contains provisions to prevent the invalidation of a trust by reason that the trust funds are directed to be applied for non-charitable and invalid purposes as well as for some charitable purposes. This clause follows recent legislation in the United Kingdom and Australia to validate certain imperfect charitable trusts. The rest of Part VI of the Bill incorporates in the main the provisions of the Trustees (Incorporation) Ordinance. 1952, of Malaysia which provides for the incorporation of the trustees of bodies or associations established for charitable or public purposes. The trustees incorporated pursuant to this Part shall file with the Public Trustee their accounts annually. The First Schedule empowers the Minister by order to declare a unit trust scheme to be an authorised trust scheme and also to appoint inspectors to investigate and report on the administration of any unit trust scheme. Such controls are necessary if unit trust schemes are to be allowed to be authorised investments. The provisions contained in the First Schedule follow in general the provisions contained in sections 12 and 17 and the First Schedule of the Prevention of Fraud (Investment) Act, 1958, of the United Kingdom. Sir, the Bill has been referred and agreed to by the then Singapore Bar Committee, now the Singapore Advocates and Solicitors Society. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 6.36 p.m. Clause 1 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The law relating to trusts and trustees at present enforced in Singapore is contained in the Trustee Ordinance, 1949, as amended, and the Trustee Investment Act, 1965, both of Malaysia. The interpretation of the aforesaid enactments has caused a certain amount of difficulty since Singapore separated from Malaysia in August 1965, It is, therefore, considered desirable to have new legislation on those matters relating to trusts and trustees. The Bill seeks to consolidate and reenact the statutory law dealing with trusts and trustees with certain amendments and additions. In the main, it follows closely the provisions of the former Trustees Ordinance (Cap. 34) of Singapore repealed by the Trustee Investment Act, 1965, of Malaysia which extended the provisions of the Federal Trustee Ordinance, 1949, to Singapore. No substantive change has been made to the provisions of the former Ordinance. The Malaysian Trustee Investment Act, 1965, also gives new powers of investment to trustees and imposes certain duties on them in choosing investments. Most of the provisions contained therein have been incorporated into this Bill. As it is proposed to empower trustees to invest in authorised unit trust schemes, the expressions "authorised unit trust scheme" and "unit trust scheme" are defined. Clause 4 of the Bill defines the authorised investments for trust funds, and this follows in general the investments appearing in section 4 of the Malaysian Trustee Ordinance, 1949, as amended. Part VI of the Bill seeks to introduce statutory provisions relating to charitable trusts. Clause 66 empowers the Public Trustee to administer the property of charitable trusts which are for the time being without trustees.”
“The undertaking will be in terms as fair as the Government can be expected to agree to, in that the period of the inability to work will be confined to foreign powers or governments or their agencies, and will be varied according to the sort of appointment the person affected last held and will, in all instances, be only for a reasonable period of time after he has left the service of the Government. Furthermore, in the case where an undertaking is signed and the required permission to work with a foreign government or its agency refused, the Government will on its part offer to the person who is thus prevented from working for the foreign government or its agency alternative employment of a kind that will not be to that person's disadvantage in so far as it relates to remuneration when compared with his last appointment with the Singapore Government. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. TRUSTEES BILL Order for Second Reading read. 6.30 p.m.”
“It is to ensure that information or knowledge obtained in the course of one's employment or service in the Government of Singapore shall not be made use of by the person who has gained such information or thing in the course of his official functions after he has left the Government or its service, Unusual though this provision may appear to be, I am sure the House will agree with me when I say that the necessity for this law to be in our statute books cannot be more emphasised than at this present stage of our development as an independent nation. The Bill does nothing more than provide a further means of ensuring that public security should not be jeopardised by such persons parting with such information or allowing themselves to be made use of by foreign powers or their agencies for purposes that may prove inimical to the interest of our nation. The Official Secrets Act is an Act designed to ensure that the official secrets of the nation are not parted with for the benefit of any foreign power. One of the ways in which such information may be passed over to a foreign power is through this avenue of disclosure by the State's former employees, especially those who have held sensitive positions of trust. This new provision, it is hoped, will be effective in preventing such information from getting into the hands of any foreign power. It is, however, to be noted that not everyone who has served the Government in positions of trust will thus be affected, but only those whose positions in the Government or in the service of the Government are such as would allow them access to information or who would have acquired information which, in the interest of the security of the nation, must be protected and kept within the State.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Bill will have the effect of amending section 5 of the Official Secrets Ordinance (Chapter 84). Section 5 of the Ordinance makes it an offence for any person wrongfully to communicate information set out in the section or to retain such information in the circumstances mentioned therein. The amendment brought about by the Bill make it an offence under this section for any person who, having signed an undertaking not to serve any foreign power or government on his leaving the service of the Government of Singapore, acts in breach of such undertaking. Any such person who has signed an undertaking shall be presumed to be in possession or in control of such information as has been set out in subsection (1) of section 5 of the Ordinance, and to have unlawfully communicated such information to a foreign power, thus contravening the provisions of section 5 of the Ordinance when he acts in breach of the undertaking. It is not only public officers in the Government service who may be required to sign this undertaking; but any person who has acquired any such information or thing as is described in subsection (1) of section 5 of the Official Secrets Ordinance in the course of his work with the Government, or for the Government, may thus be required to give this undertaking. If anyone is in possession of such information or thing and acts in breach of this undertaking not to be employed or to enter into the service of any foreign power or government, he will be presumed to have communicated such information or thing wrongfully and to have acted contrary to section 5 of the Ordinance the moment he breaks the undertaking. The purpose of this Bill is clear.”
“I agreed to these two amendments because they are essential. Any other amendment which is not essential must wait. The Bill having been passed, we propose to let it run for a year or maybe more to see how it works. And it is only thereafter that we will pass other amendments. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. OFFICIAL SECRETS (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 6.20 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first, let me tell the hon. Member for Choa Chu Kang that the amendments which he proposes and which he says were recommended by a sub-committee of the Advocates and Solicitors Society have not reached me. Sir, if I may speak briefly in reply to him, this Act was first read in this House in December last year. Prior to its introduction, the Bar Committee, as it then was, was consulted and, in fact, it approved of all the provisions in this Bill. But apparently the Bar Committee did not, as I had expected it should have, consult its own members. But even so, if any member of the Bar had any complaint about this Bill, he could have raised his objections through the hon. Member for Choa Chu Kang in between the First Reading and the Second and Third Readings of the Bill which took place, I believe, about 12 to 14 days later. If only members of the Bar read the newspapers to ascertain what is happening in this House, then their suggestions and recommendations will certainly be given careful consideration in this House. But after the Bill has been tabled and taken through its Second and Third Readings and then enacted as law, it is a bit too late to grumble about the unfairness of the Bill in respect of certain provisions. The younger lawyers are apparently going against the older lawyers. I state my position here quite clearly. On a Bill which deals with any profession, we must consult the profession, and naturally we consult the committee in charge, and it is the duty of that committee to consult its members. If it does not, it is time to change the committee. But having consulted them and having got their support and approval and having passed the Bill, I am most reluctant to come to this House again and make amendment after amendment.”
“I am very reluctant to move amendments to any Bill which has become law only a few months ago, and I hope that in future when we send draft Bills to the Society for their comments, they will take more pains when looking into the provisions of the Bills. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 6.04 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This Bill seeks to make two amendments to the Legal Profession Act, 1966. These amendments are considered necessary both by the Government and by those most concerned with the functioning and operation of this Act, namely, the Singapore Advocates and Solicitors Society. Although subsection (1) of section 82 of the Legal Profession Act, 1966, as it now stands, is reasonably clear in regard to its intent, it has given rise to a possible interpretation of permitting two solicitors in the same firm acting for both the vendor and the purchaser of property. It is, therefore, considered desirable that the subsection be amended in order to remove all possible doubts therein. The effect of this new amendment will be to prohibit solicitors in the same firm from acting separately for both the vendor and the purchaser in any one transaction for the sale and purchase of property. As an interim measure, and in order to enable solicitors who had uncompleted contracts on their hands at the date of the coming into operation of the Act to complete the contracts, and to save purchasers from having to incur the additional cost of employing another solicitor, a new subsection (5) to section 82 of the Act has been introduced. This provision would take care of those transactions where the contract of sale was entered into prior to the 11th day of February, 1967, the day when the provisions to be amended came into operation. Mr Speaker, Sir, as with most Bills which are tabled in this House, this Bill was sent in advance to the Singapore Advocates and Solicitors Society for their comments, it is a great pity that the members of the Committee of the Society did not take more pains to point out the defects in the Act.”
“The amendment is, in substance, a return to the position we were in before Malaysia when under section 36, subsection (2) of the Courts Ordinance, which is now repealed, leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee could be made within six months from the date of the decision appealed against. It must, most obviously, have been felt when the period was reduced to six weeks that the required period of six months was too long and had the effect of delaying the final prosecution of an appeal. Sir, the United Kingdom Government have been consulted on this amendment and they have not expressed any views to the contrary. Practitioners in Singapore who are behind this move to amend the provisions of section 4 of the Act have expressed their support for this Bill. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Barker] Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read Third time and passed. LEGAL PROFESSION (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 5.59 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Bill seeks to amend section 4 of the Judicial Committee Act, 1966, which provides that applications for leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council shall be made to the Appellate Court within six weeks from the date on which the decision appealed against was given or within such further time as may be allowed by the Appellate Court. The Rules Committee set up under the provisions of the Courts of Judicature Act, 1964, considered that these provisions under section 4 of the Judicial Committee Act, 1966, should be amended to provide the normal period for leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to be more than six weeks, as at present provided, which is too short a time for practitioners to consider whether to take the matter further on appeal to the Judicial Committee, a step which would not ordinarily be taken without considerable deliberation. The Committee therefore recommended, and the Government accepted, that this subsection be amended to provide for the period within which to apply for leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to be three months instead. And in cases where complicated issues have to be considered, the parties should not he tied down even to this extended period of three months provided always they are able to satisfy the Appellate Court to exercise its discretion in the appellant's favour. Such an extension of period would, however, be given only in special circumstances, as has been made clear in the Bill, and that above all the Appellate Court considers it reasonable to do so after taking into consideration all the circumstances in the case.”
“So that whether an offence with which an accused person is charged is bailable or non-bailable, once the Public Prosecutor or the Deputy Public Prosecutor opposes an application for bail, the matter will be taken up to the High Court for its decision. Substantive rights to bail are in no way jeopardised - only the forum is changed. I would like to emphasize that only those offences that are listed in the Schedule to the Ordinance, and these include only certain offences in the Penal Code that have been listed some years ago, would be affected. In short, it does no more than seek to amplify the wording of section 7 which the High Court in 1955 had regarded as insufficiently clear. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. NATIONAL THEATRE TRUST (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 5.37 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This Bill seeks to amend section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance to ensure that there may not be any confusion as to what the true intent and purport of that section is. Section 7, as it now stands, reads as follows: `Where any application made to any criminal court by or on behalf of any person charged with a scheduled offence in respect of the release on bail of such person is opposed by the Public Prosecutor or a Deputy Public Prosecutor the court to which such application is made shall, unless it is the High Court, refer such application for the decision of the High Court or a Judge and, until such decision has been obtained, shall remand such person in custody.' The need to amend this section has been brought about by a case decided in the High Court in 1955. The court then held that the words in section 7, as it now stands, are not sufficiently clear and that the Legislature could not have intended to abrogate the substantive right to bail which has to be offered where the offence is bailable as of right, and that this was so despite the fact that such an offence has been listed in the Schedule to the Ordinance. Accordingly, to remove any doubts as to the actual intent of its application and to allow the Prosecutor to remove issues relating to bail from the jurisdiction of the subordinate courts to the High Court in regard to both bailable and non-bailable offences, the amendments have been introduced. According to this new amendment, section 7 will apply notwithstanding the provisions relating to bail that are to be found in the Criminal Procedure Code. In other words, the procedure will prevail, whatever the substantive rights may be.”
“Yes. Typed copies of the Bill distributed to hon. Members.”
“After the suspension, Sir, Mr Speaker, Sir, I lay upon the Table a Certificate of Urgency signed by the. President in respect of the Criminal Justice (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill. Certificate of Urgency handed in.”