S. Ramaswamy
Singapore
“Sir, can the Minister of State guarantee that the concession granted to owner-occupiers will not be withdrawn? He has said that owner-occupier house-owners need not pay more tax, but this is only just eyewash. At any time the Property Tax Division can demand the full rate by withdrawing the concession.”
“Sir, another point that I want to bring to the notice of the House is that, although a certain property is assessed at a certain value by the valuers in the Property Tax Division, the same property is valued, for the purposes of land acquisition, at half the rate or sometimes even lower than that.”
“These legal firms are supplied with reports and other necessary news more quickly than other firms. I am told that sometimes the reports are tailored to suit the lawyers representing the complainant of the accident. These firms bribe the traffic police personnel regularly.”
“Sir, I will certainly supply the information concerning the disparity in the annual values of the two houses to the Minister of State. He is not well informed about the landlord passing the increase in the annual value to the tenants in Sennett Estate. I remember I wrote to him about 14 months ago on this matter.”
“It may be so, but it is also true that there are signals between the taxi drivers and the customs officials. By and large, our administration is known to the whole world as honest and incorruptible. But a few black sheep in the lower ranks here and there may spoil our good name.”
“Sir, I have an amendment* to move under subhead 1151. May I speak now because what I am going to say is related to the present discussion? * The same amendment, standing in the names of Messrs. Ramaswamy and Conceicao, reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1151.”
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“Two left for alternative employment with better pay; one was awarded an overseas scholarship to undertake professional studies overseas and he has since returned to the department, and one left on account of failing to pass the departmental examination. Executive Officers. One resigned for alternative employment with better pay. 1964 Division III Assistant Examiners-in-training. Three resigned to undertake further studies, one left as he failed to pass the examinations. Clerical Officers. One left for alternative employment as he failed to pass his examination. Division IV - Typists. One resigned to accompany her husband on transfer to Kuala Lumpur.”
“Resignations in the middle seniority grades have occurred and the reasons are generally that of better remuneration offered in non-Government employment outside or for less onerous and exacting work. Over the last three years, the resignations have been as follows: 1966 Division I - 2 Assessment Officers for better remuneration outside; One Probationary Legal Officer, who is a non-citizen, left after serving less than six months' service; 1965 Nil. 1964 Nil. In the lower seniority grade, resignations have been due to failure to pass examinations required for confirmation of their appointment and for better pay. 1966 Division II - Assistant Examiners. Out of the eight who resigned, six left to better their prospects in non-Government employment; one for further studies and one left to join her husband overseas. Division III - Clerical Officers. Seven resigned. Of these, two left for better pay, one was selected to undergo a training Officer's Course in the Singapore Armed Forces, three left to undertake further studies, and one obtained a bursary for study at the Teachers' Training College. Division IV Typists, Process and Notice Servers, Office Boys - one each. The typist left for alternative employment with better pay. The Process and Notice Server left for reasons unknown. The Office Boy left for alternative employment at higher pay. 1965 Division II - Assistant Examiners. Six resigned. Three left for alternative employment with better pay, and three left to undertake further studies. Division III - Clerical Officers. Eleven resigned. Four of these left for alternative employment with better pay; four left for further studies, one left to get married, and two left because they failed to pass the examinations. 1964 Division II Assistant Examiners. Four resigned.”
“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 Ramaswamy}. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. LAND ACQUISITION BILL (As reported from Select Committee) Order for Third Reading read. 6.40 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to explain briefly the necessity of this Bill. The Malaya British Borneo Currency Agreement, 1960, signed by the Governments of Singapore, Malaya and Brunei, established the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo, as the sole currency issuing authority in their respective countries. Under the terms of this Currency Agreement, any of the Participating Governments can replace the Board as the sole currency issuing authority by lodging a notice of its intention to do so, 18 months prior to the date it wishes to commence its currency issue. Such a notice of replacement was lodged by the Government of Malaysia on 12th December, 1964. This notice, therefore, became effective on 12th June, 1966, that is, 18 months after it was lodged, and the Currency Board is then obliged to relinquish its right to issue currency in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. There is, however, provision in the Agreement for the Board to continue to issue currency for a further period of six months after the notice becomes effective, if it is requested to do so by the Participating Governments. Such a request was accordingly made and the Board was therefore empowered to issue currency in the territories of the three Governments concerned up to 12th December, 1966. The Participating Governments had also agreed that the life span of the Board should be extended by a further six months, that is, up to 12th June, 1967. As the Currency Agreement does not provide for such further extension, it is necessary to amend this Agreement. The purpose of the Bill is, therefore, to give legal effect to this amendment so that the Board can continue to issue currency up to 12th June, 1967.”
“The hon. Member's suggestion not to exempt local employees of the Asian Development Bank from payment of income tax will be considered by the Government. We will find out what agreement there will be with regard to this point among the member countries. There are implications which we have to weigh in this matter. If we agree to the Member's request straightaway, we may not get good local technical officers to come here and help us in our projects. But the hon. Member has earlier stated that he wants the clerical officers not to be exempted from income tax. I can assure him that the clerical officers will have to pay income tax. This category of workers will definitely pay tax, but not the technical officers. 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 Ramaswamy] Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. MINOR OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 6.19p.m.”
“Upon ratification of the Agreement, Singapore will become one of the original members of the Asian Development Bank. The legislation therefore authorises the President to appoint someone to deposit the Instrument of Ratification with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Clause 4 of the Bill enables the Singapore Government to subscribe to the original authorised capital of the Bank. It also provides that should the Bank in future find it necessary to increase its original authorised capital, Singapore is able to subscribe towards such an increase provided that such subscription does not exceed US$5 million. Singapore's subscription to the Bank shall be charged, in the first instance, to the Consolidated Fund. The Government however may raise loans for the purposes of providing any sums required for making any payments to the Bank. Also, in lieu of payments to the Bank in local currencies, the Government can also create and issue to the Bank non-interest-bearing and non-negotiable notes or other obligations. The Bill also seeks to give legal effect to the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Agreement which provides for the granting to the Bank and its officers and employees certain status, exemptions and privileges. These privileges are similar to those granted to other international institutions, for example, the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of which Singapore is also a member. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 6.14p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, Sir, I would first like to outline the reasons why Singapore has become a signatory to the Asian Development Bank Agreement. Firstly, by joining the Asian Development Bank, Singapore will have an additional source of loans open to it. The Asian Development Bank has an authorised capital of $1,000 million. Its paid-up capital will be US$100 million in the first year of its operations and this amount will rise up to US$500 million by the fifth year. In addition to its share capital, the Bank can also raise loans from major financial markets to supplement its own funds for loan operations. Also, if approved by the Board of Governors of the Bank, the Bank can participate in equity. This may turn out to be a useful source of funds for some of Singapore's future industrial projects. Secondly, participation in the Bank associates Singapore with other Asian countries in the field of regional co-operation. There are 31 signatories to the Asian Development Bank Agreement of which 19 are regional countries and 12 are non-regional countries. Subscriptions to the share capital of the Bank by various countries are in accordance with financial resources and commitments of the various countries concerned. Singapore's subscription to the Bank is US$5 million, half of which will be paid in five equal annual instalments of US$500,000 each. Each such instalment is divided equally into convertible currency and local currency. For each of the five years, therefore, Singapore will be required to pay US$250,000 in convertible currency and US$250,000 in local currency. To enable Singapore to ratify the Asian Development Bank Agreement, it is necessary that appropriate legislation be enacted.”
“Clause 11 is designed to safeguard the tourist trade by providing for licensed duty-free tourist shops and to regulate their operation. Clause 12 provides for action against tourists who abuse the privilege of purchasing at duty-free tourist shops. Provision is also made in this Bill for the establishment of a new kind of warehouse known as "licensed factory warehouse" to enable manufacturers in the customs territory, wherever permissible, to store dutiable materials used in the manufacture of their products for the domestic and export markets, without payment of duty, but subject to customs requirements. 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 Ramaswamy] Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BILL Order for Second Reading read. 6.06 p.m.”
“To ensure that the sale of dutiable goods in duty-free shops is made to bona fide tourists, "tourist" is defined to mean any person, including persons in transit, whose entry into Singapore is dependent upon the presentation of a passport or other travel document, and whose stay in Singapore does not exceed six months. Clause 4 of the Bill provides for customs and excise duties to be levied on any goods imported into the "customs territory" which refers to Singapore and her territorial waters, but excludes any free trade zone. The present section 11 (1) will thus be superseded as it would be inadequate when free trade zones co-exist with the "customs territory". Free trade zones, of course, will be areas declared for that purpose under the Free Trade Zone Bill, which accompanies this Bill. Clause 6 amends section 22 of the principal Ordinance to put beyond doubt the time at which customs controls may be imposed on imported or exported goods. Controls may be imposed at the time goods enter or leave the "customs territory'. To direct control of all dutiable goods, clause 7 of this Bill replaces section 45 of the principal Ordinance and will enable the Comptroller of Customs to require the landing of all dutiable goods, or mixed cargoes of dutiable and non-dutiable goods, in any free trade zone, designated warehouse or customs premises. Section 53 of the principal Ordinance is repealed and replaced by clause 10 of this Bill to allow dutiable goods for transhipment to be deposited in a free trade zone. This is necessary to protect transhipment trade and reduce the risk of such dutiable goods being smuggled into customs territory for domestic consumption.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a second time." Sir, earlier in the year, the Customs (Amendment) Act, 1966, was enacted to conform to the constitutional changes and to make improvements in customs administration and facilities in the light of past experience. This Bill seeks to make further modifications to the Customs laws to provide for and to take account of the future establishment of free trade zones in Singapore. Provision is also made for the introduction of duty-free shops to operate in the City outside any free trade zone, and for their regulation and control. I shall now deal with the more important clauses. Sir, clause 3 of the Bill changes the definitions of "dutiable goods", "export", "import", "goods", "value" and introduces three new definitions: "customs territory", "free trade zone" and "tourist", to accord with the replacement of the existing free port status by a principal customs territory and a free trade zone or zones. "import" no longer means the bringing of goods into Singapore but into "customs territory" from any place outside, including any free trade zone. Goods genuinely in transit are not included as such goods will be within any free trade zone and outside customs control. Likewise, "export" will not mean taking of goods out of Singapore but out of "customs territory" to any outside place including any free trade zone. The term "value" is amended to specify equitably that customs duties and charges incurred on wharf handling, storage, removal and so on, incurred in a free trade zone are not to be included.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time." Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed. PUNISHMENT FOR VANDALISM BILL Order for Second Reading read. 4.26 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The purpose of this Bill is to provide statutory authority in accordance with clause (2) of Article 87 of the Constitution of Singapore for additional provision for expenditure in excess of the provisions for expenditure authorised by the Supply Act, 1965. This additional sum has been scheduled as a Supplementary Estimate and laid before Parliament. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Third Reading”