Hansard, 1967-02-27

Under the provisions of clause 2 (d) of Article 30 of the Constitution of Singapore, I have granted permission to the following Members to be or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any committee of Parliament to which they have been appointed) for the period stated: Mr S. Ramaswamy (Crawford), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance - from 5th January, to 8th February, 1967. Tuan Haji Yaacob Bin Mohamed (Southern Islands), Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Department from 12th March to 7th April, 1967. Dr Toh Chin Chye (Rochore), Deputy Prime Minister -on 27th February, 1967. Mr Lee Kuan Yew (Tanjong Pagar), Prime Minister - on 27th February, 1967. Dr Goh Keng Swee (Kreta Ayer), Minister of Defence - on 27th February, 1967. Mr S. Rajaratnam (Kampong Glam), Minister for Foreign Affairs - on 27th February, 1967. (P. COOMARASWAMY) Speaker, Parliament of Singapore

I have been informed by the President that, on the days stated, he assented to the following Bills:- 23rd December, 1966 (i) Supply Bill; (ii) Supplementary Supply (No. 3) Bill; (iii) Final Supply (1963) Bill; and (iv) Final Supply (1964) Bill. 27th December, 1966 (i) Fees (Amendment) Bill; (ii) Holidays Bill; and (iii) Tourist Promotion Board (Amendment) Bill. 30th December, 1966 Societies Bill. 31st December, 1966 Legal Profession Bill. (P. COOMARASWAMY) Speaker, Parliament of Singapore

Order, order. The hon. Members desirous of taking their seats will please come forward when their names are called. The following Members took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance, or made Affirmation of Allegiance, in the order below: Dr Chew Chin Han (Tampines) Mr Lim Soo Peng (Havelock) Mr P. Selvadurai (Bukit Panjang) Mr Teo Hup Teck (Jalan Kayu).

asked the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is proposed to re-demarcate the present boundaries of the fifty-one Constituencies as their present population ratios are quite disproportionate.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by the Deputy Prime Minister to reply. A complete review of electoral boundaries will be undertaken as soon as compilation of new citizens electoral registers for 1967 based on the new laminated identity cards is completed. Registration of persons which began in May last year has just ended. Preparation of new electoral registers with the correct addresses of citizens eligible to vote shown therein will begin soon, and the review of electoral boundaries will be undertaken in the light of the information contained in the new registers. In the past, the names which appeared in the electoral registers included all persons who held Singapore identity cards irrespective of whether they were citizens or not. An amendment to the Elections Ordinance will soon be presented to enable only citizens to vote. It stands to reason that, with such a revision, electoral boundaries must be redrawn so that the average number of electorate in all constituencies will be approximately the same. The creation of housing estates in many areas and resettlement of a section of the population have also made this revision necessary.

asked the Minister of Defence if he is aware that some employers deduct the pay of their workers who take time off for training in one of the military or para-military organisations; and whether and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that no employees suffer any loss merely by reason of their voluntary participation in such organisations.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the training undergone by the People's Defence Force volunteers comprises evening parades, weekend camps or training and annual camps. The evening parades are held after office hours. Similarly the weekend camps or training held at weekend camps hardly interferes with the civilian work of such volunteers. In cases where the evening parades interfere with the working hours of the volunteers, the officers in charge of the training depots usually request the employers concerned that the volunteers he allowed to leave their work early. At present, however, there is no law compelling the employers to do so. The question raised by the Member for Telok Blangah, therefore, really relates to the annual camp. When they attend such annual camp, the volunteers are given the same rate of military pay as their regular counterparts of corresponding rank. Attention has recently been drawn to the cases of daily-rated employees who are unable to get time off for attending annual camp and whose civilian pay is greater than the military pay that they would draw in attending annual camp. To meet the problem, it has been decided that in such cases a special allowance up to a maximum of $2.50 per day may be paid for the difference between the civilian and military pay. There are 448 daily-rated employees in the People's Defence Force, and the majority of 240 attended annual camp last year. Consideration is being given to making legal provision to cover such cases. I may add that in respect of Government employees, both the monthly paid and the daily-rated, there are provisions for granting them full pay leave for a certain number of days a year for purposes of attending volunteer camps of recognised organisations.

A supplementary, Sir. Will the Minister introduce legislation to see that employers are not allowed to deduct the wages of the employees for such training?

Mr Speaker, Sir, with regard to this question, probably the Member is aware that the National Service (Amendment) Bill will he introduced at this sitting. Those who are requested to render national service will, of course, be covered by the National Service (Amendment) Bill.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that the present uniforms of both the Police Force and the Armed Forces still carry the emblem of the British Crown, a symbol of the colonial era, and whether he has any plans to cease the use of the emblem.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Interior and Defence commenced in June 1966 a full-scale review of all the existing uniforms of the Singapore Armed Forces. This has resulted in a new set of uniforms having been devised for the army and new patterns for the police are now being finalised. Arrangements are almost complete to introduce the new army uniform in the middle of 1967. With regard to the new badges of ranks, these have already been introduced for the army, and the British Crown is now no longer used by any officer. The crest of the Republic of Singapore has replaced this. New badges of ranks for the police have also been re-designed and, as soon as tenders have been called and accepted. It will be possible to introduce the new badges for the entire police force.

asked the Minister for Education if he will consider introducing agricultural science as a subject in secondary schools in rural areas.

Mr Speaker, Sir, mixed farming will be introduced in 1968 as an elective subject in the secondary vocational classes in the rural areas. Towards this end, 17 trainees are at present undergoing a two-year full-time content training in mixed farming at the Sembawang Farm School. After the completion of the training at the school in May 1967, they will undergo a further one year of part-time professional training at the Teachers' Training College. The possibility of introducing Rural Science in other secondary classes in the rural areas is under consideration.

asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that the health environment of Covent Gardens in the Delta Constituency has been poor and what measures he proposes to take to improve it.

Mr Speaker, Sir, Covent Gardens is a very depressed slum area composed largely of attap houses and a few old brick and tile shophouses situated at the junction of Kim Seng Road with Havelock Road and part of the Singapore River. The area is low lying with a tidal creek running through the area, so that it is subject to periodic flooding when heavy rain coincides with the tides. In these circumstances, the environmental health of Covent Gardens, as in other kampongs similarly situated elsewhere in Singapore, is bad. It is, however, not of recent origin but has been so for many years. I understand Covent Gardens was placed very high on the priority list for immediate re-development by the Housing and Development Board as compared with adjacent Bukit Ho Swee. But when the fire catastrophe occurred at the latter site in May 1961, redevelopment of Bukit Ho Swee was proceeded with apace, and Covent Gardens unfortunately remains what it is today. A recent survey of Covent Gardens, which by the way has no Street sign at all to indicate its existence whether access is from Kim Seng Road or Havelock Road, revealed that there are about 2,500 persons living in a little over 100 houses of attap or zinc construction. Of these, 33 houses are built on stilts over the tidal creek or fore-shore of the river. As only half of the houses have latrines, and only 23 use the bucket system, the majority, therefore, have to resort to the primitive method of easing themselves over the tidal creek or the river with consequent pollution. Poultry and pigs are even being reared in about one-half of these houses. As drains are generally earth drains, with refuse being dumped indiscriminately into drains and on to footpaths, the maintenance of public cleansing was almost an impossible task with only one public daily-rated worker being assigned to perform the task of refuse clearance of this area, which includes a small private market as well. Mosquito breeding is extensive because of water-collecting junk lying everywhere and with stagnant water in drains and pools. The situation has been prevented from worsening through weekly oiling by the Anti-Mosquito Department. Although Covent Gardens can be made to look cleaner soon - as with the recent re-organisation of the public cleansing service which started early this month in spite of the wildcat strike by the Public Daily-Rated Cleansing Workers' Union, it has been possible to post six Emergency Cleansing Corps workers to look after Covent Gardens, where formerly there was only one public daily-rated worker allotted for this task - the long-term solution, however, is one of total slum clearance of Covent Gardens itself. Although what I have to say further is strictly not within my portfolio hut that of my colleague, the Minister for National Development, I am, however, pleased to inform the Member for Delta that the Chairman of the Housing and Development Board has given me the assurance that every effort will be made to give priority to any family within this Covent Gardens area who would like to be housed in Housing and Development Board flats with a view to enabling the Board to obtain clearance of this area at the earliest possible date. Applications from families staying in the Covent Gardens area will be given special consideration for re-housing in new units that are being constructed in the Urban Renewal Scheme, Precinct S.1, which is just across Havelock Road. For those families who prefer yet lower rental accommodation, suitable one-room units can be made available at Redhill and Tiong Bahru.

asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement as to why the surgical facilities of the General Hospital were withdrawn from Professor Tinckler.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not propose to give an account of the circumstances and reasons for withdrawing the surgical facilities of not only the Outram Road General Hospital hut also all facilities in Government hospitals of Singapore from Professor Tinckler with effect from 17th January, 1967. This is because Professor Tinckler on 21st December, 1966, instituted legal suits in the High Court against the University and its officers, and on 6th January, 1967, against my Director of Medical Services, Dr Ho Guan Lim. It would, therefore, be improper were I to state the Government's case against the Professor in a place where he is in no position to defend himself. All I would like to say at the moment is that I have had disturbing reports about Professor Tinckler from the Ministry's officials in charge of Outram Road General Hospital which satisfied me that, in the interests of our Hospital and of the patients who are our citizens, he should not be allowed to carry on as Head of Surgical Unit `A' of our Hospital. Professor Tinckler has alleged that he has been unfairly reported upon. I am, therefore, most anxious that the question as to whether Professor Tinckler's allegations are correct or my Ministry's action justified be impartially judged by a court of law. I understand that on 28th January, 1967, Professor Tinckler sent in his letter of resignation to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore. In view of this, I hope there will be an early hearing of the legal suits instituted by Professor Tinckler, so that the truth as to whether the Ministry of Health acted properly in the public interests or that he was unfairly maligned can be properly established in a court of law. I hope Professor Tinckler will for his part press his legal actions to an early hearing so that the matter can be aired and cleared. It is in everybody's interests and those of the University and my Ministry that the truth should be known. It would be most unfortunate if the Professor were to leave Singapore without having his case beard and judged. And let it be remembered that our judicial processes are open to review by the Privy Council who can see that justice is done and seen to be done to all in Singapore, without fear or favour.

Mr Speaker, Sir, is it true that Professor Tinckler is considering leaving Singapore shortly?

I do not know whether or not the Minister has information on that question. But if he has, he is at liberty to answer it.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand that Professor Tinckler is on the passenger list of the "Benloyal" which is scheduled to sail from Singapore for Hongkong at 3 p.m., which is five minutes from now. And I hear that he is heading for Los Angeles by air from Hongkong. I do hope that this is not a case of a one-way passage and we look forward to Professor Tinckler coming back some time later to pursue his legal suits.

asked the Minister for Finance the number of soap factories operating in Singapore; whether the production of soap is sufficient to meet local needs and whether the prices of locally-produced soap have risen with the increase in prices, because of import duties, of imported soap.

Mr Speaker, Sir, there are at present 16 soap factories operating in Singapore. All these factories manufacture washing soap but only four are manufacturing toilet soap. Lam Soon Oil and Soap (Singapore) Limited is the largest of the four manufacturing toilet soap and has a capacity of 26,800 cwts, per annum. The output from the other three factories is negligible. The local market for toilet soap is estimated to be 16,500 cwts, per annum, which is more than sufficient to meet local needs. The retail price of locally-manufactured toilet soap remains unchanged at 30 cents per cake. In the case of laundry soap, some local manufacturers have lowered their prices. There is thus no increase in the price of locally-produced soap.

The Parliamentary Secretary has said that the price of a cake of toilet soap is 30 cents. Is that true or not?

A locally-manufactured cake of toilet soap is sold at 30 cents.

Is there a controlled price, Mr Speaker, Sir?

I have no information that the price of soap is 40 cents a cake.

I think the Member's last question was, is there a controlled price? The answer is `No'.

It is not controlled. It is a fixed price.

If there is any increase in the price of soap, what will the Government do?

Mr Ramaswamy, do you propose to take any action if there is an increase in the price of locally-made soap?

There has been no increase in the price, Sir.

Sir, I want a reply. If there is any increase in the price of soap, what will be Government's action?

If there is an increase in the price, we will lift the duty on imports.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid I am totally at a loss as to what the intention of the Government is in the event of an increase in the price of soap. My friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, said that he would put a duty on imports. What does he mean by that?

I said, "Lift the duty," not put it on.

(In Mandarin): The Parliamentary Secretary has said just now that the price of locally-manufactured soap is 30 cents a cake. This is incorrect. From what I can gather, three cakes of locally-made soap cost $l.10 cents. I hope the Ministry concerned will fix the price of soap.

The Member can get any amount of soap in the market at 30 cents a cake. If he is paying $1.10 for three cakes of soap, I think he is being swindled!

Mr Speaker, Sir, there has been a hue and cry from the public that the prices of locally-manufactured goods are increasing by leaps and bounds. Would the Government consider refraining from providing local manufacturers with tariff protection against imported goods, particularly pharmaceutical products, if they cannot meet the demand?

I think pharmaceuticals are outside the ambit of the original question. In any event, this matter was raised by the Member for Telok Blangah a few sittings ago and it was answered completely. But does the Government wish to answer the rest of the question of the Member for Bras Basah?

Mr Speaker. Sir, I am not confining my question only to pharmaceutical products but also to general commodities.

The point I made was that I am trying to keep supplementaries relevant to the original question. Mr Ramaswamy has come prepared to answer questions on soap, and I will permit him to answer questions only on soap.

I need further notice, Sir.

If I may, Mr Speaker. I would like to reply to the question raised by the Member for Bras Basah. We on the Government side will always try to protect an industry if it is efficient, and we will always weigh the interests of the consumer with the benefits of local industry. But when we find that the local industry is not efficient and has raised the price very much higher than it was before, we will lift whatever tariff protection there is to see that the interests of consumers are not jeopardised. Does that answer your question, Mr Ho?

(In Mandarin): Sir, just now I heard the Parliamentary Secretary say that locally-made soap costs 30 cents per cake. If that is the case, I would like to order through him.

Mr Teong, question No. 8.

asked the Minister for Finance what is the reaction from local and foreign industrialists to the incentives for export and investment granted by the Government from 1st January, 1967.

The investment and export incentives for industries in Singapore were announced in the Budget Speech on 5th December, 1966. A draft Ordinance is now being prepared, embodying these new incentives in the legislation, and when completed, further publicity will he given to these incentives to both the local and foreign business and industrial centres. However, purely on the very brief outline of the incentives given in the Budget Speech alone, the Economic Development Board has reported a significant increase in industrial inquiries made both at the Singapore Office as well as its overseas offices. There were a total of 180 industrial inquiries on record for 1966, or an average of 15 inquiries a month. In almost the first 2 months of this year (only up to 23rd February), there were already a total of 46 inquiries, or an average of 23 inquiries a month. These were from local as well as international corporations which have indicated interest in a wide range of industries, ranging from electronics to petrochemicals. Some of the proposals involve large sums of investments. These inquiries reflect an almost 50 per cent increase per month. This increase in inquiries for the months of January and February has been achieved in spite of many public holidays. From the serious manner in which these inquiries have been made, the Economic Development Board is confident that many of these projects would be carried beyond the mere inquiry stage and would be implemented. It should be pointed out that in all developing countries there is always a gestation period between the introduction of incentives and the achievements of full impact on the national economy. It takes two or three years to get a large industrial enterprise into full operation even if the final decision is made today. In our case we are confident that the impact on our economy may come even sooner than the normal pattern in other countries.

Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance give us a breakdown of the figures of the inquiries for the year 1966? It is no use giving us the total figure for the year and then the average monthly figure, because the increase may be spread gradually over the period of a year, so that the increase in the first two months of 1967 may be part of a trend and may not, in fact, be due to the incentives announced in the Budget.

I have not got the figures now.

In that case, Mr Ramaswamy, may I suggest that you circulate the information* in the Official Report rather than answer orally to a further question on the matter. * The following information was furnished by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance:- Summary of Industrial Inquiries for 1966 Month No. of Inquiries January 12 February 15 March 15 April 10 May 5 June 10 July 7 August 3 September 4 October 45 November 30 December 24

asked the Minister for Finance what is the response from private developers to the proposed reduction in the rate of property tax on properties erected in areas designated for urban re-development.

Development of property on a large scale takes considerable planning and preparation, and it will take time before the full effect of the new tax concessions could be known. It is, therefore, premature at the moment to gauge from the response from private developers, although a number of inquiries have been received from them following the announcement of the concessions at the last sitting.

asked the Minister for Labour if it is the intention of the Government to maintain the existing minimum two years residential qualification for alien wives of Singapore Citizens for registration as Singapore Citizens and whether similar provision will be extended to alien husbands of Singapore Citizens.

The Government intends to maintain the existing provision of Article 57 (2) of the Constitution, i.e.: '...any woman who is married to a citizen of Singapore may, on making application therefor in the prescribed manner, be registered as a citizen of Singapore if she satisfies the Government -

asked the Minister for Labour if he will state, by races, the number of applications received from adults for Singapore Citizenship, and the number approved, in 1965, and the number of minors registered as Singapore Citizens in the same year.

I regret to inform the hon. Member that it is not possible to give a breakdown, by race, of the number of applications received from adults for Singapore citizenship and the number approved in 1965, as the information is not readily available from the Registry of Citizenship. The Registry does not keep a record of applications and approved cases by race as there is no racial grouping in respect of citizenship. I can only inform the hon. Member that a total of 18,669 applications were received by the Registry in 1965. This figure includes applications from minors. The number of applications approved in 1965 totals 15,295, of which 11,250 were in respect of adults and 4,045 were in respect of minors.

I cannot understand the reply of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour when he says that there is no record of applications by race, is it true that there is no record by race?

I think the Parliamentary Secretary's reply is that, in the application form for citizenship, there is no requirement that race be indicated, so that the Registry does not classify applications by race. Is that correct, Mr Sia?

Although the race of the applicant is indicated, we do not keep groupings by race. That is why the figure is not readily available, as I have said, because we are not really interested to know how many Chinese or how many Indians are made citizens.

That is exactly what I am interested in, that there should be a record by race. If there is any such question by the public, we cannot furnish the number of applications from our different races. Will the Parliamentary Secretary take action to keep a record by race in future?

If the hon. Member is really interested in it, we might be able to find out for him.

It is not that, Mr Speaker. But it would be better if the information I am seeking is available, because somebody may be interested and may ask for it.

Mr Govindaswamy, I think you must not misunderstand the Parliamentary Secretary's reply. He has earlier said that the information is not readily available. But if you are pressing it, he says he will make someone get that information for you. Would you like that done?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he will consider setting up a fisheries co-operative to assist fishermen in Singapore.

Mr Speaker, Sir, one of the principles of the co-operative movement is that before a co-operative society is formed, a group of people with identical interests should voluntarily come together to discuss their various problems and form a society for their mutual benefit. If there is such a group of people who desire to form a fisheries co-operative, the Primary Production Department will be glad to assist them in any way possible. Very often, however, co-operative societies are formed with the intention of getting money from the Government. The Government believes that it is better to train our fishermen to catch more fish rather than to give them money. A fisheries training school is being established at Changi to train fishermen so that they can go farther out to sea and catch more fish. At the same time, a fishing port and fish market facilities are being constructed in Jurong to provide centralised marketing facilities so that fishermen can get a better price for their catches. These measures, we think, are more effective ways to help fishermen than to give them money in order to help them form a fisheries co-operative.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he is aware of complaints by farmers of the poor nutritive content of certain feedstuffs for animals sold in Singapore, and what measures will be taken to stop the sale of such feedstuffs.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am aware of the complaints by farmers that feedstuffs for animals sold in Singapore are deficient in nutritive content, particularly when certain basic ingredients are in short supply or have increased in price. The Feedstuffs Ordinance was passed last year to rectify the position. There are over 20 factories producing feedstuffs for our livestock industries. While a few of them are well equipped to check the quality of their products, many of the smaller feedmills have no such facilities. Steps are being taken to establish a minimum standard for all feedstuffs, and as soon as this is decided upon, the Primary Production Department will take necessary action to ensure that this standard is complied with. 3.15 p.m.

"to prevent the importation, distribution or reproduction of undesirable publications and for purposes connected therewith, and to repeal the Undesirable Publications Ordinance (Chapter 124 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs (Inche Othman Bin Wok); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Monday, 13th March, 1967, and to be printed.

"to amend the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance (No. 26 of 1955)", presented by the Minister of State of Defence (Mr Wee Toon Boon) (for the Minister of Defence); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Monday, 13th March, 1967, and to be printed.

"to amend the National Service Ordinance, 1952. of Malaysia in its application to Singapore", recommendation of President signified by Mr Barker; presented by Mr Wee Toon Boon (for the Minister of Defence); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Monday, 13th March, 1967, and to be printed.

"to amend the Trade Unions Ordinance (Chapter 154 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour (Mr Sia Kah Hui) (for the Minister for Labour); read the First time, to be read a Second time on Monday, 13th Marc/i, 1967, and to be printed.

"to establish the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore, and National Currency of Singapore and to provide for connected matters", recommendation of President signified; presented by the Minister for Finance (Mr Lim Kim San); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting, and to be printed.

Order for Second Reading read. 3.20 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Development Loan (Local) Ordinance, No. 50 of 1959, and the Development Loan Ordinance, No. 7 of 1961, together authorise a sum of $500 million to be raised by way of loan for the purposes of the Development Fund. To date, a total of $477 million has been raised under these two Ordinances, leaving a balance of $23 million still available for issue. Members are no doubt aware that besides external sources such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, it is necessary to mobilise funds from internal sources to finance our development programme. The Bill which is now before us is necessary since the previous legislation, which I mentioned earlier, cannot be suitably amended to increase the amount of loans that can be raised. One feature of the Bill is a provision in clause 18 that any instrument or written law which empowers any person to invest shall be deemed to give that person the power to make advance deposits as well. In this Bill the scope of investment for the Sinking Fund is wider as compared with that in the Development Loan Ordinance, 1961. Clause 13 (3) of the Bill authorises investment in securities of or securities guaranteed by any government or international financial institution as may be determined by the President under section 7 (3) (d) of the Financial Procedure Act, 1966.

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 Lim Kim San]. Bill considered in Committee.

3.23 p.m. Clause 1 -

No notice of amendment has been received. There is one alteration necessary as a result of our passage from 1966 to 1967. The citation of the Bill has to be changed from "Development Loan Act, 1966" to "Development Loan Act, 1967". This will be done. Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 2 to 18 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. The Schedule ordered to stand part of the Bill. Bill reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.

Order for Second Reading read. 3.25 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." As it is the intention to refer the Bill to a Select Committee, I shall only touch briefly upon the more important provisions in the Bill. Under existing practice, what the purchaser of a flat usually obtains is a 999-year lease in a building. The freehold title in the land above which the flat is built is either retained by the vendor who imposes on each of his lessees a service charge for the maintenance of common parts and property or is conveyed in proportionate shares to the purchasers of all flats built on the land as tenants in common. Experience has shown that it is difficult for tenants to get together and problems arise when lifts break down or pipes burst. This rather unsatisfactory state of affairs has impeded the development and sale of flats in the Republic and the Bill now before the House, which is based on Australian legislation, takes account of the comments of the former Bar Committee and seeks to remove these difficulties. The Bill introduces a strata land register under which the proprietor of registered land on which a building stands, who has obtained approval of subdivision of the building into flats from the competent authority, may apply to the Registrar of Titles for the land and the subdivided building thereon to be dealt with in lots under separate subsidiary strata certificates of title. The Bill also spells out the rights and obligations of the purchasers of flats in a subdivided building as regards assessments, easements and restrictive covenants. The owner or owners of flats comprised in a subdivided building shown in a strata title plan lodged in the Land Titles Registry will become the management corporation of the building as soon as such strata title plan has been registered. The management corporation, consisting of all the flat owners, is made responsible for the maintenance of common parts like lifts and corridors. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 3.30 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I welcome the introduction of this Bill. How to convey a flat and give the purchaser legal title has long been exercising the ingenuity of legal practitioners. As you yourself know, Mr Speaker, Sir, in common law the legal owner of land owns also the air space above the land. He also owns any permanent structure built upon the land. Ti is, therefore, difficult in common law to give legal title to the purchaser of a flat which occupies only some air space above a plot of land. There is no way of giving him legal title to that air space. Common law does not provide for that. Conveyancing lawyers have devised ways and means of overcoming this problem. To a large extent, they have been successful and flats have been bought and sold. But, as the Minister has just pointed out, because of certain common parts that are relative to the flats, the ownership of which is not anybody's, the maintenance of these common parts has generally not been taken care of. Consequently this is one of the discouragements for flat owners. There is the further discouragement that there is always the nagging doubt that the purchaser may not get a perfect title to the flat, especially when disaster happens and the flat is destroyed. This doubt, I think, can be clearly seen in the reluctance of building societies and insurance companies to finance the buying of flats, although these finance organisations are quite willing to finance the buying of other forms of landed property. Mr Speaker, Sir, flat dwelling is a phenomenon of our modern over-crowded cities. Most modern cities are experiencing a grave shortage of land. This is especially true of Singapore where the total land area is less than 250 square miles. We, therefore, build upwards instead of sideways. The law on land, however, has not kept pace with modern development. We have inherited a law which was made at a time when land was plentiful and there was neither the economic nor the social pressure to build flats. This pressure, however, is present in Singapore to a tremendous extent. Space is at a premium, and for the better utilisation of space we in Singapore not only build flats for dwelling purposes (with which this Bill is mainly concerned), hut we also have schools in multi-storey structures. We have multi-storey car parks and flatted factories. I remember during an adjournment debate not so long ago on the resettlement of farmers, the Minister of Defence even suggested that the Government should consider flatted structures for the rearing of pigs.

Poultry, Mr Tang!

Poultry and pigs, Mr Speaker, Sir. From this we can see how tremendous the pressure is on us. I recall a very expressive Chinese saving, Mr Speaker. Sir, and with your permission may I say it in Chinese? Chun jin che tu. It means an inch of gold for a foot of land. This precisely expresses the situation that is prevailing in Singapore. This Bill is therefore timely, it fills the gap in the land laws regarding the registration of titles to flats and, in so doing, it also facilitates the financing of flat purchasing. The referring of this Bill to a Select Committee where its detailed provisions can be further explored and interested bodies are enabled to make representations, is also welcomed. Sir, I support the Bill.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Resolved, "That the Bill be committed to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and seven Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection." - [Mr Barker]

Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to Monday, 13th March, 1967." - [Mr Barker] Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-three minutes to Four o'clock p.m. to Monday, 13th March, 1967.