Hansard, 1967-09-08

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 periods stated: - Mr Yong Nyuk Lin (Geylang West), Minister for Health - from 12th September to 12th November, 1967. Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong) - from 16th to 22nd September, 1967. (P. COOMARASWAMY) Speaker, Parliament of Singapore

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members to move a motion to suspend Standing Orders in order that Questions for Oral Answer may be taken beyond 3.30 p.m, today until all Questions standing on the Order Paper are taken today?

I give my consent. May I have the general assent of Members for the motion to be moved as proposed? Hon. Members indicated assent. Resolved, "That notwithstanding Standing Orders on this day, the Questions for Oral Answer be continued beyond 3.30 p.m, until all the Questions set down on the Order Paper are taken today."-[Mr Rodrigues].

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of his talks with the British Premier and his Ministers in London regarding the proposed withdrawal of the British Bases in Singapore; and what steps will be taken to ensure that the economy and defence of Singapore will not suffer as a result.

Mr Speaker, the British Government has stated its position in a Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy tabled in their Parliament on the 18th July this year. In the Far East, they have decided to reach a reduction of about half the forces deployed in Singapore and Malaysia during 1970-71. The reductions will be so phased that, by the early 1970s, the British forces still stationed in Singapore and Malaysia will consist largely of naval forces (including an amphibious element) and air forces. In paragraph 8 of the Supplementary Statement, they stated: `We cannot plan the period beyond 1970-71 in the same detail. The reductions over the next few years will be considerable: we are determined that they will take place in an orderly manner, which will enable our Commonwealth partners to adjust their plans, and will allow Singapore and Malaysia to make the necessary economic transition as smoothly as possible. We plan to withdraw altogether from our bases in Singapore and Malaysia in the middle l970s; the precise timing of our eventual withdrawal will depend on progress made in achieving a new basis for stability in Southeast Asia and in resolving other problems in the Far East.' Elaboration of the British Government's position can be found in the speech of the British Minister of Defence, who opened the debate in Parliament on the 27th July and also in the speech of the British Prime Minister when he closed the debate that same evening. Copies of the Supplementary Statement and the Hansard record of the debate are available in the library. I commend them to Members. Right up till the middle 1970s, a period of between six years at the earliest and ten years at the latest, there will be an actual presence in the area consisting mainly of aircraft and naval vessels. In paragraph 9 of the Statement, the British Government states: `We are, therefore, planning to maintain a military capability for use, if required, in the area, even when we no longer have forces permanently based there.' And in paragraph 10, they stated: `We do not need to settle the precise character, size and deployment of this capability now. It would be largely drawn, however, from the forces of all three Services which would be stationed in this country as a strategic reserve; and we should probably keep in the Far East some naval and amphibious forces.' These decisions have now been made public. They require reappraisal and readjustment in the foreign and defence policies of all the governments that have planned their previous policies on the basis of a continuing British military presence in the region into the indefinite future. Before the 1970s rearrangements will have to be made and will probably have been made in the pattern of defence in which we must seek our own security. But whilst our problems of defence are those of the middle term and beyond, the economic impact of the defence cuts will be immediate. Total British base expenditure constitutes roughly 20 per cent of Singapore's G.N.P. (Gross National Product). It provides direct employment for some 30,000 civilian employees in the armed forces and another 10,000 women and girls as domestic help for the service families. About 15,000 of these civilian employees and about 5,000 domestic helpers will be out of jobs by 1971, adding to our already large pool of unemployed. Our problem is to lessen the dislocation of our economy. In this connection, Mr Speaker, Sir, it is useful to recall that from 1819 (the foundation of Singapore) right up to the 1930s there was a thriving and prosperous Singapore without either a British naval base or an air base. The Naval Base in Sembawang and the Air Base in Seletar were built in the 1930s. It was only the introduction of the practice of allowing serving officers and other ranks to be accompanied by their wives and children in the 1950s that British base expenditure began to constitute so sizable a percentage of our G.N.P. Now, over a period of about a decade this figure will tail back to zero. We shall be back in the position of the 1930s,where British base expenditure constituted a negligible proportion of the economy of Singapore. As I have said, there was a thriving Singapore before the bases were built and manned, and if we set about our job intelligently and in good heart, there will be a bigger and economically more self-reliant Singapore after the bases have been run down and uniformed personnel withdrawn. The problems arising out of this process are being studied by a team headed by Mr Hon Sui Sen, Chairman of our Economic Development Board. Steps are being taken to build up a team of experts and consultants who can advise the Board on the possible ways in which the facilities which will become surplus to British service requirements can be converted to civilian user, so as to create the maximum number of new jobs. It is a problem of considerable magnitude and complexity. Put simply, it is this: what to do with this vast military complex, one naval base and a dockyard, three military airfields, and a vast army complex of workshops, supply depots and other supporting services. For whilst we will inherit all the fixtures which have been built over the years on lands made available by the Singapore Government to the British armed services, we will also inherit more than 40,000 bread-winners and their families who have come to Singapore from India, West Malaysia, and from places as far off as Hongkong and Weihaiwei. With their families they now comprise some half a million persons; three-quarters of them are now our citizens. Both in their public statements and in discussions and communications between British Ministers and ourselves, they have made it plain that they shared our interests in maintaining confidence in the continued stability and prosperity of Singapore and were anxious to assist in meeting economic problems which the run-down of their bases, according to programme, will cause. They have stated that they would be ready to consider with us the most effective and productive uses of the economic and technical resources they could provide. They have nominated Sir Alan Dudley of their Ministry of Overseas Development to conduct discussions with us. We have nominated Mr Hon Sui Sen. Talks will begin shortly. The first matters for discussion will be the kind of aid to deal with the more immediate problems. Mr Speaker, however significant the aid, the future of Singapore depends upon our capacity to maintain orderly and stable economic and social conditions as we go through the pangs of withdrawal of British base expenditure. The success of this operation depends upon three factors. First, our ability to maintain that climate of quiet confidence and the establishment of labour attitudes and social conditions which will assure local investors and overseas investors of the certainty of their planning assumptions for the establishment and expansion of their industries. Second, the capacity of our population to adapt and to adjust, without any whimpering or wringing of hands, as a way of life to which they have been accustomed over 30 years comes to an end. The least of the changes contemplated means that dockyard workers, working on naval vessels for naval commanders, who are not concerned with the time a vessel is out of service whilst undergoing repairs, have now to adjust their attitudes to work and adapt their methods of work, and also the manner in which they may be rewarded for work, to meet the needs of ship- owners who want their vessels repaired in as little a time as possible, as every hour in repair means vast sums of money in loss of earnings. At the worst, it means being able, sometimes at a very difficult age of life for the people in their middle 40's and above to make the painful change of earning a living in a different way - from being a storekeeper or a clerk to a skilled, semiskilled or even a manual worker. The third factor is whether the economic aid that we have been promised will be substantial enough and utilised intelligently enough to create the maximum number of jobs. Whether British performance will be equal to their promises will in part depend upon the performance of Britain's own economy. But it will be foolish to believe that others can do for us what we as a people, and organised as a representative government, must do for ourselves. From our past performance, given no ill-fortune, it is more than likely that we can and will make up for the loss of this 20 per cent G.N.P. which will take place over the next decade. Our economy has grown at the rate of 6 to 9 per cent per annum, except for the first full year of confrontation, 1964, when the increase was only 2 per cent. But what we may not be able to do, unless our performance is better than that of the last eight years, is to create meaningful jobs as the annual 15,000 to 20,000 young boys and girls who now come into the labour market are joined by another 40,000 workers, 30,000 of whom are our citizens who will be put out of employment from the British bases. Air the family planning and other methods of controlling population which we may have to use will be of great benefit to whoever forms the government in the late '70s and '80s. But we are already saddled with the baby boom of the post-war years of the 1940s and early 1950s. We have assured the British Government of our co-operation to ensure the orderly withdrawal of their forces and the run-down of their Bases according to programme. The civilian employees' union leaders have reacted in a rational and intelligent way in the best interests of their members and of Singapore. The Economic Development Board team has visited most of the base installations which the three Services may be giving up between now and 1971. Consultations and discussions will go on between our officers and the officers of the three Services to work out intelligently and in a friendly way how their redundant base facilities can be put to some economic use. It is our intention that the changeover will be done in a quiet and orderly fashion and with goodwill.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, when our Prime Minister and his Cabinet Ministers went to London to discuss the withdrawal of the British troops from our area, after which the British Government issued a White Paper on this, I have also read this White Paper in which there is a statement to the effect that when the British are withdrawing their troops from here-

Mr Lim, could you get to your supplementary question?

(In Mandarin): Sir, my question is related to economic aid. In the White Paper it is stated that when the British withdraw their troops from Singapore, they would give economic aid and other means to help the countries affected. There is the term "significant aid". This would give people the impression that there would be economic aid. Whether or not such significant aid would be forthcoming, will the Prime Minister explain to us what kind of aid would be forthcoming? In the past we have said that we would rather have trade than economic aid. That was also stated by the Prime Minister some time ago. Can I have the Prime Minister's clarification or elaboration on this? If the so-called economic aid is just like the type given to other countries which are receiving foreign aid, then it may be inconsistent with our policy.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not intend to anticipate the out- come of the first discussions between Mr Hon and Sir Alan Dudley. But purely expressing our attitude or approach to the problem, we would like the British Government to give us notice of those of their facilities found redundant, as quickly as possible, and to hand over to civilian management some of those facilities even whilst they are still in military use, as in the case of the naval dockyard - if this were possible. Secondly, any such assistance whether direct grants or technical and other assistance, should be designed to provide Singapore with the kind of industries which will not make us dependent on perpetual injections of aid from outside. I can assure the Member for Bukit Merah that we cannot change our attitude to life, that the world does not owe us a living - and that we cannot live by the begging bowl. This is an unhappy disengagement which has come earlier than either they or we expected. The best way of meeting the problem is to go about it quietly and intelligently discussing our problems in a low key, and with as little fuss and bother as possible.

asked the Minister for Finance the number of non-citizens in Division I appointments in the Civil Service.

Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 208 non-citizens holding Division I appointments in the Civil Service.

Sir, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider fixing a time limit to take up citizenship for those civil servants who are eligible to apply for Singapore citizenship but have not done so; and what is the position of such appointments held by civil servants who are non-Singapore citizens?

The Government does not, today, require the serving non-citizen Division I officers to take up Singapore citizenship. But if there is any promotion, their citizenship status will be one of the factors which will be considered.

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Ho See Beng - 3. To ask the Minister for Finance how many Government officers are at present on secondment or loan to Statutory Boards or other organisations.

Mr Ho See Beng.

Question No. 3, Mr Speaker, Sir.

The number of Government officers at present on secondment or on loan to Statutory Boards and other organisations is 89.

Mr Speaker, Sir, among these officers who have been asked to go back to Government departments to work in their original posts, how many of them have been promoted or received higher salaries, and on what basis have they been given the promotion or increase of salary?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I require notice of this question.

The fault was mine. I should have ruled the supplementary question out of order, because it does not come within the ambit of the original question.

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Ho See Beng - 4. To ask the Minister for Finance what is the policy of the Government in respect of the terms and conditions of service of Government officers who are or have been seconded for service outside the Government Service for the purposes of their confirmation or promotion to higher posts in the Service.

Mr Ho See Beng.

Question No. 4.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the policy is that an officer's confirmation and his prospects for promotion should not be affected by his secondment for service outside the Government service. Although this is the policy and the intention, it is obvious that unless care is exercised over the length of the period of secondment, this may not happen in practice. The reason is that if an officer is seconded for an unduly long period of time, it may not be possible to assess his suitability for confirmation or promotion, especially if the nature of the duties of the post to which he is seconded differs vastly from that of the service to which he belongs. To ensure that the interest of the officer would not be adversely affected, it is the practice to limit the period of secondment in the case of probationers to within one year. Because of this precaution, no case is known where the confirmation or promotion prospects of an officer have been adversely affected by a secondment to a post outside the service.

Sir, in view of the answer by the Parliamentary Secretary, what is he going to do to safeguard the interest of those permanent officers who are seconded?

Mr Tang, perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary will deal with it under Question 5.

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Ho See Beng - 5. To ask the Minister for Finance whether he will state categorically that no Government officer's career in the Civil Service will be adversely affected merely by reason of his secondment for service outside the Government Service.

Mr Ho See Beng.

Question No. 5.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I can assure the hon. Member that an officer's career in the civil service will not be adversely affected by reason of his secondment for service outside the Government service itself. I have explained, in answer to the hon. Member's previous question, how this can be adversely affected if the secondment is not properly worked out.

Sir, in answer to Question No. 4, the Parliamentary Secretary did say that in practice it might not work out. Could he please give us details as to what safeguards there are to ensure that the interests of seconded officers are not jeopardised?

I said in my answer that the precaution is that the officer who is due for promotion or confirmation is not seconded for more than one year.

asked the Minister for Finance, with a view to promoting and protecting local industries whose production capacity can meet the demands of local consumption, if he will consider prohibiting the importation of products similar to those of such local industries.

The policy of the Government with regard to protection of local industries is quite clear. The Government is prepared to grant protection to industries if several factors are satisfied. Firstly, the industry must be in a position to supply a major part of the local market. Secondly, the industry should result in a net gain to the economy by way of foreign exchange savings, local income generated and local employment created. In addition, the industry should as far as possible be one with some export potential. The industry must show evidence of being willing and able to compete in the export market. Thus it can be seen that the productive capacity of an industry alone is not sufficient to conclude that it should be protected. There are other no less important factors to be taken into consideration. In considering the actual measures to be adopted, we have learned through experience that prohibition of imports is not the best means. Firstly, such prohibition does not set an automatic limit to the extent to which local prices can increase. Secondly, prohibition of imports would mean that the local industry would be divorced from the competitive pressures of new designs and improved quality which are constantly being developed by industries abroad. Thirdly, prohibition creates a situation which opens the administration to business pressures and enticements. It also results in a very high premium for the imported products, which encourages smuggling. For these reasons the Government would prefer to grant protection in the form of import duties. There are, of course, cases where quantitative restrictions on imports are necessary in the initial stages of an industry's existence. In such cases, the Government is prepared to consider such measures. Summing up, the Government is prepared to consider measures to protect local industries from imports, but does not consider prohibition of imports as the best means of doing so.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government has imposed a quota on textiles and singlets. As a result of this, there is an increase of ten cents or so in the price of singlets. Does the Government have any measures to prevent price increases?

Firstly, I think this supplementary question does not arise out of my answer. Secondly, the Finance Minister explained very elaborately about this yesterday.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the achievements of the conference of ASEAN Foreign Ministers held at Bangkok recently.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Conference of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) held at Bangkok recently and state in what way Singapore can benefit by being a member.

Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I shall answer Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together. Sir, I do not propose to give a detailed account of the aims and purposes of the Association of South-east Asian Nations, or ASEAN for short, as these have already been published in the newspapers. Very briefly, ASEAN is an organisation to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership. This is the essence of ASEAN. However, what I would like to stress is that ASEAN as such is not concerned with military problems of the region. This is not to say that member countries are disinterested in defence matters. In fact, economic and social progress in the region would become well nigh impossible if these countries cannot safeguard their national integrity and security. However, one of the consequences of the successful realisation of the aims and objects of ASEAN would be to bring economic stability and thereby enhance prospects for peace and security in the region. In this sense, and only in this sense, is ASEAN an organisation for promoting peace and security in the region. Economic life today is rooted in interdependence, and national frontiers do not coincide with our actual economic frontiers. The advanced and economically-developed countries of the West, both Communist and non-Communist, realise this. The two Americas constitute, for all practical purposes, one gigantic working economic bloc. The Communist countries of the West have their COMICON. The highly industrialised countries of Western Europe have formed themselves into an economic community. At such a time when most countries of the world, especially the advanced countries of the world, are welding themselves into bigger and bigger economic units, the countries of South-east Asia, which are relatively under-developed and small, cannot go on believing that economic nationalism and self-sufficiency are the sure roads to modernisation and progress. ASEAN is, therefore, the first substantive step we have taken with other South-east Asian countries towards a regional economy. At the ASEAN meeting in Bangkok we agreed that regional co-operation should begin not merely by declaring good intentions embodied in the ASEAN Declaration, but to go a step further and pursue projects which are relatively simple in that they are those in which, no strong vested national interests are involved. The Standing Committee which was set up has been asked to consider and make proposals for joint development programmes on such subjects as tourism, shipping, fisheries and what is called expansion of intra-regional trade at the next Ministerial meeting in Jakarta. However, hon. Members will agree that the good intentions embodied in the ASEAN declaration alone are not sufficient. They have to run the gauntlet of political difficulties before they can be translated into action. As such, it will be unrealistic to expect a dramatic leap into regional co-operation. We should remember that even the European Economic Community took some ten years of haggling before it got off the ground. But for the time being, we should be satisfied if there is a steady, even if slow, movement towards regionalism. ASEAN is South-east Asia's first major attempt to apply to South-east Asia and its problems the more hopeful and fruitful idea of regionalism.

Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister explain to the House what effects the formation of ASEAN will have on the Association of South Asia?

Sir, since Singapore is not a member of ASA, I think this is .a matter for the original members - the three countries - to decide. But they have made public what they feel would be the impact of ASEAN, and it is this. The more ASEAN succeeds. the less use would there be for ASA in that ASA would be absorbed into ASEAN.

Sir, will the Minister for Foreign Affairs explain whether the ASEAN set-up will lead to a common market arrangement between the member countries?

Yes. As far as Singapore is concerned, a common market is one of the objectives, and I am glad to say that a number of countries, particularly Indonesia, since my recent visit there, have indicated an interest in seeing that ASEAN in the course of time also develops into a common market region.

(In Mandarin): Now that we have joined ASEAN, can the Minister for Foreign Affairs inform us whether there will be any effect on our foreign policy? There has been talk outside that, as a result of British withdrawal, we will have to review our original non-alignment policy. Can the Minister elaborate on and clarify this point?

As I have stated, Sir, ASEAN is a scheme for economic co-operation. It is not military. It does not affect our basic foreign policies and certainly not Singapore's foreign policy, though we might have to adjust our foreign policy. This has nothing to do with ASEAN but with changing circumstances in the region. But ASEAN as such does not in any way bind us to any foreign policy that we do not want to pursue.

Mr Speaker, Sir, it has also been said that the ultimate objective of ASEAN is a political union. Would the Foreign Minister comment on this?

At the moment, I do not think we should consider any other objectives than those declared in ASEAN and those, at the moment, do not contain any political objectives but economic objectives. I am in no position to say what will happen in 5, 10, 20 or 50 years from now.

(In Mandarin): Can the Minister say whether, among the members of ASEAN, there are some who were members of Maphilindo? Can he explain whether the spirit of Maphilindo has any effect on ASEAN?

No, Sir, it will have no effect, because the members of ASEAN subscribe to the aims and objectives of ASEAN. Whether they have any other arrangements outside of ASEAN is none of our concern. After all, we belong to the United Nations where there are 126 members ranging from Maphilindo to other beliefs - Communist, non-Communist, capitalist, democratic and so on. The fact that members have different ideologies does not mean that they do in any way commit ASEAN to depart from the declared objectives which have been made public.

Mr Speaker, Sir, we have been given a very clear picture of what the ASEAN set-up is. But can the Minister for Foreign Affairs say what other positive steps will be taken to implement the agreement reached at Bangkok recently?

As I have told hon. Members just now, a Standing Committee was set up, and since my recent visit to Indonesia, the Indonesian Foreign .Minister has told me that he expects to summon a meeting of the Standing Committee, which is composed of officials or Ambassadors of the respective countries, some time this month, if it is convenient to other members of ASEAN countries, to get down to studying some of the proposals which have been put up for consideration by the Standing Committee, like tourism, shipping, fisheries and the promotion of intra-regional trade.

asked the Minister for Education how many teachers of religion in Malay Schools have been recruited this year and whether he is aware of the shortage of such teachers.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Education has not recruited any religious teachers this year because the slight increase in the number of classes requiring instruction in Islamic religion has not necessitated the recruitment of any additional religious teachers. As to the second part of the hon. Member's question, religious teachers are posted to schools based on the number of periods of Islamic religion taught in the schools. According to the teacher period ratio, there is no shortage of religious teachers.

asked the Minister for Education, in the process of nurturing qualities of bravery, intelligence and patriotism in the future generation, if all Principals in secondary schools will be instructed to keep detailed records of each pupil's intelligence, physical fitness, sense of loyalty, home background, etc., so that the Ministry and the schools concerned can have a better understanding of every pupil.

Mr Speaker, Sir, a cumulative record card has been the subject of research and planning in my Ministry for some time. The in- tention is that a cumulative record should be kept of every pupil from the day he enters school until he leaves school. Periodical entries will be made in this card not only in respect of those qualities mentioned by the Member for Paya Lebar, but also in respect of changes in his family circumstances, his progress in school, his mental and physical development, his out-of-school activities and interests, and many other details which will give a complete picture of the pupil's growth and development at any stage of his school career. It is hoped that this cumulative record card will be issued to schools in 1968.

(In Mandarin): The Minister has said that these record cards are of a cumulative nature. Does he have any detailed records - in one case an administrative officer of a secondary school?

Sir, will the Member repeat the last part of his supplementary question?

(In Mandarin): The Minister's explanation was in connection with the pupil's academic records. But I am concerned with other aspects. Is he aware that, because of a lack of detailed records on all aspects, there is a secondary school in which, the administrative officer has selected an anti-national leader as a model student for the whole school?

I am not aware of the case.

asked the Minister for Education if he will request the appropriate authorities to examine the possibility of examinations being set by Nanyang University for the old-system students of Ngee Ann College and the conferment of degrees by Nanyang University on those students who pass the examinations.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the courses available at Ngee Ann College, being mainly technical and technological in nature, are widely different from the academic courses at Nanyang University. It is, therefore, not possible to work out a scheme whereby students of Ngee Ann College can sit for the degree examinations of Nanyang University. However, Ngee Ann students are free to apply for admission to Nanyang University and seek exemption from such parts of the University's degree courses as may have been covered in Ngee Ann College. To what extent such exemption may be granted is a matter for the Nanyang University authorities to decide. The Member for Thomson is no doubt aware that Ngee Ann students under the present system are eligible for degrees conferred by the college. Of the last batch of Ngee Ann graduates, 14 have been selected by the Public Service Commission for appointment in the civil service.

asked the Minister for Education when work will commence on the proposed integrated primary school in Jalan Membina in Kampong Tiong Bahru.

Mr Speaker, Sir, no proposal has been made to build a primary school in Jalan Membina in the immediate future. There are sufficient primary schools in the surrounding areas to cater for the residents in Kampong Tiong Bahru.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister of State has said that there is no immediate plan to set up an integrated primary school in Jalan Membina. Perhaps he has not looked into his records, because there are two schools for two years in this place. Maybe the former Minister for Education, Mr ---

Mr Lee, please resume your seat. Mr Lee Teck Him resumed his seat.

I think I could usefully, at this stage, remind Members of the provisions of Standing Orders as regards supplementary questions. The relevant Standing Order is Standing Order 20 (4) which reads: `Supplementary questions may be put for the purpose of elucidating an oral answer, but the Speaker may refuse any such question which in his opinion introduces matter not related to the original question, or which infringes any of the provisions of Standing Order No. 19 (Contents of questions).' And Standing Order 20 (5) reads: `A question shall not be made the pretext for a debate.' Mr Lee, I am afraid that you are indulging in a debate and not asking a question. If you think the Minister's information is incorrect, will you ask him if he has based his information on correct or incorrect reports?

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister of State's answer was not according to what I had asked. When I say that there is a necessity for such a school, he says that there is no such necessity. He says that there are many schools around the area. There are more and more people coming into this area, and yet he says that the population does not justify the setting up of such a school. So can he give me a satisfactory answer?

If the Minister of State can trace the question in that, please answer it.

Mr Speaker, Sir, probably I can clarify. There are so many other factors besides the request of a few parents for the building of a school in any particular area. The question of sites has to be marked out and so on. However, it may be the case that the Member for Tiong Bahru earlier on meant the site for a secondary school. In this connection, I must say that the only school site immediately available for development in this area has been earmarked for a school, but it is for a secondary school and not a primary school.

Inche Rahim Ishak, could you perhaps tell the Member for Tiong Bahru, in terms of the original question, when work will commence on the secondary school?

Work will commence soon.

I am trying to relate the original question to the answer to the supplementary. I think that is what the Member for Tiong Bahru is asking.

Yes. Work will commence as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Education whether he will take action to get all school teachers, both men and women, to observe a modest and uniform standard of dress as befits their profession as it has been seen that some school teachers are dressed indecorously in certain forms of ultra-modern attire when discharging their official duties.

Mr Speaker, Sir, it is desirable that teachers should dress neatly and soberly when they are on duty -

Look at me!

-as the manner and mode of their dress will certainly have an influence on children under their charge. The hon. Member's point is well taken and teachers will be encouraged to dress decorously rather than decoratively when on duty. As for the Member's suggestion that teachers should wear a uniform standard of dress, the Ministry will seek the views of the various teachers' unions on the subject.

(In Malay): What manner and mode of dress is anticipated by the Minister?

Mr Speaker, Sir, I have expressed earlier that whatever is considered neat and sober is acceptable. But if the Member for Kampong Kapor has any suggestions as to what mode of dress teachers should wear, they will be welcome.

asked the Minister for Health the number of licences withdrawn from hawkers who are not Singapore citizens in the last six months.

Mr Speaker, Sir, it has been the policy of the Hawkers Department, as long ago as 1961, not to issue licences to non-Singapore citizens. During the recent reorganisation of the department, it has been discovered, however, that out of a total of 26,000 licences issued so far, 437 non-citizens, or 2 per cent of the hawkers, have been issued with such licences. The circumstances as to how these came to be issued are being investigated into. The department is, however, being seriously hampered in its work, because many important documents and files are not available and claimed to have been lost during a mysterious fire which gutted the office building of the Hawkers Department at Canning Rise in October 1964 - three years ago. So far, about 200 non-citizen hawkers seeking renewal of their licences have had their licences detained by the department, but they have been issued with authority slips to carry on business pending completion of investigation.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, to my knowledge, some non-citizen hawkers have been residing in this country for about ten years. They have not acquired citizenship because they have encountered difficulties in their applications for citizenship. Their licences were held up when they went to renew them recently. Will the Minister consider favourably their applications to renew their licences?

As indicated in my reply, the cases of non-citizen hawkers holding licences are being investigated into, because it is the policy not to issue licences to non-citizens. So there is a possibility that non-citizens have obtained their hawkers' licences through corruption. We must, therefore, fully investigate the matter. I am prepared to consider their cases sympathetically provided the Members of Parliament of the respective constituencies are prepared to make their recommendations, and this is being done.

(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister for Health say whether, in detaining their licences, he has taken note of the principle of our work permit policy?

It is the policy of the Hawkers Department not to issue hawker licences to non- citizens. If a non-citizen gets a hawker licence, therefore, something is wrong. If it is the work of an official who has issued the licence, then something serious has happened. The official has granted the licence against policy and, therefore, it is necessary to investigate fully into the matter - who is responsible for issuing that licence? And if, as the Member for Delta has said, the particular non-citizen hawker has been staying in Singapore for quite a considerable length of time, surely the Member of Parliament for that constituency should be in a position to ascertain that and to make recommendations which will receive our sympathetic consideration.

asked the Minister for Health the number of workers dismissed during or immediately after the strike by cleansing workers early this year, giving figures by races and whether citizens or non-citizens; and whether the Government has re-instated any of the dismissed workers and the number re-instated.

Sir, when the former Public Daily-Rated Cleansing Workers' Union decided to call an illegal strike on the 1st of February of this year as a protest against the Ministry of Health's decision to proceed with the long overdue reorganisation of the Public Cleansing Department, Government decided that all those, who went on strike had sacked themselves. However, as a large number of cleansing workers may have been prevented from presenting themselves for work as a result of the activities of instigators and pickets, and as the Ministry did not wish to penalise the honest hard-working workers, whether Singapore citizens or non-citizens, it was decided that those workers who desired reappointment could call personally and complete application forms at six centres. Out of a total of 2,281 such applications for re- employment, 2,047 were accepted for temporary re- employment subject to review after six months or 12 months. Of this, 234 were rejected. So far, only one rejected case has been subsequently re-employed by the Government but not in the Ministry of Health. As desired by the Member for Anson, the racial composition and citizenship status of those whose applications for re-employment have been rejected are given hereafter. But it is of interest to compare them with the total number who applied for registration. On the basis of racial composition, the numbers who applied for re-employment are: Indians 1,177 or 52 per cent Malays 787 or 34 per cent Chinese and others 317 or 14 per cent ----- Total 2,281 ===== Of the rejected applicants, there were: Indians 104 which represents 44 per cent Malays 84 which represents 36 per cent Chinese and others 46 which represents 20 per cent --- Total 234 === If we group them according to their citizenship status, the total number who applied for re-employment is: Singapore citizens 1,626 or 71 per cent Non-citizens 655 or 29 per cent ----- Total 2,281 ===== Of the rejected applicants: Singapore citizens 184 or 79 per cent Non-citizens 50 or 21 per cent --- Total 234 ===

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not understand what is the meaning of "rejected applicants" in the Minister's reply. Is it because of dismissal, or does it mean that the worker cannot work any more anywhere else?

I wish the Member for Anson had followed my answer. I have stated that because of the illegal strike, Government had decided that all those who did not turn up for work were considered to have sacked themselves. And then they were allowed, only if they wanted to work, to re-apply for employment. They put in their applications and they were not considered suitable; so they were rejected. Therefore, they do not get employment in the Ministry of Health, but they could apply for work anywhere else in Singapore if they wish.

Mr Speaker, Sir, what was the reason for rejecting those 184?

It is 234, and not 184.

No. I mean the Singapore citizens.

The 234 citizens and non- citizens were rejected because their records are bad. They were bad workers, either lazy, malingerers, or absentees - people who did no work but were getting paid by the Government!

(In Malay): Sir, will the Minister consider reemploying or taking back all the 234 applicants who have been rejected?

In my reply to the Member for Anson, I have said that only one of the rejected cases has been subsequently re-employed by Government, but not in the Ministry of Health, which means that the other 233 have not been accepted at all.

Mr Yong, I think the Member's question was: will further consideration be given to the reemployment of these persons?

I think not, Sir.

asked the Minister for Health (a) the number of cases of haemorrhagic fever in Singapore annually since 1962 and the mortality rate; and (b) whether any research on this disease has been carried out in Singapore particularly in the search for a better and more effective treatment, or has there merely been the exchange of views with African countries, Thailand and the Philippines.

Sir, the number of known cases of haemorrhagic fever in Singapore since 1962 and its mortality rate are as follows : - Year Number Admitted Number Died 1962 185 2 1963 208 6 1964 375 7 1965 43 1 1966 659 24 It should be explained that haemorrhagic fever is not a notifiable disease, and the figures asked for by the Member for Tampines, going as far back as 1962, may not reflect the true situation according to the known available figures. However, with effect from 18th October last year, doctors working in Government hospitals and outpatient dispensaries were instructed to notify such cases to the Ministry of Health and the relatively high figure for 1966 may be partly due to this directive. In reply to the second part of his question, I am pleased to say that research on haemorrhagic fever has been going on since 1960 when it first appeared in Singapore. So far, 22 papers have been published in Singapore. A list* (* Appendix, cols. 243-6.) will be handed to the Speaker, and I have also handed a copy to the Member for Tampines. It covers the whole range of problems connected with the disease from basic research on the mosquito vector, the causative virus, and to the clinical features and treatment. Appendix to Oral Answer to Question No. 16, cols. 196-7 (Cols 0243-0246) [Copy of the List handed in to the Clerk.]

asked the Minister for Health whether the present methods used in anti-mosquito control are also effective in the extermination of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which is responsible for the transmission of haemorrhagic fever and which is resistant to D.D.T.

Mr Speaker, Sir, present methods of anti-mosquito control are aimed primarily against the malaria mosquito (the type known as Anopheles maculatus and Anopheles sundaicus). (I am afraid I have not done my Latin; so the accent may not be quite right.) As the mosquitoes which transmit haemorrhagic fever are different, namely, Aedes species, other methods will have to be adopted. These methods are mainly against the larval stages of these mosquitoes. A one-year pilot project, which was carried out in the Geylang area bounded by Sims Avenue, Paya Lebar Road, Sungei Kallang and Sungei Geylang since September last year, demonstrated the effectiveness of simple measures by elimination of breeding places and public education through television, radio and pamphlets, and by personal contacts with the residents. The mosquito index fell within five weeks from an original 10 per cent to about 2 per cent. As complete eradication of the mosquito vectors may not be a practical possibility, what is aimed at is effective control, in order to bring the mosquito index down to insignificant numbers. For the present, D.D.T. appears to be effective against the local strains of mosquitoes, although resistance has already been reported in most parts of South East Asia. We are also making determined efforts to improve environmental sanitation in urban constituencies by clearing blocked drains, which are the cause for stagnant water and thus become excellent breeding grounds for mosquitoes. This involves many aspects of public health, especially licensing and control of hawkers (who are chief culprits for irresponsible dumping of refuse into drains), better drainage and unslabbing of roadside drains, as well. It may be of interest to the Member for Tampines to know that a W.H.O. Consultant on haemorrhagic fever will be visiting the following countries in the Western Pacific Region, namely, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, next month (October). The purpose of the consultant's visit will be to hold preliminary discussions with clinicians and scientists on (a) criteria for the establishment of common definitions for reporting cases of haemorrhagic fever, and (b) some technical aspects of haemorrhagic fever surveillance and control.

asked the Minister for Health why the Poisons Advisory Committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Singapore Dental Association and the Malayan Pharmaceutical Association but none from the Singapore Medical Association; and, as the members of the Singapore Medical Association (which has a membership of more than 600) have much more direct dealings with drugs and poisons daily than, say, dentists and pharmacists, if he will consider representation of that Association on the Committee.

Sir, the Poisons Advisory Committee is a non-statutory administrative body set up to advise the Minister for Health and is without executive or legal powers. At present, the Poisons Advisory Committee has 15 members which include three medical doctors, namely, (1) the Director of Medical Services, who is ex-officio Chairman, (2) the Senior Consultant Physician of Outram Road General Hospital, and (3) the Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Singapore. It would appear, therefore, that the medical view- point is being adequately represented. If the Singapore Medical Association is eager to offer its services to serve on the Poisons Advisory Committee, I shall be most happy to appoint two of their representatives to this Committee, making a total of 17, if such request is put to me, in writing, by the Singapore Medical Association.

asked the Minister of Defence how many non-citizens wishing to enter Singapore to take up employment at a salary of less than one thousand two hundred dollars per month have been issued with Employment Passes by the Controller of Immigration and what is the policy of the Immigration Department in the issue of Employment Passes to such persons.

Mr Speaker, Sir, employment passes are issued to persons from abroad who seek employment in Singapore for a minimum period of two years. The stipulation that such persons should be entitled to a salary of not less than $1,200 per month is not a rigid one. It is the policy that in case no Singapore resident is available to do the job and where the Ministry of Finance and the Economic Development Board support the application, approval is granted to waive the stipulation. Between 1965 and the end of July 1967, a total of 575 employment passes have been issued. Only one non-citizen with a salary of less than $1,200 has been issued with a pass in 1967.

asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs how many Kathis there are altogether in the Republic and how many of them are paid by the Government.

Mr Speaker, there are at present nine Kathis in the Republic appointed under the Muslims Ordinance, 1957, that is, No. 25 of 1957. Two of these Kathis are paid by Government and attached to the Registry of Muslim Marriages and the Shariah Court. The remaining seven Kathis are not paid by Government but receive fees for duties performed by them.

(In Malay): Mr Speaker, is the Minister considering recruiting more Kathis?

Yes, Mr Speaker, Sir. An additional Kathi will soon be appointed and this will increase to three the number paid by the Government.

(In Malay): Regarding the number mentioned by the Minister, how many of them are Singapore citizens? If we take new Kathis, is it one of the qualifications that they must be Singapore citizens?

I cannot say offhand, Sir, whether the seven Kathis are all Singapore citizens. I will make an inquiry and will let the hon. Member know whether they are Singapore citizens or not. In future all Kathis to be appointed will be Singapore citizens as a condition.

asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs if he will ascertain from the National Theatre Trust the number of employees employed by the Trust, giving breakdown figures of (i) full-time employees; (ii) part-time employees not employed elsewhere; and (iii) part-time employees with employment elsewhere during the day time.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the National Theatre Trust has provided the following particulars of its employees: (i) Full-time employees of the National Theatre Trust 21 (ii) Full-time employees not employed elsewhere 5 (iii) Part-time employees with employment elsewhere during the day time 26 --

(In Malay): When will those who are working part-time somewhere else be replaced?

This matter is being studied and we will do it as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development, in view of the increased population in the Somapah area and the newly built schools at Jalan Tiga Ratus and the heavy traffic along the 10 milestone, Upper Changi Road, if he will consider the erection of an overhead bridge for pedestrians in that area.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Works Department is considering the erection of an overhead bridge for pedestrians at the 10 milestone, Changi Road. This site is included in the list of sites at which the need and justification for an overhead pedestrian bridge are being investigated. If this site should warrant priority, a bridge will be built soon.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House whether these bridges are being fully used by pedestrians?

Bridges built elsewhere?

Yes.

Mr Speaker, Sir, our records show that many people, particularly those in the suburban area, do not take the trouble to use the overhead bridge to cross the road. This is so at the Upper Serangoon Road where more than two-thirds of the pedestrians crossing the road do not use the bridge erected there last year.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary inform this House how many overhead pedestrian bridges have been completed so far in the Republic?

Mr Sim, that does not come within the ambit of the question on the Order Paper. But if Mr Ho is prepared to answer it, I will let him.

Mr Speaker, Sir, so far seven overhead bridges have been erected: at Collyer Quay, Tiong Bahru Road, Upper Serangoon Road, near Lim Tua Tow Market, 5th and 6th milestone Bukit Timah Road, Geylang Serai and Tampines Circus. Two additional overhead pedestrian bridges are now in the course of construction at Kallang Road near the Gas Works and at the Old Airport Road over the existing zebra crossing.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development when Jalan Maha at the Indian Village in Ulu Sembawang will be made up.

Mr Speaker, Sir, Jalan Maha was approved by the Urban and Rural Services Committee on 24th April, 1967, for metalling at an estimated cost of $30,634. Work on the metalling of the road started on 26th July this year and it is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether and when a wooden jetty will be constructed at Kuala Simpang (Muslim Cemetery).

Mr Speaker, Sir, construction of a jetty at Simpang Sembawang (Muslim Cemetery), costing approximately $5,005, was approved by the Urban and Rural Services Committee on 20th March, 1967. The construction started on 11th August this year and it is expected to be completed by early November this year.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider the improvement of Yio Chu Kang Road between 8� m.s. and 11 m.s., including widening of the road and provision of side-walks.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the widening of Yio Chu Kang Road between 8� m.s. and Sembawang Hill Circus 12� m.s. by 30 feet is expected to commence some time this month. In order to provide sidewalks, some land has to be acquired and consideration is now being given to such acquisition.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider the provision of more parking lots for motor-cycles and scooters in the City area.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Car Park Division has to date established 347 bays in which about 2,594 motor-cycles and scooters can be parked. A survey was recently carried out in respect of parking lots for motor-cycles and scooters. The survey indicates that the bays provided have not been fully used. For example, in the City centre only about 66 per cent of the space provided is occupied. Apparently motor-cyclists and scooterists prefer to park their vehicles as near to their destination as possible on verandahs and side-walks.

(In Mandarin): The Parliamentary Secretary has said in his answer that many riders of motor-cycles and scooters park their motor-cycles and scooters in the five-foot way. This proves my point that it is difficult to get parking lots for scooters and motor-cycles. According to regulations, the parking of a motorcycle or a motorised vehicle in the five-foot way is against the law.

I did remind Members of the provisions of the Standing Orders. Perhaps your question should be, "How does the Parliamentary Secretary reconcile the reasons for not providing more parking lots with the fact that people park their motor-cycles and scooters on the five-foot way?" Is that what you wanted him to explain?

(In Mandarin): Sir, what I wanted to ask the Ministry concerned was whether it would consider increasing the parking lots for scooters and motor-cycles.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I have just now given my answer that the parking lots provided for scooters and motor-cycles are not fully occupied. Only 66 per cent of these parking lots are occupied. I do not see any justifiable reason for increasing the parking lots for motor-cycles and scooters.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development if consideration will be given to the installation of street-lights along Northumberland Road and Gloucester Road so as to light up those areas around Farrer Park and to make it safer for the people living there against robbery.

Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 12 standard street lamps in Northumberland Road and two standard street lamps in that section of Gloucester Road between Race Course Road and the Farrer Park athletic centre. That section of Gloucester Road between Dorset Road and the Farrer Park athletic centre, which is still a private road, is lighted by three kampong street lamps. Further, other roads, such as Hampshire Road and Dorset Road, around Farrer Park are also ade- quately provided with street lights. Adequate lighting has, therefore, already been provided around Farrer Park.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development when work will commence on (i) the repair of Lorong Dendam off Bartley Road; and (ii) the improvement of drains along Jalan Telega and along the road off Jalan Telega, which had been requested more than a year ago.

Sir, though the request for the two projects may have been made to the hon. Member for Paya Lebar more than a year ago, both were submitted to the Urban and Rural Services Committee by the Citizens' Consultative Committee of Paya Lebar only on the 31st March this year. After investigations, both projects were considered by the Urban and Rural Services Committee at its meeting in July last. Both projects were approved by the Projects Committee at its meeting on the 7th August this year. Work on the making up of Lorong Dendam to kampong road standard at a cost of $8,000 has already commenced and is expected to be completed shortly. Tenders for the improvement of drains at Jalan Telega and the road off Jalan Telega have already been called for. The work is expected to begin and be completed by the end of September this year.

(In Mandarin): I would not like to debate with the Parliamentary Secretary -

Standing Orders do not allow you to debate. What is your supplementary question?

(In Mandarin): I would like to thank the Parliamentary Secretary for saying that work will start soon.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether the Government will consider building a footbridge across the Geylang River for school children travelling on foot between Dakota Crescent housing estate and Broadrick Road Primary School.

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.

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.

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.

Sir, can the Minister say whether any compensation has been paid to all those affected by urban renewal and at what rates? Also what is the total sum paid out so far?

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.

In the case of owners of warehouses, I am given to understand that most of them have found their own accommodation. But more often than not, the owners usually find difficulty in getting their applications for change of use of premises into warehouses approved. Or they have difficulty in applications to the Planning Department or the Chief Building Surveyor's Department when they want to -

Mr Ng, can you come to your question, please?

If they wish to build their warehouses on their own land, will the Government consider giving them assistance so as to expedite their applications?

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.

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.

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.

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 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. 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.

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.

Mr Speaker, I am aware of the low prices in recent months, but the hon. Member should know that the prices of eggs depend on supply and demand. According to statistics collected by the Primary Production Department, the ex-farm prices of eggs dropped to an average of 6.8 cents in March last and the retail price to an average of 8.1 cents. The Primary Production Department, in conjunction with the Singapore Livestock Farmers' Association and the Singapore Stockfeed Manufacturers' Association, organised a campaign to slaughter old and unproductive hens. Between the 20th of March and the 19th of May this year, about 30,600 hens were slaughtered. This measure prevented egg prices from falling further. Since then, there has been an upward trend in egg prices, and in August the average ex-farm price of eggs was 8.8 cents and the average retail price 10.2 cents. Mr Speaker, Sir, only yesterday, the Minister of Defence had to take great pains to explain why the prices of various goods in Singapore have gone up recently. It is refreshing for me to have to answer a question querying why the price of eggs has gone down.

Has the Minister got the statistics to indicate the prices of eggs in the last few years?

The average prices of eggs for the last few years were as follows: 1964 Average ex-farm price 8.7 cents Average retail price 10.3 cents 1965 Average ex-farm price 8.3 cents Average retail price 9.9 cents 1966 Average ex-farm price 9.2 cents Average retail price 10.7 cents March 1967 Average ex-farm price 6.8 cents Average retail price 8.1 cents August 1967 Average ex-farm price 8.8 cents Average retail price 10.2 cents.

Will the Minister give me an assurance that his Ministry will keep a watchful eye on the fluctuations in egg prices in order to protect the poultry farmers?

I give the hon. Member my assurance now. The Primary Production Department is always keeping a watchful eye on the price of eggs not only for the sake of the farmers but also for the sake of the consumers.

Would the Minister consider setting up an Egg Buying Board as a measure to maintain the stability of egg prices?

At the moment, I do not think that an Egg Buying Board is required. But I do not profess to be an expert on this subject and I will ask the Director of Primary Production to look into the suggestion made by the Member for Choa Chu Kang.

Mr Speaker, Sir, E think this supplementary question may be slightly outside of the original question, but it is related to it anyway. I was given to understand that there was a proposal to set up an egg factory to turn the surplus eggs into all kinds of nutritious tinned food to be sold to the market. Is the Minister aware of this?

There was such a proposal but it remained and still is just a proposal. But I would advise the Member for Punggol to direct his inquiries to the Minister for Finance, who is in charge of the Economic Development Board, so that such a factory could be set up in Jurong.

Will the Minister concerned -whether he be the Minister for Law and National Development or the Minister for Finance -take steps to implement this proposal?

I am not in charge of the Economic Development Board. At the most, I can ask my Director of Primary Production to sound first, not the Economic Development Board, but the farmers whose hens produce the eggs.

asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether the Housing and Development Board has any scheme to develop the open ground behind the Bukit Ho Swee Community Centre into either a small park or a children's playground, as this open ground is overgrown with tall grass.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the land in question has been let to the People's Association on a Temporary Occupation Licence. My Ministry would have no objection if the People's Association wishes to turn the land into either a children's playground or a small park. My Ministry would certainly assist the Association by doing the landscaping work and making every arrangement to turn this piece of land into a park.

Order for Second Reading read. 4.19 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Vigilante Corps Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, Sir, the Bill seeks to provide for the establishment and maintenance of the Vigilante Corps. Hitherto the Vigilante Corps has existed as an organisation without any statutory provisions since its formation in May 1964. The Bill provides that the existing Vigilante Corps shall, as from the date of the coming into operation of the Act, be deemed to have been raised and maintained under the Act, thus giving the body a legal standing (clause 25). The ranks of the Vigilante Corps up till now had been filled by person volunteering to be members of the Corps. These volunteer members who registered themselves as corps members came from various walks of life, ranging from watchmen to businessmen, and from clerks to hawkers. These persons had powers of ordinary citizens and their main duties were to perform foot patrols, coastal observations, to assist the police in reporting the movement or presence of suspicious characters, to arrest persons committing any seizable offence within their sight, and to assist the public whenever requested. With the establishment of the Vigilante Corps, it was observed that the crime rate dropped in areas covered by the Vigilante Corps Beat-Patrols. The Bill also makes provision for national servicemen to be directed for national service under the National Service Ordinance, 1952, with the Vigilante Corps. Thus the Vigilante Corps will consist of both volunteers and national servicemen. The national servicemen who are called up for training in the Vigilante Corps will do 12 years' part-time training during their off-work or off-duty hours. They will receive, in addition to their many duties, instruction in moral values. This will teach them the meaning of good citizenship and explain to them the nature of their social responsibilities. The national servicemen will be contributing to our nation building and this is a sure way of creating loyalty and national consciousness, and if the need arises they can show their loyalty by participating in the defence of the country. The national servicemen being called up are young men. Opportunity, therefore, is being given to these youngsters not just to remain spectators outside the orbit of the defence forces but to take part as part-time soldiers, be it the Vigilante Corps, the P.D.F., the Special Constabulary, or the Army. These young men are the natural resources of our country and we have to teach them a sense of discipline and responsibility if they are to become responsible citizens. The training and discipline will make them better citizens and better workmen. Physically and mentally the benefit will be enormous.

4.30 p.m. Sir, I now wish to deal with the more important clauses in the Bill. Clause 4 deals with the composition of the Corps, that is, it provides that the Corps shall consist of national servicemen and volunteers. Clause 5 of the Bill provides that members of the Corps shall assist the Police Force in the maintenance of law and order, the preservation of public peace, the prevention and detection of crime, and the apprehension of offenders; and shall perform such other functions and duties as may be assigned by the Minister. Clause 6 deals with the appointment of a Commandant. The Corps shall be under his administration and his appointment is made by the Minister. The Commandant shall be under the general direction of the Commissioner of Police. In clause 9, power is given to the Minister to disband or discontinue the Corps. An important section in the Bill is clause 10. This provides that members of the Corps will have to take an oath or affirmation in such form as may be prescribed by the Minister, and any member who refuses to do so shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment. Clause 12 provides for resignation and discharge of members from the Corps, and applies only to volunteer members of the Corps who may resign by giving 14 days' notice to the Commandant provided they have not been called out for mobilized service under the Act. Power is given to the Commandant to discharge any volunteer member of the Corps where he is of the opinion that such member is not likely to become or remain useful in the Corps. National servicemen cannot resign. Clause 19 provides that the national servicemen shall not be discharged, retired or dismissed from the Corps except with the prior approval of the proper authority appointed under the National Service Ordinance, 1952. Clause 13 deals with mobilization. The President may declare a state of emergency and, in pursuance thereof, the whole or any part of the Vigilante Corps may be called out for mobilized service. The members called out will remain so called out until they are released from mobilized service by the Commandant with the Minister's approval. As national service is a compulsory service the national service members of the Vigilante Corps may not unlawfully absent themselves from duty. If they do so, they shall be deemed to have deserted and shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months. This provision is found in clause 15 of the Bill. Clauses 17 to 23 respectively deal with the discipline and punishment of rank and file and subordinate officers and officers. The Commanding Officers may inflict punishment commensurate with the offence. The words "Commanding Officer" have been defined in the interpretation section to mean the Deputy Commissioner of Police, the Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, and an Assistant Commissioner of Police, the Commandant of the Police Training School and any police officer lawfully acting in any of these appointments. There is provision also in clause 21 of the Bill to punish members of the Corps who threaten or insult any police officer or Vigilante Corps member of senior or equal rank; and in this connection authority is given to any police officer to arrest, without warrant, any member of the Corps so accused. Clause 24 of the Bill empowers the Minister to make regulations with respect to the Constitution, general administration, training and welfare of the Corps and any other matters in connection with the Corps. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 4.35 p.m.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I fully support the Vigilante Corps Bill. Its purpose is to enable members of the Vigilante Corps to be a more disciplined force in order to help our police maintain law and order and public security. Sir, I think we can all recall that the Vigilante Corps was set up in April 1964 when Indonesia was in confrontation against us and when there was a series of sabotage and bomb incidents in our country. And in order to protect the lives and property of our people, the Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew then) called for the setting-up of such a Corps. We all know the historical background of this Corps. The Prime Minister's call was warmly supported by people of all walks of life. The bomb incidents and the series of sabotage acts had caused some damage to property, if they had not at least adversely affected our commercial and industrial activities. Our people then felt quite uneasy and had a sense of insecurity. Following the formation of the Vigilante Corps, such activities were on a reduced scale and the situation was later put under control. For these achievements by the Vigilante Corps, we all should give them our praise and admiration. I understand that everyone appreciates their efforts and contributions. Though Indonesian confrontation has become history, the Vigilante Corps' assistance is still necessary at the present juncture, although its present duties may be different. In the past their duty was mainly to prevent any sabotage, to catch spies and enemy agents, and to protect the lives and property of our people. Today their task and responsibility is to help the police maintain law and order and public security, and prevent anti-social activities by anti-national elements. After strict semi-military training, they will become the pillars of our rugged society and become model citizens of our multi-racial society. Over these past several years the Vigilante Corps has done well to maintain public order and has helped the Police by arresting robbers and protecting women from being bullied by hooligans. In all these activities they have shown that they are people of good quality and imbued with a sense of sacrifice. They have set an example as good citizens for all to see, and have maintained a very close and good relationship with community centres and the people of the various constituencies. Their high spirit of service has given the public a good impression. The Vigilante Corps consist of people from various races of different cultures, different streams of education, different languages and different religions. Their contribution in uniting the people of various races together has produced results. Their achievements have helped to unite the people. In my constituency, Sembawang, the Vigilante Corps unit consists of Chinese, Indians and Malays. The unit leader is an Indian. He is able to unite the team together and has helped them to put up good achievements. This might be due to the personal capacity and merits of this unit leader, but I believe another factor is that there is already being formed a sort of identity of purpose. This will be a great contribution to our task in building a multi-racial model society. This is a very significant factor. At present the training of the Vigilante Corps consists mainly of drills and instruction in general police regulations. But I think they should also be inculcated with a spirit of patriotism and loyalty to our country. This is also important. Recently I have received complaints from members of the Vigilante Corps. They say they have only one uniform. They have to keep this clean and neat. Because of this, I think they should be issued with at least two uniforms. In my opinion, their request is very reasonable, and I hope the Minister will consider it. Sir, this Bill provides that the basic task of the Vigilante Corps is to help the police maintain law and order, to preserve public security, to prevent criminal activities, and to arrest criminals, etc. At the same time, it also provides certain penalties against any members of the Corps who commit any offences. Generally speaking, I regard this Bill as perfect and I hope that after its implemenation, the Vigilante Corps organisation can be further perfected and strengthened and grow from strength to strength, making it more effective in the preservation of our social order and in carrying out their task in serving the country and protecting the lives and property of our people. 4.43 p.m.

Sir, the purpose of this Bill, as explained by the Minister of Defence, is to make statutory provisions for the establishment and maintenance of the Vigilante Corps in our Republic. In the past the Vigilante Corps existed as a local voluntary organisation formed by some civic- minded citizens who saw the need of a vigilante organisation to assist the police in preserving peace and order in their own areas. Later, during the confrontation days, our Deputy Prime Minister realised the important role of the Vigilante Corps and appealed to the public to join the Corps. After that there was enthusiastic response from the public, and the Vigilante Corps was set up both in the rural and urban areas of Singapore. The Vigilante Corps then began to grow to their present strength with the support, of course, of various community leaders. As a matter of fact, our Deputy Prime Minister went to some constituencies to visit the Vigilante Corps. In some of the constituencies which border the sea, the Vigilante Corps also did coastal patrol duties until well past midnight to help the police watch for illegal entry of saboteurs and agents. In fact, the Vigilante Corps made a tremendous contribution towards the internal security of Singapore during confrontation days. Sir, I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to ask this House to place on record the appreciation of our Government to members of the Vigilante Corps for their voluntary services in maintaining the peace and security of our country during confrontation days. The present circumstances have necessitated the enlargement of the Vigilante Corps so as to take in national servicemen who will do their part-time service in the Corps. The need to enact laws to make the Vigilante Corps a statutory organisation, therefore, cannot be disputed in this House. All hon. Members of this House, I am sure, will give their support to this Bill. However, there is one point I wish the Minister to consider, that is, the welfare of the Vigilante Corps members. I notice in clause 24 of this Bill that the Minister makes regulations concerning the administration, discipline, training and welfare of the Corps. I am happy to note that there are provisions in this section to make regulations on the awards of compensation in respect of death and personal injuries, awards of pensions and gratuities and reimbursements of payments to members of the Vigilante Corps. But there should be provision also to provide for medical care and attention not arising from injuries. Can the Minister clarify the question of reimbursements and payments to members of the Corps? Does he mean that a travelling allowance at the same rate as that paid to the P.D.F. will be paid to Corps members who turn out for duty or training? Sir, I support this Bill. 4.48 p.m.

(In Mandarin): Sir, all those people who are concerned with security and who pay attention to current affairs will agree with me that the economy of a nation is a basic factor in contributing towards its stability. Our people work very hard in contributing towards Singapore's economic stability. So if they work harder and serve society in general and the nation in particular, then everybody should have a sense of security and a strong sense of patriotism. I believe the majority of the people in Singapore fully understand that their fate is closely linked with that of the nation, and that their future too is closely related to the future of Singapore. So their love of Singapore is absolute and beyond any doubt. The question is, how is the Government going to preserve the peace of this country in a turbulent region, to instil a sense of security in a sea of trouble in this region? So it is for the Government to come out with definite policies to show us how we can do it. The establishment of regular armed forces for national defence is the usual method adopted by other countries, but it is not applicable in a small island State like Singapore. In the first place, we cannot shoulder the financial responsibilities of maintaining a large regular army. Secondly, its existence may give rise to a possible military take-over or military dictatorship. In the Afro-Asian countries and in the South American countries, we find a lot of instances of a military dictatorship as a result of a large standing army. Although they have standing armies, they are without a closely-knit society. In South Vietnam there are about half a million strong regular forces, but in spite of this, there is still turbulence and trouble there. South Korea has an army of about 600,000 strong, but there is also trouble there. This is because of their lack of an organised and a closely-knit society. In the Philippines, too, there is a strong army, but in spite of that, there is trouble, and there is smuggling and robbery throughout the country. This is because the people are poorly organised. Indonesia has an army of about 400,000, but in spite of that, there is trouble and disorder there. In other countries even where they have strong armies, military coups take place. All this is due to the lack of organisation and a closely-knit society. So if we can successfully organise our people, that, I think, is the best method to defend our own country. This is because, in the first place, we can do away with the necessity to maintain a large army. Secondly, we can bring up a generation of people who will be nationally conscious and patriotic and well organised to maintain social order and national security. I am glad, therefore, that the Government is not just shouting slogans but is carrying out in a practical way whatever it has promised. It is an effective Government which means what it says and says what it means. The official establishment of the Vigilante Corps is another instance to show that the Government is always concerned with the security of the people and the maintenance of an orderly society. We were threatened with communal disturbances in the past, but we do not gloat over the disturbances and the misfortunes of others. In troubled times we had to set up a Vigilante Corps in order to smash up the intrigues of our enemies who wished to disrupt our social order and, at the same time, to unite our people so that the various races in Singapore could understand the importance of racial harmony in the State. Now this painful event in history is past, but the fact remains that the contributions of the Vigilante Corps are still fresh in the minds of the people. Now that Singapore is independent and sovereign, people of all races must further understand that the Vigilante Corps, their own organisation, must continue to maintain the integrity of our country and to preserve order in our society. It is the responsibility and duty of every citizen to take part in this great task. Sir, there is a saying that to build a strong country we must build a strong people. The Government of the country, in officially setting up the Vigilante Corps, and in giving legal status to it, is going one step further to show that it is desirous of building a strong people in order to defend our own country and to maintain social order. It is an enlightened policy and a very wise step to take. If necessary, we shall turn all our people into soldiers. This is a test of our people to see whether they have this spirit. As a representative of the people and as a Singapore citizen, I am proud of the step being taken and I am honoured to associate myself with this Bill.

I think this is a convenient time to suspend the sitting. The House will resume at 5.05 p.m. Sitting accordingly suspended at 4.55 p.m. until 5.05 p.m. Sitting resumed at 5.05 p.m.

Debate resumed. Question again proposed.

Sir, I think all of us in this House are very proud to associate ourselves with this Bill which has now turned out a very excellent group of men of various races and from various walks of life into a legally constituted body. This body, as I have said, came into being spontaneously during the time when Singapore met with trouble from within and without. By the passage of this Bill we have made it possible for our young national servicemen to serve in the Vigilante Corps. On the whole, I think there is no one here who can find any criticism of the Bill. To take up some of the requests from Members of the House with regard to the welfare of members of the Vigilante Corps and medical services, I do hope and I feel very sure that among the medical practitioners in Singapore -and we have quite a large number of them -there will be some who will be fired by the example of volunteer members of the Vigilante Corps, i.e., in coming forward to offer their services free of charge. I think that can be arranged. With regard to welfare, as the Member for Mountbatten has pointed out, there is a clause in the Bill where the Minister has the discretion or the power to look into the welfare of the Vigilante Corps members. And I can assure Members that I will try to do my best to see that their interests are well looked after. With regard to pay, these are matters of administrative detail, and once the mechanics of it have been properly worked out, the details will be given to members of the public and to hon. Members who are interested.

(In Mandarin): Sir, I would like to ask a question.

Mr Teong, is it a point of order?

(In Mandarin): Can the Minister clarify what I have just mentioned, and that is the complaint by certain members of the Vigilante Corps that they have only one uniform each? Will he consider this complaint and explain to this House?

Mr Teong, I am afraid your question is out of order. You may raise the question at the Committee stage if you wish.

(In Mandarin): Sir, can the Minister clarify his attitude to this question?

Mr Teong, I am afraid that is out of order.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

5.12 p.m. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Lim Kim San]. Bill considered in Committee.

5.13 p.m. Clauses 1 to 9 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 10 - Amendment made: In page 3, line7, to leave out "the form set out in the Schedule to this Act" and insert "such form as the Minister may prescribe" -[Mr Lim Kim San]. Clause 10, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 11 to 25 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. The Schedule -

The Question is, "That the Schedule stand part of the Bill." Members will note that in view of the amendment that has been agreed to clause 10, the Schedule will not be necessary in the Bill.

Question put, and negatived. The Schedule accordingly disagreed to. Bill reported with amendments; read a Third time and passed.

Order for Second Reading read. 5.19 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, Sir, the Development Fund Ordinance (No. 52 of 1959) was enacted to allow the Minister to vire funds from subhead to subhead; the only limitation being the amount available in subheads from which funds are to be vired. However, the Minister does not have the power to create a new subhead even when funds from other subheads are available. This has resulted in unnecessary delays in the implementation of urgent projects. The Ordinance has been in operation for the past six years and, in the light of this experience, certain amendments to the Ordinance are necessary. The Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 1967, seeks to bring the Development Fund Ordinance (No. 52 of 1959) in line with the Financial Procedure Act which was passed by Parliament in April 1966 to empower the Minister to create new subheads and to transfer any surplus arising under any other subhead of the same head to the new subhead created; that is, it follows a similar procedure as that for the ordinary Estimates. This is provided for under clause 2. The use of virements using savings from one subhead to meet increased expenditure under another subhead may lead to slackness in planning projects in the knowledge that there are savings to be vired from somewhere, or a tendency to withhold implementation of difficult projects on the excuse that funds for such projects are urgently needed elsewhere. To discourage the use of virements, a Contingencies Fund is provided to meet any urgent and unforeseen need for expenditure on projects for which no other provision exists. Expenditure on urgent development projects for which there is no provision in the Development Estimates will be charged to the Contingencies (Development) Fund. This fund will have to be replenished each year with resources in the Development Fund. Section 4 (6) of the Development Fund Ordinance, 1959, which disallows the issue of transfer warrants in respect of a closed financial year, will also be deleted. In practice, transfer warrants have to be issued to regularise the Accountant-General's accounts. A vote may be exceeded inadvertently or owing to wrong entries. Transfer warrants are required to rectify such errors in the new year in respect of accounts of the previous year so that the accounts can balance. Clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill deal with minor miscellaneous amendments arising from Singapore's independent status, such as deleting the words "Legislative Assembly" and "the Legislative Assembly" wherever they appear therein and substituting therefor the word "Parliament". 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.

Order for Second Reading read. 5.25 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 a national Archives and Records Centre for Singapore where national archival services providing for the custody and preservation of Government archives and records of high value and importance, historical research as well as to the administration can be undertaken. The care and maintenance of these unique documents which are public property is considered to be a public obligation and has been enacted into legislation in several Commonwealth countries, including Ghana in 1955, New Zealand and Nigeria in 1957, Tanzania and Sierra Leone in 1965, and Malaysia in 1966. The Singapore archives, which comprise a prominent and substantial series of historical documents, some dating as far back as 1800 and which are part and parcel of Singapore's national heritage providing data, facts and historical information concerning the whole of South-East Asia corresponding with the focal position of Singapore in this region in the 19th and 20th centuries, are at present kept in the National Library, and the maintenance of these documents is the responsibility of the National Library. With the growing production of records by Government departments, statutory boards and offices, it has become necessary that overall and well-considered decisions should be taken on the difficult and recurrent question of disposal, that is, what records to preserve, because they are deemed to be of historical and national importance, and what records to destroy, which form by far the larger part when no longer of use. It is felt that the present system governed by General Orders Nos. 560 and 563 which leave this important decision of disposal of records to various heads of departments and administrative offices is inadequate in that no consistent principle is applied to the disposal of public records which may result in the possible destruction of important public records and, at the same time, the preservation of those records which are of no importance, thereby leading to loss of valuable space of Government and Board offices. In order that post-war archives and records are preserved and added to our archival holdings for further reference and research, it will be necessary for adequate repository space to be found. This is provided for in clause 3 of the Bill. For the determination of what part of public records should be preserved and what part should be disposed of and for the direction, management and control of the centre, clause 4 of the Bill empowers the Minister to appoint a Director for the purpose. It is envisaged that the Director will conduct a record management programme which will contribute to the improvement of administrative efficiency connected with the creation, utilisation, maintenance, retention and preservation and for the disposal of public records, thereby ensuring that valuable office space now taken up by accumulation of non-recurrent records in various Government and Board offices will be properly used. To enable the Director to be advised on his functions, clause 5 of the Bill provides for the establishment of a Committee appointed by the Minister. Provision is also made in clause 9 of the Bill to allow for the destruction or disposal of public records only on authority of the Director. Provision is made in clause 10 to allow persons access to only such public records as are regarded as public archives. I shall be moving in Committee a number of amendments to the Bill. These amendments are considered necessary to enable the distinction to be made between archives and other public records. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 5.32 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government is to be congratulated on the introduction of this Bill which will help to remedy the long neglect of our unique historical archives in Singapore. I am glad the Government is bringing in amendments to provide for archives as well, for archives are fundamentally different from a records centre. The setting up of the National Archives and Records Centre will not only be of tremendous benefit to local and overseas scholars and research workers engaged in studies into the history of Singapore, but also to those scholars and research workers of neighbouring South-East Asian countries as well. In addition, the National Archives and Records Centre will help to improve administrative efficiency in our Government departments by enabling more office space to be used through the disposal of unwanted Government records which are of no historical importance, and by ensuring a good system of records management which will reduce paper work, enable files to be located speedily, and speed up Government actions in all spheres. It is important that early consideration be given to provide a suitable building for the National Archives and Records Centre in keeping with its status as the repository of the nation's history. I understand the old records are at present kept in the National Library and the removal of these records from the National Library will also alleviate the burden of space in the National Library brought about by the unprecedented increase in library services to the public over the last few years. It is to be hoped that with the establishment of the National Archives and Records Centre, an adequate budget for staff and services will be provided to ensure that this new department will not be hampered in its first year of existence and that there will also be provision for training future staff. Sir, I support the Bill.

Just for the information of the Member, Sir, the question of the budget and training facilities will be considered. I understand it is in the hands of the Ministry of Finance.

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. -[Inche Othman Wok]. Bill considered in Committee.

5.36 p.m. Clause 1 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, In page 1, line 3, after "National", to insert "Archives and". The purpose of amending the Short Title of the Bill from "National Records Centre Act" to "National Archives and Records Centre Act" is because the term "public archives" has a distinct meaning from "public records". In clause 2 of the Bill "public archives" has been defined to mean public records of national and historical value which are more than 25 years old, and therefore, the Act which establishes a centre to house public archives and public records should be known as the "National Archives and Records Centre Act". The need to amend the Short Title of the Bill has been made after consultation with the UNESCO expert on archives who has helped to draft the present Bill. Amendment agreed to. Clause 1, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 2 -

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, In page 1, line 7, after "National", to insert "Archives and". In page 1, line 14, after "National", to insert "Archives and". Mr Speaker, Sir, the reason for the introduction of these amendments has already been explained by me. Amendments agreed to.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, In page 2, line 7, to leave out "and"; and In page 2, line 9 -

Inche Othman, I suggest we take the amendments one by one.

Yes, Sir.

As these are mostly drafting amendments, I do not think there will be any necessity for explanation.

Yes. Amendment agreed to.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, In page 2, line 9, at end, to add - "and (c) have been transferred to the Centre or to such other place as the Director may from time to time determine;". Mr Speaker, Sir, the reason for introducing this additional clause is that it is necessary that public records of more than 25 years old and of enduring national and historical value should be transferred to an archival institution responsible for establishing and maintaining their custodial integrity before they are regarded as public archives. Amendment agreed to. Amendment made: In page 2, to leave out line 26 and insert " "Committee" means the Archives and Records Committee established". -[Inche Othman Wok]. Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 3 - Amendment made: In page 2, line 28, after "National", to insert "Archives and". -[Inche Othman Wok].

The marginal note to this clause will also contain the words "Archives and" after the word "National". Clause 3, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 4 - Amendments made: In page 2, line 30, after "National", to insert "Archives and". -[Inche Othman Wok]. In page 2, line 37, to leave out "records" and insert "archives". - [Inche Othman Wok].

Sir, I beg to move, In page 2, line 39, to leave out "received by" and insert "transferred to". This amendment is consequential to the inclusion in the definition of "public archives" in clause 2 of the need to transfer to the Centre all records before they become archives. Amendment agreed to. 5.45 p.m. Amendments made: In page 3, line 12, to leave out "contents" and insert "holdings". -[Inche Othman Wok]. In page 3, line 18, to leave out "records" and insert "archives".-[Inche Othman Wok]. In page 3, line 20, to leave out "records" and insert "archives".- [Inche Othman Wok]. Clause 4, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 5- Amendment made: In page 3, line 37, to leave out "a" and insert "an Archives and". -[Inche Othman Wok].

In consequence of the amendment, the marginal note to clause 5 will omit the word "a" and in place thereof the words "an Archives and" will be inserted. Clause 5, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 6 ordered to stand part of the the Bill. Clause 7 - Amendments made: In page 4, line 9, to leave out "archives" and insert "records which are more than twenty-five years old". -[Inche Othman Wok]. In page 4, line 14, to leave out "archives or intermediate public". -[Inche Othman Wok].

In consequence of the amendment, the marginal note to clause 7 will have the word "archives" omitted and the word "records" inserted in its place. Clause 7, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 8 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 9- Amendments made: In page 4, line 23, to leave out "consent" and insert "authorisation". -[Inche Othman Wok]. In page 4, line 24, after "Director", to insert "under subsection (4) of this section,". -[Inche Othman Wok]. In page 5, line 5, to, leave out "records" and insert "archives". -[Inche Othman Wok]. Clause 9, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 10 to 13 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 14 - Question proposed, "That clause 14 stand part of the Bill."

Sir, it is intended that the Question, "That the clause stand part of the Bill" be negatived and a new clause be proposed in substitution thereof. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is felt necessary that prohibition should be made not only for the unauthorised taking out and export of any public records but also to prevent the damage and destruction of public records.

Question put, and negatived. Clause 14 accordingly disagreed to. New Clause - " Prohibition 14. No person shall - of export (a) without the written permission of the of public Director take or send out of Singapore records, etc. any public record; (b) write on, mark, inscribe or otherwise deface any public record; or (c) mutilate, excise or otherwise damage any public record.".- [Inche Othman Wok]. Brought up, and read the First time.

Sir, I beg to move, "That the clause be read a Second time."

Question put, and agreed to. Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill. Clause 15 -

Sir, I beg to move, In page 6, line 23, to leave out "photostat". Mr Speaker, Sir, deleting the word "photostat" is to enable the Director to utilise any duplicating process for the reproduction of archival material as might become available from time to time, and not restricting him to just photostat the archival material. Amendment agreed to. Clause 15, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 16 - Amendments made: In page 6, line 31, to leave out "one" and insert "two". -[Inche Othman Wok]. In page 6, line 32,, to leave out "six months" and insert "one year". -[Inche Othman Wok]. Clause 16, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 17 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Long Title - Amendment made: In page 1, after "National", to insert "Archives and". -[Inche Othman Wok]. Bill reported with amendments; read a Third time and passed.

Order for Third Reading read. 6.00 p.m.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time." The Bill has already been considered by a Select Committee and the Committee's Report is before the House. All the amendments made in Committee are of a purely technical and typographical character. The substance of the original Bill has not been changed. This Bill, which was tabled at the request of the Kongsi, has its full support. The passing of the Bill will enable the College to enjoy the status of a corporation with its constitution embodied in an Ordinance. The enactment of the Bill will confirm the establishment of Ngee Ann College as an institution with a legal identity. It will also assist in enlisting financial support for the College from foundations, institutions and philanthropists. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed. 6.04 p.m.

Resolved, "That at its rising this day Parliament do stand adjourned to a date to be fixed." -[Mr Lim Kim San].

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That Parliament do now adjourn. Question proposed.

Mr Speaker, Sir, our Republic of Singapore has a multi-racial, multi- religious and multi-lingual society. It does not belong to any particular race. The Government has given full freedom to the various groups of people in Singapore to exercise their own rights and principles in the broad context of a multi-racial society, for example, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of association. Time and again our Ministers have spoken to the people on these matters and reminded them of the duties and responsibilities towards society. It is understood that all registered organisations in Singapore should have faith and interest in our country and work for our people. But there are some organisations who, though registered in Singapore, have their loyalties, directly or indirectly, somewhere else outside Singapore. They have more connections with foreign countries. Their activities show that they are more interested in the people and organisations outside this country. Sir, I have in my mind the Singapore Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in short, D.M.K., registered in Singapore under the Societies Act. Even though this society claims to look after the interest of the people of Singapore, there is evidence to show that this organisation has, in all respects, connections with the D.M.K, in Madras. For example, the society bears the exact name of the political party in power in Madras State of India, the D.M.K., except for the addition of Singapore before its name. Its symbol is the rising sun which is the same as that of the D.M.K., the political party of a foreign State. The present set-up of our country is not in favour of having one language or one religion. That is why we are preaching and practising multi- lingualism and multi-religion. There are societies formed on the basis of different races and religions, but they all work for one nation and that is Singapore. We can have many cultures, many religions and many languages. But our nation -nationhood should be one. We may be diversified in language and religion - but we should have unity and oneness in loyalty. Sir, I would like to quote from the Mirror of Opinion, a publication of the Ministry of Culture, dated 24th August, 1967, page 10. Under the heading Tamil Press appears a translation of the speech by the General Secretary of the Singapore D.M.K. at the dinner given to Mr Manoharan, a leader of Madras D.M.K. and an Indian Member of Parliament, by the Singapore D.M.K. on Sunday, 20th August. He said: `Mr Manoharan's visit (incidentally, this visit of Mr Manoharan was the second one within a few years, at the invitation of the Singapore D.M.K.) has given life and strength to the Singapore D.M.K.' Sir, I would also like to bring to the attention of the House another passage from page 2 of the Mirror of Opinion, dated 23rd August, 1967, under the same heading. The Indian Parliamentary Member said: `First you must have faith in yourself. Have faith in Tamil. If it is true that you have faith in Tamil, have faith in us. If you have faith in us, then you, should have faith in Anna (Mr C. N. Annadurai, Chief Minister of Madras) who is above everything. If you develop these faiths, your future will never be bleak.' This was said at the 9th anniversary celebrations of the Kampong Bahru Branch of the Singapore D.M.K. on 19th August, 1967. Mr Speaker, Sir, "in us" means not in our leaders or our Ministers, but "in them", in the foreign leaders and Ministers. These two quotations, few of the many, will bear evidence that the Singapore D.M.K, really has connections with the D.M.K. in Madras. But the local D.M.K. has, time and again, denied any connections with the Madras D.M.K. Sir, I quote again from the Mirror of Opinion dated 2nd August, 1967. This is on page 2, paragraph 7: `Since the Singapore D.M.K. has categorically denied having any links with the D.M.K. of Madras, the English and Tamil news announcements over Radio on July 30, as "this Kural Conference being sponsored by the Singapore branch of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of Madras State" are wrong - Reader's letter under "Flower and Thorn" column. (MALAR).' But, Sir, I doubt this statement of the local D.M.K. since their actions do not prove their words. Here is a copy of "KOLGAI MUZHAKKAM" -the organ of the Singapore D.M.K. In every issue, more than half of the pages are devoted to printing the speeches of Mr C. N. Annadurai and his colleagues. The organ symbolises the photo of Mr Annadurai. From this alone, I am sure the Members of the House may find the truth of the statement of the Singapore D.M.K. denying links with the Madras D.M.K. Let us now look into the functions organised by the Singapore D.M.K. All the functions are graced by the presence of one or more leaders of the Madras D.M.K. But the organisers are careful to invite local leaders too. And on one such occasion, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr S. Rajaratnam, at a meeting held on 29th July, 1967, at the Conference Hall, had advised the Indians in Singapore: "Think of Singapore first and others secondary, and Tamils in Singapore should not think of themselves only but to care for the general interest of the people of Singapore." And the Minister for Social Affairs at a meeting of the Singapore D.M.K. Pasir Panjang Branch reminded the members to co-operate with the Government. This is reported on page 1 of the Mirror of Opinion dated 19th August, 1967. But I am doubtful how many of the Singapore D.M.K. members took this advice. Talking about the functions makes us look into the financial side of this organisation. They have collected a fairly large amount towards a building fund. But to date I do not know what has happened to this money. Seldom was there a function without a leader from Madras, and they spend big sums for their visits. The highlight was in 1965. An official of the local D.M.K. was sent to Madras to invite a prominent member of the Madras D.M.K. and make other arrangements for his visit. In addition to the passage-fare of this official, another $500 was paid to him for pocket expenses. And for the visit of the Madras leader itself, a total of $34,658.92 was spent. The air passage for this leader and one of his colleagues came to $5,369. Here I wish to mention that even a first-class air passage for Madras-Singapore-Madras would cost only $2,204 for two persons. I leave the rest to the Members. And again, gifts worth $4,118.10 were given to the visitors. Sir, I am informed that a few members of the Singapore D.M.K., who were unhappy about these expenses, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister with a copy to the Registrar of Societies. Mr Speaker, Sir, I have given a list of items. I can quote numerous instances to prove that the Singapore D.M.K, is foreign-orientated and that it is spending money not for the interests of Singaporeans. But I do not wish to take up the precious time of the House since I think a few examples will do. In view of the present situation and as we have reached the limits of our patience, I request the Minister to look into the accounts and activities of the said organisation and take the necessary action.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the D.M.K, is an organisation registered as a cultural organisation and is therefore prohibited from taking part in any political activities. I do not know the composition of its members. Probably there are some who have just obtained Singapore citizenship and there may be some who are not local citizens as yet. Therefore, perhaps there is a tendency for these people to be orientated outwards. We are a democratic society and we believe more in the art of persuasion and example rather than by using force. We believe that by our example and through persuasion we can make the immigrant races in Singapore come to realise that Singapore is their home and that their loyalty lies here. I think this must have been in the minds of both my colleagues, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, when he addressed the D.M.K. and advised them to think of Singapore first, and the Minister for Social Affairs, who at one of their functions strongly urged that they should co-operate with the Singapore Government. Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the enthusiastic response of the people of Singapore to national service and the present spirit prevailing in Singapore will make whatever organisation there is realise soon that if they are not Singapore- orientated but foreign-orientated, they will be going against national sentiment and the national spirit and that it will not pay them to continue doing so. I expect that, given time, the members of the D.M.K. will probably be infected with the spirit of nationalism that is to be seen among the people of Singapore. What the Member for Aljunied has brought up in this House, however, is quite disturbing, that there seems to be a very clear connection between the D.M.K. here and the D.M.K. in Madras and that probably they have been indulging in political activities. However, I would like to assure him that a strong reminder will be sent to the office-bearers of the D.M.K. to the effect that, as a cultural organisation, they are not to participate in any political activities, local or foreign, and that if they do so, they will infringe on the Societies Act and will have to bear the consequences. With regard to the other point that the hon. Member has raised, the alleged misuse of funds will have to be left to the members of the organisation themselves, but I can assure him that I will look very closely into the question of the D.M.K.'s symbol and activities and will watch what they do in future with a hawk-like eye.

Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That Parliament do now adjourn. Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-one minutes past Six o'clock p.m. to a date to be fixed. Appendix to Oral Answer to Question No. 16, cols. 196-7 (Cols 0243-0246) Appendix to Oral Answer to Question No. 32, cols. 210-11 (Cols 247-50)