Hansard, 1975-02-21

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 may be appointed) for the periods stated:- Encik A. Rahim Ishak (Siglap), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs - from 5th December, 1974 to 4th June, 1975. Dr Ong Leong Boon (Kim Seng) - from 1st January to 31st December, 1975. Mr L. P. Rodrigo (Serangoon Gardens) - from 9th to 25th February, 1975. Mr E. W. Barker (Tanglin), Minister for Law and National Development and Leader of the House from13th February to 3rd March, 1975. Mr Ang Nam Piau (Thomson) - from 15th February to 2nd March, 1975. Mr Yong Nyuk Lin (Geylang West), Minister for Communications - from 21st February to 2nd March, 1975. Mr Sia Kah Hui (Upper Serangoon), Minister of State for Labour and Government Whip - from 25th February to 7th March, 1975. Mr Yeo Choo Kok (Delta) - from 1st to 31st March, 1975. YEOH GHIM SENG, Speaker, Parliament of Singapore 8.00 p.m. The President (accompanied by two A.D.C.s) entered the Chamber, accompanied by Mr Speaker, who was preceded by the Serjeant at Arms (without the Mace), the First Assistant Clerk, the Principal Assistant Clerk and the Clerk. On the Clerk announcing "The President", the President delivered his Opening Speech.

8.01 p.m. The President (Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares): Honourable Members, there will be much to keep Honourable Members busy in 1975. We started 1975 with the United States and Western Europe easing credit to avoid more un employment and deepening recession. Japan will probably do likewise later in the year. Singapore is likely to reverse the downtrend in her economy. Our economy will probably do better in the second half of this year than in the first half. We have not fared too badly last year, with real growth around 7%. Two rough indicators are usage of our harbour and airport. General and bulk cargo, excluding bunker fuel, handled by the Port of Singapore Authority increased in volume by 4%. Aircraft arrivals and departures increased by less than 1% in 1974. But passengers increased by 9%. Thus the world and Singapore adjusted to higher fuel prices and higher fares. Singaporeans cannot expect to enjoy real growth rates of 10-12% which lasted for over five years up to 1973. The Japanese, who achieved 12-15% growth for the decade before the energy crisis, now plan for a 4~% growth rate. If our growth rates are between 5% and 7%, it is because we have a lower base from which to climb up. Provided there is no war and another oil embargo or other major catastrophe, Singaporeans will adjust to slower growth rates. This is one of the advantages of a relatively young population. Our birth rates continued to fall in 1974. Experts had predicted more births because of more young people entering the fertility age group. But, in fact, total births declined in 1974 to 44,000 from 48,000 in 1973. On the other hand, the problems of the old will grow more difficult as young families leave out their aged parents when they move into flats. Already, over one million people, or more than 45%, live in Housing and Development Board estates. Last year, 26,000 homes were completed. My Government will take measures to make it more attractive for young couples to have their parents live with them. If nothing else, the grandparents help in bringing up the children whilst father and mother are at work. A more pressing problem is travelling at peak hours. Once we live in high-rise and work in high-rise, we have increased the density of traffic between the home and office. And when so many. want to get into the Central Business District at the same time, then traffic jams at peak hours are. inevitable. Fringe car parking will have to be made to work, to free the roads in the Central Business District for more efficient use by public passenger vehicles. Peak hour travelling times and the charges for entry will be adjusted to give maximum room for public passenger vehicles. The bus service is improving. More improvement can be made in another three to five years. In the late 1980's the beginnings of a Mass Rapid Transit may lessen this congestion. One beneficial side effect of the energy crisis is a slowdown in the number of new cars registered. However, within a few years, car manufacturers will design lighter cars with more economic engines, cheaper to buy and cheaper to run. So it is necessary to be vigilant and to adjust road and petrol taxes to prevent our roads from over-congestion. Another problem Honourable Members will have to tackle is the growing crime rates. High crime rates used to correspond to high unemployment rates. This is no longer true. A generation is growing up that does not know what it is to be unemployed. They get jobs easily, despite the slowdown in world trade and in Singapore's economy. They want the good things in life, but without working to pay for them. On the other hand, the police force is undermanned. My Government will introduce full-time National Service for the police force. In this way, the manpower shortage will be lessened. We shall also have people in the reserve police service living all over Singapore. They will enlarge our law enforcing capacity. We must catch criminals and punish them. More severe punishment must be meted out, most of all to drug traffickers on whom any mercy is misplaced. We must make Singapore a safe and orderly place to live in. And this we can achieve because we have a people responsive to their collective needs, a public service and police force not tainted by corruption, and a Government prepared to take action before things get out of hand. The primary duty of government is to establish a society in which everyone has an equal chance to live, learn, train, work and earn to the best of his or her ability. We shall complete 16 years of representative government this June. Our population growth went down from 4.0% in 1959 to 1.5% in 1974. On the other hand, our external reserves have grown 20 times, from a mere $336 million in June 1959 to over $6+ billion on 1st January, 1975. This could never have been achieved without self-discipline, hard work, thrift and enterprise. Honourable Members, I am confident that in your deliberations, you will not be swayed by short-term political considerations, and that, instead, you will be guided by the long-term interests of all our people. At the conclusion of the President's speech, Mr Speaker, preceded by the Serjeant at Arms, the Clerk, the Principal Assistant Clerk and the First Assistant Clerk, escorted the President (accompanied by two A.D.C.s) out of the Chamber, and the House adjourned without question put, pursuant to the Standing Order. Adjourned accordingly at Fourteen Minutes past Eight o'clock p.m.

The primary aim of economic and financial policy is to counter the effects of the current world recession and to prepare ourselves for economic recovery. Provided that we use our resources intelligently, we shall continue to achieve relatively high rates of growth. We will offer an attractive package of fiscal incentives for new types of industries such as machine tools, precision instruments and petrochemicals. Pioneer industry tax exemption will be extended from five to ten years for the most deserving industries. Not only do they require heavy investments in plant and machinery; they also need highly skilled workers. Our workforce must be better educated and better trained. We will help existing industries to improve and expand. At the same time, we will not overlook other sectors of the economy such as construction, trade, tourism, transportation and other service industries. Spare construction capacity and labour now available will be used to expand our physical assets. Large amounts of capital will be required to expand wharves, industrial sites, telecommunications and airport facilities. Such investments have to be financed by public funds. A sizeable contribution averaging $500 million annually is being made from the Main Budget to the Development Budget. But with a less buoyant economy, existing tax revenues may not be sufficient to meet capital needs. We may therefore have to draw upon the foreign exchange reserves we have built up. These fortunately are considerable and should be more than adequate. The Monetary Authority of Singapore will continue to deal with the problems of a disordered international monetary system. It will supervise and regulate banks and finance companies more sensitively. For more efficient management of our reserves, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Board of Commissioners of Currency will be merged into a central bank with powers of currency issue. The 100% backing in gold and foreign currencies of the Singapore Dollar will be maintained.

The defence build-up is levelling off. Further improvement in our defence capacity will be achieved not by greater numbers but by higher quality. The Singapore Armed Forces will therefore concentrate on improving its training programmes, methods of instruction, logistics administration and methods of utilising manpower. Wherever possible in non-combat vocations, national servicemen will be posted to work which they intend to do after leaving the Army. Special units have been established in Mindef to plan the career development of regular officers and NCOs. It is gratifying that growing numbers of young Singaporeans have come to regard service as regular officers or NCOs as a rewarding and respected career.

Our foreign policy must take into consideration the new situation arising from the gradual scaling down of American and Western military presence in the region. The overwhelming Western influence in the region has been correspondingly reduced. This will lead other powers to seek greater influence for themselves in the area. It will be important to cooperate with our neighbours to safeguard our common interests. ASEAN can play an important role in lessening the leverage the great powers can otherwise have in exploiting differences and conflicts within the region. It can also quicken the pace of regional co-operation and economic development. This in turn will strengthen stability and peace in the area. ASEAN can help member states adjust to the rapid geo-political changes in the region as the consequences of American withdrawal from direct involvement with the problems of Indochina work themselves through, and a regional balance is established without any great power hegemony. ASEAN will soon have a permanent Secretariat which will coordinate the many regional economic, social and cultural projects being implemented. With the growing wealth from their oil resources, the countries of the Gulf have clearly increased in importance for trade and investments. A Trade Mission was sent to West Asia and an official Economic Mission is proposed for Iran. Arrangements are also being discussed for a Singapore-Iran Joint Economic Commission. Another area where trade can be developed to the benefit of both parties is Eastern Europe. Relations between Governments there and Singapore have been very friendly and it is proposed there be more exchanges of trade and economic missions with these countries. Sea communications are vital to Singapore. Our interests lie in the maintenance of existing rights of passage through all major waterways, especially the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. We support all changes which will facilitate speedier and increased communication to improve world trade. Fishermen from Singapore should continue to enjoy the right to fish in Southeast Asian waters in the same way as do fishermen of other countries. Singapore therefore favours the setting of internationally acceptable standards which will take fair account of the needs of countries like Singapore.

The Police Force The Police Force will use new techniques to deal with the rising crime rate and new patterns of crime. A centralised Criminal Intelligence Unit has been established to improve criminal investigation. Officers will be trained in "scene-of-crime" procedures and the use of sophisticated equipment. Team policing which enables patrolmen to maintain radio contact with their patrol cars and move swiftly was successfully tested in two Police Divisions. It will be extended to the other six Divisions. To meet the manpower shortage in the Force more civilians and women police officers will be used. Full-time National Servicemen will be taken into the Force. Work methods will be reviewed to save manpower. The Traffic Police will implement the Points Demerit System and Ticketing System soon. Under the Points Demerit System, drivers who commit serious traffic offences will be awarded points. Those who accumulate 12 points or more within 12 months will have their licences suspended for up to 6 months. The Ticketing System will enable the Traffic Police to issue summonses on the spot for certain offences. Both these systems have been computerised. The Police will require the support of the public to be fully effective. Thus nationwide educational campaigns such as last year's "Keep Singapore Crime-Free" and "Keep Singapore Accident-Free" campaigns will continue to be organised from time to time. To cater for shifts of population to new towns and housing estates and to replace dilapidated Divisional Police Stations, four new Stations will be built in Toa Payoh, Paya Lebar, Orchard Road and Jurong Town. Construction is expected to start in the next financial year. Vigilante Corps The Vigilante Corps has grown not only in numbers but also in its usefulness to the community. Apart from its civil defence role, it has also established the Community Security Force to help the regular Police in crime prevention. The CSF will be expanded to a strength of 10,000 men. Planning for a new Camp at Nee Soon has begun. Prisons Department Most of the recommendations of the Prisons Reorganisation Committee have been accepted by Government. A Prisons Action Committee has been appointed to oversee the reorganisation. To relieve the problem of accommodation, temporary prisons have been developed. A large prison for 4,000 prisoners will be built at Ulu Bedok. Central Narcotics Bureau Two Committees on Drug Abuse were set up last year. The first Committee was appointed to study the causes of drug abuse amongst youths in Singapore and to recommend effective measures for its eradication. The second Committee was appointed to look into the welfare, rehabilitation and job placement of drug abusers who are undergoing or have undergone treatment at the Drug Rehabilitation Centre on St. John's Island. The Bureau will counter drug trafficking and sustain its educational and publicity efforts to alert the young on the dangers of drugs. Immigration Department A new Checkpoint will be built at Woodlands to match the widening of the Singapore/Johore Causeway. It is expected to be completed in 1977. The Department's Illegal Immigration Task Force will seek out and deal severely with traffickers.

The education system will be restructured by stages with the objective of reducing educational wastage, improving teaching and learning, and increasing the supply of trained manpower. The new education system will have the following features: (1) Primary education will be extended to seven years, with provision for pupils who make good progress to complete it in six years. (2) The Primary School Leaving Examination will be a grading exercise instead of a pass-or-fail examination. Every pupil who completes primary education will proceed to post-primary education and training of a type best suited to his aptitude and ability. (3) The secondary curriculum will be diversified to include a variety of vocational training and apprenticeship schemes. To provide the necessary supporting facilities for the restructured education system, the following measures will be implemented: (i) A new Education Act will be enacted. (ii) The building of new schools and junior colleges will be speeded up. Additional workshops and science and language laboratories will be built. (iii) The Industrial Training Board's capability will be strengthened. It will conduct vocational courses and implement apprenticeship schemes for secondary students. (iv) Teacher training will take into account the revised staffing needs under the new system. In-service courses will be conducted to familiarise principals and teachers with the philosophy of the new system. (v) Textbooks and other teaching materials will be produced to meet the requirements of the new system.

Our ability to take into our stride the adverse effects of the ills afflicting the world economy depends on the continued tripartite co-operation of the Government, labour and management. The two most important factors are the discipline, hard work, efficiency and skill of our workers, and the enterprise and innovation of our entrepreneurs. I MODERNISATION We will continue to pursue our twin objectives of upgrading skills and increasing productivity. The National Productivity Board will assist those who are prepared to set up productivity committees. It will shortly convene the National Industrial Relations Committee to consider the issue of productivity and wages. The National Productivity Board will continue to assist small and medium industries to improve the expertise of their lower and middle management. It will also continue to help to improve the skills of their supervisory staff. To help local industries to upgrade their technology, the Board has established a Low Cost Automation Unit. It has also planned additional services in the fields of design engineering, metal trade engineering, quality control, preventive maintenance, management information system and electronic data processing. II INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS The effects of inflation and recession. the pursuit of modemisation of our economy and the strive for higher productivity can disrupt our present industrial peace and stability. To ensure that this will not happen, our tripartite structure of industrial relations has to be strengthened and the quality of industrial relations improved. This will call for positive personnel management and sound trade union policies. It will also require capable personnel managers and trade unionists. The Ministry has decided to set up an Industrial Relations Division with high level staff. It will provide conciliation services as well as preventive mediation to eliminate areas of industrial friction. III SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE OF WORKERS Safety and Health The Ministry is determined to raise standards of industrial safety and health especially in building construction, shipbuilding and ship-repairing. These have the highest rates of industrial accidents. A special unit each has already been set up for these two industries. A Study Group on accident prevention in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry is expected to submit its report shortly. Industrial dermatitis and noise-induced deaf ness will be added to the list of diseases for which workmen's compensation is payable. The Factories Act will be amended to provide for more stringent safety measures to be observed for work in hazardous enclosed places. Enhanced penalties will be imposed where contraventions are likely to cause death or bodily injury. Workmen's Compensation The Ministry will present to Parliament a new Workmen's Compensation Bill which will increase the quantum of compensation. Procedures will be simplified to ensure expeditious payment. The maximum compensation will be increased from $21,600 to $35,000 for a fatal case and from $28,800 to $45,000 in the case of permanent incapacity. Placement The Ministry has set up a special retrenchment unit in August 1974 to assist retrenched workers to seek alternative employment. Employment of Young Persons The recent Committee on Crime and Delinquency found that the requirement that young persons seeking employment in industry must obtain Certificates of Registration from the Commissioner for Labour has contributed to the delinquency of young school dropouts. The Ministry will amend the Employment Act to allow young persons between 14 and 16 years of age to work in industrial establishments without the prior approval of the Commissioner for Labour. Children between the ages of 12 and 14 will be allowed to work in industrial undertakings under approved apprenticeship schemes. However, the existing provisions on safety, health and welfare governing their employment will be re-enacted in separate regulations.

Health Policy The Medical Services will develop in the range and sophistication of its services and maintain standards of excellence. The Tasks Ahead The tasks ahead are: -

The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for maintaining a high standard of public health, for improving the environment and for controlling pollution. Water Resources and Pollution Control A Water Pollution Control and Drainage Bill will be introduced this year for more effective protection of water resources and prevention of water pollution. In the Kranji/Pandan catchment areas, pig farms and some pollutive industries will have to move to non-catchment areas. In the catchment areas only non-polluting industries and activities will be allowed. Sewerage An estimated sum of $400 million will be spent on sewerage projects in the next five years for housing and industrial estates. These projects will serve Telok Blangah, Bukit Timah, Clementi, the City, East Coast, .Bedok, Woodlands and Ang Mo Kio. Drainage A live-year drainage plan integrated with the development of new public housing and industrial estates has been drawn up. This drainage plan is for Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Telok Blangah, Ayer Rajah, Geylang Serai, Woodlands, Clementi, Chua Chu Kang, MacPherson,Stamford and the East Coast. Solid Waste Disposal The construction of a 1,200-tonne incinerator will commence this year to cope with the growing volume of refuse. Hawkers All bona fide hawkers have now been licensed. No new licences will be issued except in special circumstances. Licensed street hawkers will be moved into markets and hawker centres. Firm action will continue to be taken against unlicensed hawkers. Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Four new crematoria at Mount Vernon will be ready for use this year. A columbarium (facilities for the keeping of ashes of the dead) will be built. Two modern funeral parlours will be constructed at Mount Vernon to serve, in particular, the people living in high rise flats. Other suitable sites will be allocated for funeral parlours to be constructed and run by private organisations. Air Pollution Air, pollution will be kept within acceptable levels by selective siting of industries and control of the number of vehicles. Only clean industries will be sited within housing estates. Industries, which make marginal contribution to the economy and which are highly pollutive such as sawmills, will be phased out. The more efficient and viable sawmills will be required to modernise their operation and will be relocated in the Sungei Kadut Industrial Estate. PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD The PUB continues to execute more projects to meet the growing demand for electricity, water and gas. Two major water projects will shortly be completed. Construction of the new power station at Senoko is making steady progress. Preliminary work on two new gasmaking plants will commence within the year. With the increase in cost of labour and materials, especially fueoil, the production cost of all utilities has risen considerably. For the first time in its history the Board has forecast a revenue deficit for 1975. This upward trend will ultimately affect the price we will have to pay for utilities consumed. Electricity The growth in electricity consumption in 1974 of 3.7% is considerably lower than in previous years and is due mainly to public awareness of the oil crisis coupled with the increase in cost of electricity because of the fuel oil levy. Stage II of Jurong Power Station (cost: $133 million) has been completed and the three 120 MW units successfully commissioned by the middle of 1974. The first 120 MW unit of the Senoko Power Station Stage .1 now under construction (cost: $200 million) is expected to be commissioned towards the latter part of this year. The first phase of the new 230 KV underground transmission network (cost: $100 million) is scheduled for commissioning in October 1975. This phase is designed to transmit large blocks of power from Senoko Power Station to load centres on the island. The board's rural electrification programme comprising some 500 projects (cost: $15 million) in 18 stages of implementation was completed by the third quarter of 1974. Electricity is now available in all parts of the island, except in remote rural sites earmarked for redevelopment. Water There was an increase of only 1.81% in water consumption in 1974. This remarkably low growth is the result of the awareness o. the public. Economising in the use of water must become a way of life for Singaporeans. The Upper Peirce(cost: $56.8 million) and Kranji Pandan (cost: $75.1 million) schemes will be completed shortly and will increase the total maximum storage capacity of the Republic's impounding reservoirs by more than 49 million cubicmetres. The third-phase extension (cost:$1.14 million) of Jalan Eunos Service Reservoir was completed last year, bringing the total capacity to 100,000 cubic metres. Together with the booster station and water tower, this service reservoir will cater for the future water requirements in the eastern part of Singapore. The construction of a 32,000-cubic metre service reservoir at Hill 65, Jurong (cost: $3 million) is in progress. Scheduled for completion in September 1975, this service reservoir will serve the Jurong New Town area. Gas Gas consumption in 1974 increased by 16.8%. With the commissioning of the eighth gasmaking plant (cost: $1.5 million) in August 1973, the production capacity of Kallang Gas Works was increased by 100,000 cubic metres per day. Work on two new gasmaking plants (cost: $4.5 million) with a combined capacity of more than 200,000 cubic metres per day will commence this year. The addition of these plants will enable the Board to meet the anticipated demand for gas until the 1980's.

From current economic upheavals lessons can be learnt from the more resilient economies of West Germany and Japan. We must increase our technological capability if we are to compete effectively in international markets. This Ministry has the following projects in manpower development and the collection and dissemination of technological information:-

The Construction Sector Oil crisis, inflation and economic recession adversely affected the construction industries. A two-pronged effort to counter this recessive trend is underway. Public works are being stepped up and measures are being implemented to stimulate private sector construction. Public Housing The HDB completed a record of 26.000 units in 1974. One million Singaporeans (45% of the population) are now living in HDB estates. There is, however, a waiting list of 80,000 intending purchasers and 20,000 applicants to rent HDB flats. The HDB's building programme will be further accelerated towards completing 30,000 units, and eventually 40,000 units per year. This year, new designs for 3 and 4-room flats (which are 10% larger) will be introduced. Middle income Housing For our middle income citizens, ineligible for public housing and unable to afford the high prices of private dwellings, the Ministry, through its Housing and Urban Development Company, will build condominium housing for sale at prices within their reach. Some 4,200 housing units in nine residential areas will be constructed within the next two years. This programme will continue so long as demand continues. Urban Renewal The Urban Redevelopment Authority was established on 1st April, 1974 to improve, through comprehensive planning and systematic redevelopment, the living and working environment in the central area. The 4th Sale of Sites was launched in April 1974 and a 5th Sale of Sites will take place this year to generate more private sector development. Building Managetment The Ministry has set up a Building Management Unit under the Buildings and Common Property (Maintenance and Management) Act to ensure that all common areas and services of buildings such as corridors, car parks, fencing, lifts, etc. are properly maintained. In cases of default, the Unit will carry out all necessary maintenance work and charge the costs to the owner(s) who may be private individuals, corporations, Statutory Boards or institutions. Reclamation Reclamation work along the east coast and west coast continues. The latest Marina Centre reclamation project which will create a large lagoon and sizeable areas for open space and recreation will also enable the construction of a highway linking Changi in the east to Jurong in the west, thus casing traffic congestion in the city centre. Parks and Recreation A major park and beach recreation area - The East Coast Park - being developed on 500 acres of reclaimed land from Bedok to Tanjong Rhu, will have cycle tracks, footpaths, a swimming lagoon, sports facilities, camping sites, holiday chalets and food centres. On completion, in mid-'76, it will be the largest centre of recreation in Singapore. Public Works The building programme for schools, hospitals, airports, roads and other public work projects will be accelerated. Amongst major road works are the new coastal expressway along the Marina Centre, the remaining stretches of the Pan Island Expressway. There is a five-year road development programme to ease traffic congestion in the central area. The Orchard Road pedestrian mall will be extended towards the Botanic Gardens in the north and Stamford Canal in the south. Fifteen fringe car parks will be completed for the Park and Ride Scheme to be implemented by the middle of this year. A central cornputerised traffic control system to promote a smoother flow of traffic and ease congestion will be implemented. Tenders will be called in April. Primary Production Singapore continues to be self-sufficient in fresh pork, eggs and poultry meats in spite of occasional shortages and high prices of imported raw materials. Local production acted as a stabilising influence on prices of foodstuffs. In conjunction with water resources development, pig farms will he relocated into non-catchment areas. Work is in hand to resettle pig farms from Kranji to Ponggol. Manpower In co-operation with the University of Singapore, a part-time training course for architects will commence in April. Other training programmes to train and upgrade skills for the building industries, are also being planned.

The Ministry of Communications will continue to expand and improve the communications infrastructure for Singapore to discharge its role as a major centre for international communications. Road Transportation The Ministry will introduce traffic management measures such as the Park and Ride and City Shuttle Bus and Area Licensing schemes. Voluntary schemes like staggered work hours and formation of Car Pools will be stepped up. The prime objective is to relieve traffic congestion. More than 100 Government and Singapore Armed Forces personnel were seconded to Singapore Bus Service Ltd. (SBS) since August last year. A determined effort is now in progress to improve the management and raise the standard and quality of the public bus service. SBS is to be converted into a public limited company with Government having a shareholding when it is firmly established. Mass Rapid Transit The First Phase Study of mass transit systems was completed in 1974. The Second Phase Study, involving more detailed feasibility evaluations including the engineering and financial aspects, is underway. This Study is expected to be completed this year. Maritime and Port Services Ships on the Singapore Registry totalled more than three million tons in May 1974. Within the first quarter of this year, they should exceed four million tons. In 1974, the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) handled nearly 14.3 million tonnes of cargo (excluding bunker fuel), an increase of 4% over the previous year. Unless trends are reversed, the growth rate is expected to level off in 1975. Retraining schemes will be introduced for the excess manpower resulting from this. The PSA is undertaking various development projects. These include warehouses at Pasir Panjang, Alexandra and other areas in the Western Corridor. Additional berths and related facilities for container ships, as well as slop reception facilities at Pulau Sebarok are also being constructed. As PSA needs to dredge navigation channels and anchorages, the dredged material will be used to reclaim a number of offshore islands. These reclaimed islands are to be used for industry and public recreation. Civil Aviation Aircraft and passenger movements, freight and mail handled at Paya Lebar and Seletar Airports continued to increase in 1974. Commercial aircraft movements for Paya Lebar Airport increased by 0.8%, passenger traffic by 9%, freight by 38%, mail handled by 15.4%, in 1974 as compared to 1973. Further development of Paya Lebar and Seletar Airports to cater to the demand is planned at an estimated cost of $460 million. Meteorological Services Meteorological observations of the upper atmosphere, including the monsoons affecting Singapore, will be carried out for a regional research programme sponsored by the World Meteorological Organisation. The Meteorological Department will install electronic aids to observe weather for aviation purposes and to speed up interchange of meteorological data. Telecommunications New telephone exchanges are being constructed, and installation of telephone switching and transmission equipment is being speeded up. To improve the service to the public, the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (TAS) will be running more training courses for its staff, with the assistance of various overseas experts, at its new telecommunication training centre. Postal Services Under the Five-Year Development Programme for thirty new post offices from 1973 to 1978, twelve post offices have been completed. Four more are nearing completion. A new Postal Headquarters complex is to be built. This will incorporate a mechanised mail sorting system

Social and cultural development is an integral part of the overall development of the nation. The Ministry of Culture will encourage this development by promoting all forms of artistic endeavour. The "Music for Everyone" concerts and "Art for Everyone" exhibitions have had good response. Together with other activities such as "Concerts for the Young" and "Open Air Art Exhibitions for the Young", they will continue to foster public appreciation of music and the fine arts. We will encourage artistic pursuits which will bring graciousness into the lives of our people. This is particularly important because more and more live in high-rise new towns. Active support will be given to original literary and artistic productions. More competitions, exhibitions and performances will be organised. We shall especially encourage the young to participate in these activities. Our radio and television services will continue to inform, educate and entertain. A new radio building will be completed this year. It will have a large auditorium to allow for greater audience participation in radio and TV productions. A pilot colour TV Service was introduced in August last year. The hours of colour TV programmes will be progressively extended. More local programmes will be produced to balance the overseas colour programmes. These will include film documentaries on a wide range of subjects. The National Library is encouraging the reading habit and developing an enquiring mind in our young. Two more branch libraries have been opened in Toa Payoh and Chai Chee. Branches will also be established in other satellite towns. Opening hours will be further extended. The People's Association will provide a wider range of recreational, social, cultural, educational and sports activities through its network of 174 community centres. Youth movements in community centres have helped to identify the needs of our young people. Youth councils will be set up to formulate policies and programmes. More community centres and holiday camps will be built or re-developed with improved amenities in keeping with changing social needs. The National Theatre Trust has, in the last two years, promoted more local cultural activities besides continuing with its presentation of overseas artistes. The Theatre was renovated last year. The Trust will continue to assist cultural development. The National Museum will also serve as an exhibition and educational centre devoted to the art, history and anthropology of the peoples of this region. After renovation, the Museum will have an Art Gallery of local paintings. The art collection of the University of Singapore will also be displayed in the Museum.

SOCIAL SERVICES The Aged Legislation to control the operation and management of private welfare homes is under consideration. Minimum standards for care of inmates and cleanliness of homes will be imposed, and ancillary services provided. Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled A United Nations expert on Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled has submitted recommendations on the vocational assessment, training, guidance and placement of handicapped persons. His recommendations are under consideration and will form the basis of proposals to assist handicapped persons to become self-supporting. Community Probation Service The Ministry will recruit and train more volunteers for the Community Probation Service to supplement the work of Probation Officers. Five batches of volunteers have been trained, and a sixth batch will start training in March 1975. To make them more effective, the Ministry is considering vesting these volunteers with statutory powers of supervision. CONTROL OVER INSTITUTIONS AND SERVICES Curbs on Moneylending Malpractices The Moneylenders Act and Regulations are being reviewed for more stringent control over moneylending activities. Heavier penalties will be imposed for offences such as charging exorbitant interest rates, harassment, kickbacks and other malpractices. Control of Pawnshops Similarly, the Pawnbrokers Act is also being revised to allow stricter control over the pawnbroking and financing activities of pawnshops. Strengthening the Co-operative Movement Two International Labour Organisation experts have studied the cooperative movement in Singapore. They recommended the re-organisation of the Registry of Co-operative Societies into a Co-operative Development Department, the creation of a Co-operative Training Centre, the training of Registry staff, the revision of the Co-operative Societies Act and Regulations and the establishment of an apex organisation to provide leadership for the co-operative movement. The Ministry is considering these recommendations. Revision of existing legislation providing procedures `for the management and operation of co-operative societies will be implemented soon. THE FIRE SERVICE Fire Service Reorganisation The Singapore Fire Brigade has been reorganised into four area commands. The operational force of the Brigade will be strengthened with the establishment of an Auxiliary Fire Service. The Ministry is considering legislation to define the duties and responsibilities of the Fire and Accident Ambulance service and provide guidelines for its improvement and development. Search and Rescue Operations in High-Rise Buildings The Singapore Fire Brigade will introduce search and rescue operations in high-rise buildings, utilising helicopters. A nucleus of 25 officers and men is now undergoing training for this new service.