SINGAPORE COLONY ORDER IN COUNCIL, 1955 (INTERPRETATION) (Message from the Governor)

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I have a message from His Excellency the Governor. It takes the form of a letter addressed to me, and is dated the 2nd of August, 1955. Here is the message:

"On the 25th July you delivered to me a certified copy of the Resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly on that date and, in a reply which I handed to you on the same afternoon, I explained that I would require time to study the implications of the Resolution before I could put you in a position to convey a reply to the Assembly.

I communicated the terms of the Resolution to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, during his recent visit to Singapore, he took the opportunity to discuss both with the Chief Minister and with myself, the various issues raised.

As discussions are to be continued when the Secretary of State returns to Singapore on the 15th August, I am not yet in a position to send a full reply. I would, however, be grateful if you would convey the following observations to the Legislative Assembly.

On the first point raised in the Resolution, I am very glad to be able to inform Honourable Members that the Secretary of State has asked me to assure them of the continuing sympathetic interest which Her Majesty's Government takes in Singapore's problems and of the sincerity of their policy to assist Singapore to achieve self-government within the British Commonwealth.

On the second point raised, I gladly repeat my former affirmation of my sympathetic desire to give the Government all possible help in the execution of its policies. In so doing I do not propose to exercise my discretionary powers in a didactic or harsh manner, or in any way calculated to frustrate the Government in discharging the responsibilities which it has accepted.

On the third and fourth points in the Resolution, valuable and friendly talks have taken place between the Secretary of State, the Chief Minister, and myself, and examination of these important points has been carried as far as it could be at present. As I have already indicated, it is proposed to resume these talks on the return of the Secretary of State to Singapore on the 15th of August and I hope to be able to send a substantive reply to the Assembly on the 18th August."

The Chief Minister (Mr D. S. Marshall): Mr Speaker, Sir, is it possible to have copies of this message for Members?

Mr Speaker: Yes, that will be done.

The Chief Minister: I was wondering, Mr Speaker, Sir, whether in these circumstances you would exercise your discretion in suspending the sitting for half an hour to allow hon. Members an opportunity to consider the message, and also to consider what action they might wish to take after deliberation with their colleagues.

Mr Speaker: Mr Chief Minister, I am, of course, faced with the same difficulty as I was faced with last time. This actually is not a complete reply to the Resolution. Under your Resolution, you will remember that the Assembly can immediately take such action on motions without notice as the circumstances may require, that is, provided we have a complete reply to the Resolution. But, of course, if hon. Members wish to suspend the sitting for half an hour to discuss the matter, I have no objection at all.

Have I the assent of all hon. Members present that the sitting should be suspended for half an hour?

Hon. Members indicated assent.

Mr Speaker: The sitting is then suspended for half an hour.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 10.07 a.m. until 10.37 a.m. Sitting resumed at 10.37 a.m.

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

The Chief Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, it seems to be the feeling of a large number of hon. Members that this message should be discussed freely, and, in the circumstances, subject to your guidance, Mr Speaker, I move that this House do resolve itself into Committee to consider the message so that Members will be free to speak more than once if they be so inclined.

Mr Speaker: Mr Chief Minister, my difficulty is that under Standing Orders there is no provision for this step to be taken, but I am allowing that motion under the fifth paragraph of your Resolution, which reads:

"That the Speaker do report back to this House on the reply he receives from His Excellency the Governor to this message, and that thereafter this Assembly do take such action on motions without notice as the circumstances may require."

Can I have your motion again, Mr Chief Minister?

The Chief Minister: I am indebted to you, Mr Speaker, Sir. My motion is,

That this House do resolve itself into Committee to consider the message received from His Excellency the Governor this morning.

The Minister for Health (Mr A. J. Braga): I rise to second.

Question put, and agreed to.