PETROLEUM DUTIES

Mr T. M. Hart: Sir, I have His Excellency the Governor's authority to move,

That this Assembly by virtue of the provisions of subsection (1) of section 11 of the Petroleum Revenue Ordinance (Chapter 224 of the Revised Edition) resolves that, with effect from the 22nd day of November, 1955, the duties specified below shall be paid on petroleum in lieu of the duties imposed by a resolution of the Legislative Council at a meeting on the 24th September, 1934, published as Notification No. 2261 in Gazette No. 76 of 5th October, 1934, and amended by a resolution of the Advisory Council at a meeting on the 3rd July, 1947, published as Notification No. S 224 in Gazette Supplement No. 57 of 18th July 1947: - (a) Petroleum which has a flashing point below 73 degrees Fahrenheit ascertained as provid-ed by the Petroleum Ordinance (Chapter 211 of the Revised Edition) and which is imported otherwise than to a dutiable pet-roleum store or which is removed from a dutiable petroleum store otherwise than for export ... 73 cents per gallon. (b) Petroleum which has a flashing point of or above 73 degrees Fahrenheit ascertain-ed as provided by the Petroleum Ordin-ance (Chapter 211 of the Revised Edition) and which is imported otherwise than to a dutiable petroleum store or which is removed from a duti-able petroleum store otherwise than for export ... ... 5 cents per gallon.

Sir, this motion is required to confirm the increase in the rate of petrol duty which was imposed under the Public Revenue Protection Ordinance of the 9th of November. The increase of five cents a gallon brings the duty on petrol up to Federation levels, which should yield at least $1.2 millions in 1956 and should have no effect whatsoever on consumption. In fact, consumption will probably continue to increase steadily as it has done ever since the war. It is unlikely that the increase will cause any hardship to motorists or lead to any increase in the price of motor transport.

Sir, I beg to move.

Mr Seah Peng Chuan: I second the motion.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly by virtue of the provisions of subsection (1) of section 11 of the Petroleum Revenue Ordinance (Chapter 224 of the Revised Edition) resolves that, with effect from the 22nd day of November, 1955, the duties specified below shall be paid on petroleum in lieu of the duties imposed by a resolution of the Legislative Council at a meeting on the 24th September, 1934, published as Notification No. 2261 in Gazette No. 76 of 5th October, 1934, and amended by a resolution of the Advisory Council at a meeting on the 3rd July, 1947, published as Notification No. S 224 in Gazette Supplement No. 57 of 18th July, 1947: - (a) Petroleum which has a flashing point below 73 degrees Fahrenheit ascertained as provid-ed by the Petroleum Ordinance (Chapter 211 of the Revised Edition) and which is imported otherwise than to a dutiable pet-roleum store or which is removed from a dutiable petroleum store otherwise than for export ... 73 cents per gallon. (b) Petroleum which has a flashing point of or above 73 degrees Fahrenheit ascertain-ed as provided by the Petroleum Ordin-ance (Chapter 211 of the Revised Edition) and which is imported otherwise than to a dutiable petroleum store or which is removed from a duti-able petroleum store otherwise than for export ... 5 cents per gallon.