SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION (Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 31 of 1955)

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

That this Assembly resolves that the sum of $82,834 should be supplied to the Government under the Heads of Expenditure and for the services specified in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 31 of 1955.

Here again, Sir, the items in the Schedule are explained in the Command Paper, but I shall be happy to amplify these explanations.

Sir, I beg to move.

The Assistant Minister for Commerce and Industry (Mr J. M. Jumabhoy): Sir, I second the motion.

Question proposed.

Mr R. Jumabhoy (Telok Ayer): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask information on Head 35: International Exhibition at Cambodia - $25,000. Can the Hon. the Financial Secretary say what business we have with Cambodia, in terms of dollars or in commodities, that we have to spend $25,000 on an exhibition in such a small country?

Mr Hart: Perhaps before I answer the specific questions raised by the Member for Telok Ayer, Sir, I might explain that the particular exhibition to which we are contributing is a tripartite exhibition in so far as the Federation Government, the Singapore Government and Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are all taking part.

The object of our stall at the exhibition in Pnom Penh is to promote trade, to invite the attention of the inhabitants and the traders of Cambodia to the existence of Singapore as a potential source of supply of the commodities which they require. Trade with Cambodia has been mounting slowly over the past three years, and it is hoped that this exhibition will have the effect of increasing trade with Cambodia.

I should say that the proposal to have a stall in the exhibition in Pnom Penh has the full support of the traders of Singapore.

I am afraid I cannot say offhand just precisely what the dollar value of our trade with Cambodia is each year. I fear I shall have to make reference to various statistical reports in my office before I can give a full reply on that point to the Member for Telok Ayer.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly resolves that the sum of $82,834 should be supplied to the Government under the Heads of Expenditure and for the services specified in Sessional Paper No. Cmd. 31 of 1955.