UNITED ENGINEERS STRIKE (Court of Inquiry)

Mr Lim Ching Siong asked the Minister for Labour and Welfare whether he will reconsider his decision not to appoint a Court of Inquiry to investigate the causes of the dispute between the United Engineers Ltd. and its striking employees; and whether he will order such an immediate Inquiry, and cause the findings of this Inquiry to be published for public information.

Mr Lim Yew Hock: In order to answer this question, Sir, I have reconsidered my decision not to appoint a Court of Inquiry to investigate the causes of the dispute between the United Engineers Ltd. and its striking employees. I consider that the facts of the dispute are generally sufficiently well-known not to require the appointment of a Court of Inquiry to establish them. I also consider that the dispute does not involve any matters of vital interest to Singapore, and that the circumstances do not merit the setting up of a Court of Inquiry.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Does the Minister for Labour consider that a peaceful strike is a matter which does not affect the vital interests of Singapore?

Mr Lim Yew Hock: As I have said, Sir, the circumstances that led to this strike are well-known to the public of Singapore, and those circumstances do not merit the setting up of a Court of Inquiry.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Does the Minister for Labour propose to wait until there is a riot before he institutes a Court of Inquiry?

Mr Lim Yew Hock: Sir, there is no existing issue of a vital character that affects the interests of the public.