FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE INCOME TAX ORDINANCE, 1947(ADDITION OF LIGHT DUES BOARD)

Mr T. M. Hart: Sir, I beg to move,

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection (1) of section 102 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1947 (No. 39 of 1947), as amended by the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1948 (No. 20 of 1948), the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1950 (No. 44 of 1950), the Income Tax (Amendment No. 2) Ordinance, 1950 (No. 46 of 1950), the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1952 (No. 29 of 1952), the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1953 (No. 40 of 1953) and the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1954 (No. 34 of 1954), resolves that the Light Dues Board be added to the First Schedule to the Income Tax Ordinance, 1947.

Sir, this application has been received from the Federation Light Dues Board for exemption from income tax under section 13 (1) (e) of the Income Tax Ordinance. This exemption is effected by inclusion of the name of the Board in the First Schedule of the Ordinance. For this purpose, a resolution, of the Assembly is necessary under section 102 (1) of the Ordinance.

This Board is constituted under the Federation Light Dues Ordinance, 1953 (No. 24 of 1953) and consists of the Director of Marine as Chairman and not less than four nor more than six members to be appointed by the High Commissioner. The Board is empowered, under the Ordinance, to collect dues from ships entering the Federation waters at the rate of ten cents per unit registered ton of shipping. These dues are paid into the Light Dues Fund which is utilised to maintain and improve the navigational aids in the Federation waters and for other purposes connected with it. According to the accounts for the year 1954, some $624,000 were collected as light dues and the expenditure, as authorised by the Ordinance, amounted to $448,000. The balance of the Fund on the 31st of December, 1954, was $471,000.

Precedents for the inclusion of such a public body in the First Schedule are, inter alia, the Singapore Harbour Board and the Penang Harbour Board. The Malayan Board of Income Tax has considered this case and has recommended that the Light Dues Board may properly be included in the First Schedule to the Ordinance with effect from the 1st of January, 1955, and the Government accepts this recommendation.

Sir, I beg to move.

Mr Chew Swee Kee: Sir, I second the motion.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection (1) of section 102 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1947 (No. 39 of 1947), as amended by the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1948 (No. 20 of 1948), the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1950 (No. 44 of 1950), the Income Tax (Amendment No. 2) Ordinance, 1950 (No. 46 of 1950), the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1952 (No. 29 of 1952), the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1953 (No. 40 of 1953) and the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 1954 (No. 34 of 1954), resolves that the Light Dues Board be added to the First Schedule to the Income Tax Ordinance, 1947.