SILVER JUBILEE FUND (SINGAPORE) (AMENDMENT NO. 2) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

The Assistant Minister for Labour and Welfare (Mr Mak Pak Shee): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The Bill, Sir, is a simple one. The Silver Jubilee Fund was raised in 1935, partly by public subscription and partly by a grant made by the Government and the Municipal Commissioners.

In 1936 an Ordinance to establish the Fund was passed. Section 3 of that Ordinance provides that the Trustees of the Fund shall be a corporation consisting of the persons for the time being discharging the duties of the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary, the President of the City Council, and two persons not in the service of the Government from time to time appointed by the Governor.

It is considered undesirable that Ministers should serve on statutory bodies which are under the aegis of another Minister. This Bill, therefore, provides that the two Ministers serving as Trustees, namely, the Chief Secretary and the Financial Secretary, should be replaced by two permanent officials. As the Trustees are concerned with the control of funds, it is considered appropriate that these two officials should be the Deputy Financial Secretary and the Accountant-General. Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.