VOTING RIGHTS FOR ALIENS AND DATE OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTIONS

Mr Lim Choon Mong asked the Chief Secretary what steps have been or are being taken to grant citizenship or voting rights to aliens resident in Singapore in accordance with the terms of the agreement reached at the London constitutional talks in March/April this year; and whether Government has fixed a target date for the holding of the Legislative Assembly general elections.

Mr W. A. C. Goode: Sir, good progress has been made in drafting a Citizenship Bill and consideration has already been given to the arrangements required for carrying out the registration of citizens under that legislation. The date for holding general elections to the Legislative Assembly depends on enacting this legislation, on the period for the registration of persons eligible for citizenship, and the time required for the subsequent preparation of new electoral rolls. We have also to prepare new electoral rolls in order to hold local government elections at the end of this year and the beginning of next year. So far as can be judged at present, I doubt whether it is possible to hold elections to the Legislative Assembly before August next year.

Mr Lim Choon Mong: Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Hon. the Chief Secretary inform the House when the proposed Citizenship Bill will come before the House?

Mr Goode: I was hoping, Sir, that we could lay the Bill for First Reading at our next sitting in July. We will do that if possible, but I think it more probable that it will be the August sitting.