DEEP-SEA FISHING LICENCES

Mr Lim Choon Mong asked the Minister for Commerce and Industry-

(a) how many applications for licences for deep-sea fishing have been received;

(b) how many licences have been granted;

(c) what are the conditions which have to be fulfilled before a licence is granted;

(d) what is the maximum number of licences he is prepared to grant;

(e) what expenses have been incurred by Government in the granting of licences up to a last convenient date, and what extra expenses will be incurred in the granting of more licences; and

(f) what is the estimated increase in the country's food supplies consequent on the granting of more licences.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: (a) Eight applications for licences for deep-sea fishing were received when Government invited applications in May 1956. During 1957 four further applications have been received.

(b) Three licences have been granted in accordance with Government's decision.

(c) When applications were invited in May 1956, certain conditions had to be fulfilled before an application was considered. These conditions were set out in Press advertisements, and the hon. Member can refer to them in the Straits Times and the Singapore Standard of 16th and 17th April, 1956.

Licences were granted to three applicants who, in Government's opinion, offered the best prospects for rapid training of local personnel with greatest participation of local interests and increase in the supply of fish from deep-sea off-shore fishing grounds.

I may add that subsequently the following four extra conditions were added to the licences granted:

(1) Fishing should not be carried out within 35 miles of the Malayan coast.

(2) Only four vessels are to be used by each company.

(3) The fish caught must be landed in Singapore Port for sale and must not be landed in any other territory.

(4) The approved training scheme must be implemented within six months of the grant of the licence.

(d) The maximum number of licences which the Government was prepared to grant initially was three. It was necessary to study the effect of trawl fish landings on the price structure of fish in Singapore to ensure that the local industry will not be upset and that Singapore fishermen will not be unduly affected by too rapid a lowering of fish prices. This study takes time as it involves the collection of price statistics over at least a period of six months in order to take into account the seasonal variation in prices. The position is being reviewed by the Government and a decision will be made in respect of the question of granting of more licences.

(e) No expense was incurred apart from the cost of advertisement in the local Press calling for applications. It is not envisaged that any great expenditure will be incurred if it is decided to grant more licences.

(f) The increase in the country's fish landings, if more licences are granted, depends on the method of fishing employed and the experience of the Japanese fishermen in locating good fishing grounds.

Mr Lim Choon Mong: Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Minister not consider that increased fish supplies would be welcomed by the people of Singapore, because food prices will come down even more, and that the increase of licences would definitely help to bring in more food supplies?

Mr Speaker: We cannot have a debate on the question.