DRAFT CONSTITUTION (Presentation)

10.37 a.m.

The Chief Minister (Dr Lim Yew Hock): Mr Speaker, Sir, as stated in my reply to Question No. 2, I now rise to make a statement on the discussions that took place in London last May between the All-Party Delegation and the Colonial Office on the terms of the Order-in-Council to give effect to the agreement reached in London during the Constitutional Conference in 1957.

Sir, the first draft was received in Singapore at the end of April. The All-Party Delegation, including representatives of political parties represented in this Assembly, held several meetings in my office to discuss this draft. Unanimous agreement was reached as to the line of action to pursue in London.

Sir, I have in this House said that the success of the 1957 Constitutional Conference was due to the unity of the All-Party Delegation. This unity was again displayed during the recent discussions and it was again due to this unity that the All-Party Delegation was successful in ensuring that the terms of the Order-in-Council directly reflect the agreement reached last year.

At the conclusion of the discussions in London on 27th May, an agreed press communique was issued. This was a lengthy one and it set out in detail the main points which were discussed and settled. I believe this communique was published in full in the local newspapers and this has made my task this morning easier.

The All-Party Delegation has adopted only one principle: to see that the Constitutional Instruments directly interpret the agreement reached in 1957. We asked for nothing more and we accepted nothing less. The substance of the pro visions of the Constitutional Instruments has been agreed and the legal draughtsmen of the Singapore Government and the United Kingdom Government are now finalising and refining the draft so as to state accurately the points of substance agreed upon.

Sir, on the subversive clause, the stand of the All-Party Delegation was made abundantly clear in press reports. For the purpose of record, however, I quote from the press communique:

"The Singapore Delegation emphasised the objection to the inclusion of a condition barring persons detained in Singapore for subversive activities from participating in the first Assembly. The Secretary of State took note of the Singapore Delegation's objections but could not agree that such a restriction should not be imposed. He stated that his intention was to recommend the incorporation of this restriction in a separate instrument which would in any case be necessary to provide for elections to the first Assembly."

Sir, a Bill creating the State of Singapore and enabling the Queen to make the Singapore (Constitution) Order-in-Council has already passed its Second Reading and it is expected that this Bill will become law by the end of this month.

It was pointed out, Sir, to the All-Party Delegation by the Colonial Office that it was not legally and constitutionally proper for the draft Order-in-Council to be made public until it has been submitted to the Queen and this draft Order-in-Council cannot constitutionally be submitted to the Queen until the Bill creating the State of Singapore has become law. The All-Party Delegation was therefore prevented from making public the draft Order-in-Council. Moreover, this draft Order-in-Council is still in the process of refining. It is therefore most malicious on the part of irresponsible politicians in Singapore to accuse the All-Party Delegation of hiding from the public the terms of the Order-in-Council. The All-Party Delegation has nothing to hide. We believe that we have done a good job and this fact will be established at the proper time.

It has been agreed in London, Sir, that the draft Order-in-Council will be made public simultaneously in Singapore and in London when the time comes: this may be September. Hon. Members in this House will then have an opportunity to criticise the draft Order-in-Council agreed upon by the All-Party Delegation with the Colonial Office.

Sir, now that we are on the threshold of complete internal self-government, let everyone who has made Singapore his home and the object of his loyalty wake up to his duty and his responsibility. Do not be misguided by the enemy in our midst. Subversive forces will definitely make every effort to capture the prize which we brought back from London. If they succeed, it will indeed be a day of sorrow for all of us but subversive forces can never succeed if the loyal citizens of Singapore unite and fight the enemy. Give the State of Singapore a strong and responsible Government and these vermin can be and will be exterminated.

10.45 a.m.

Mr R. Jumabhoy (Telok Ayer): Mr Speaker, Sir, I seek your guidance as to whether we can have a debate or can we only ask questions on this statement of the Chief Minister?

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are at liberty to ask questions but, of course, the questions must not develop into a debate. Questions are in order.

Mr R. Jumabhoy: May I ask the Hon. the Chief Minister, if this State of Singapore becomes law by the end of July, why does he say that a debate will take place in September and not in August? What is the reason for the delay of a debate on such an important matter as the Constitution of Singapore?

The Chief Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am indeed not surprised that the Member for Telok Ayer should seek your guidance because, by the very question he asks, he displays his ignorance.

Sir, I said in my statement that before any Order-in-Council can be submitted to the Queen, the Bill creating the State of Singapore has to become law. That Bill will get its Third Reading, as I said, by the end of this month. The draft constitution has not been finally polished. It is still in the process of polishing by the legal draughtsmen in Singapore and in London. Surely, the Member for Tanjong Pagar, I mean Telok Ayer-

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Do not pick a fight with the wrong fellow.

The Chief Minister: - must have read the Report of the Constitutional Conference held in London in 1957. He must have read this Report many, many times. He keeps on repeating and asking almost the same question, "When is the new State of Singapore to come into being?" And each time he is referred to the agreement reached in London and told that the new constitution will come into force on the day of the General Elections and that the day of the General Elections is in the hands of this Assembly.