CUSTOMS (AMENDMENT NO. 2) BILL

10.16 a.m.

First Reading

The Acting Financial Secretary (Mr Oon Khye Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to introduce a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 160 of the Revised Edition)."

Bill read the First time.

Second Reading

Mr Speaker: Second Reading, what day?

Mr Oon Khye Kiang: Now, Sir. Sir, I lay upon the Table a Certificate of Urgency signed by the Governor in respect of the Customs (Amendment No. 2) Ordinance, 1958.

Certificate of Urgency handed in.

Mr Speaker: The Certificate is in order. Are typed copies of the Bill available for the use of Members?

Mr Oon Khye Kiang: Yes, Sir.

Typed copies of the Bill handed in to the Clerk and distributed to hon. Members.

Mr Oon Khye Kiang: Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

It has been decided that a new basis should be adopted for the levy of additional duty on certain types of imported cigarettes and pipe tobacco by relating it to their value and not to their weight. It is therefore necessary to provide in clause 2 for a definition of "value" in section 3 of the Customs Ordinance. A consequential amendment has to be made in clause 3 (a) to section 12 of the Ordinance.

As the valuation of these commodities is based on documentary evidence and is already in the possession of the Customs Department, for administrative convenience, the assessment of the Department should be presumed to be correct unless proved otherwise. This is so provided in paragraph (c) of clause 3.

The new basis of levy was imposed on the 3rd of October when the Customs Duties (Amendment) Order, 1958, was enacted. It is therefore necessary that this Bill should also be operative from that date. Sir, I beg to move.

The Assistant Minister for Education (Inche Mohd. Sidik Bin Haji Abdul Hamid): Sir, I beg to second.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill [Mr Oon Khye Kiang].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read the Third time and passed.