REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

6.08 p.m.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

It is known that considerable quantities of stolen property find their way into the hands of pawnbrokers. It is seldom, however, that pawnbrokers report to the police that they have reason to believe that articles offered for pawn are stolen property and if they accept stolen property it may be difficult to trace the pawner because of the laxity of pawnbrokers in recording the personal particulars of pawners. It has accordingly been decided that pawnbrokers should be required to record the identity card numbers of the pawners so that their identity may be traced at any time. The purpose of this Bill is to enable regulations to be made to require the production of identity cards when articles are pawned. In order to empower pawnbrokers to record the identity card numbers of-

Mr Speaker: Order. I am afraid I cannot follow the Minister very well. We are on the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Bill. I was wondering how pawnbrokers and pawnbroking have anything to do with it.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: I am coming to that point, Mr Speaker, Sir.

As I said, the purpose of this Bill is to enable regulations to be made to require the production of identity cards when articles are pawned. In order to empower pawnbrokers to record the identity card numbers of their customers, it is necessary to amend the Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1955. The inspection of identity cards is governed by the Registration of Persons Ordinance and the regulations made under it. At present there is no provision for pawnbrokers to legally demand to see their customers' identity cards. When this Bill is passed, the necessary amendments will be made to the Registration of Persons Regulations, 1955, requiring pawnbrokers to inspect and record details of the identity cards of pawners.

It is hoped by these means to prevent the use of pawnbrokers' shops as a channel for the disposal of stolen property and to help the police to trace pawners of such property.

Sir, I beg to move.

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 Ong Pang Boon].

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