IMPERIAL LIGHT DUES (REPEAL) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.11 p.m.

The Deputy Prime Minister (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

There are seven light-houses and beacons which have been erected by the United Kingdom Government in waters off Ceylon, the southern tip of India and the West Indies. These are at Inagua, Castle Island, Bird Grop, Wattling island, Elbow Key, Albako, and Graven Stirrup Key.

Ships which make use of these lights naturally have to pay dues. The Singapore Government has been acting as an agent on behalf of the United Kingdom to collect such dues since 1915 when the Imperial Light Dues Ordinance came into operation. In March this year, by agreement in an international convention, the collection of imperial light dues ceased. There is, therefore, no further necessity to retain the Imperial Light Dues Ordinance in our statute books, and it is therefore proposed to repeal this Ordinance.

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.-[Dr Toh Chin Chye].

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