TAN TOCK SENG'S HOSPITAL (TRANSFER) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.57 p.m.

The Minister for Health (Inche Ahmad Bin Ibrahim): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to inform you that His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's recommendation to with this Bill

Mr Speaker, Sir, since the 27th of August, 1880, the Tan Tock Seng's Hospital, originally established for the reception of diseased paupers, has been constituted a body corporate under the Tan Tock Seng's Hospital Ordinance, Cap. 149, by a committee of management consisting at present of the Director of Medical Services, a representative of the Treasury, the Secretary for Social Welfare, the Assistant Director of Medical Services (Tuberculosis), the eldest male descendant in the male line of the late Tan Tock Seng residing in Singapore and willing to serve, and five other persons chosen by the remaining members of the committee.

The assets of the original foundation were in the form of land given by two benevolent persons, Mr Tan Tock Seng and Syed Aiwi. Government had since acquired more land and approved the use of Crown land for the use of the Hospital. Many of the present buildings were erected at the cost of the Government. Although it was intended that public subscriptions should provide much of the support for the hospital, the only assistance that has been given since the war is almost entirely limited to the T.B. dispensary built within the hospital by the Rotary Club of Singapore. While the functions of the committee of management included the scrutiny of estimates, proposals, dealings with members of the staff employed, and with tenders for hospital supplies and so on, income to sustain the hospital was derived exclusively by way of a grant from Government which amounted to $5,763,130 in 1960. Income from the corporation's property is minute. All hospital staff apart from 600 odd hospital servants and similar grades employed by the corporation was supplied by the Government. This included specialists, doctors and all nursing staff. The corporation, therefore, has had no control over staff other than the 600 persons mentioned. Apart from Government nominees on its committee of management, members of the corporation had no special qualifications for advising Government on anti-T.B. measures or on the organisation of the hospital as a T.B. hospital for Singapore, which it has now become.

Apart from the original benefactions and the landed property, there is little left of the original trust. Government has in fact taken over this hospital in all but name. In view of this, it is considered that Government should legally take over the maintenance of the hospital and this Bill is intended to effect its transfer to Government. Since Government would have to take over responsibility for the 600 subordinate staff, at present employees of the Corporation, the only financial commitment will be an extra annually recurrent expenditure of increased retiring benefits under the Pensions Ordinance, 1956, for which these 600 employees will become eligible on transfer to Government.

The anticipated increase in financial provision for 1960 is, as explained at the end of the Bill under "Expenditure of Public Money", approximately $10,700.

Mr Speaker, Sir, as, in your opinion, this is a hybrid Bill because of clauses 2, 3, 4 and 6, I shall therefore at the end of the Second Reading move that the Bill be committed to a Select Committee.

Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a second time."

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Inche Ahmad Bin Ibrahim: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have stated, as you have ruled that in your opinion this Bill is a hybrid Bill, I therefore move under Standing Order 65 (1),

That the Bill be referred to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and such Members as may be nominated by the Committee of Selection.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the Bill be referred to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and such Members as may be nominated by the Committee of Selection.