CONTROL OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS ORDINANCE (Chapter 214)

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr Low Por Tuck): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to move the motion standing in the name of the Minister for Finance, That this Assembly, in accordance with subsection (2) of section 1 of the Control of Imports and Exports Ordinance (Chapter 214), resolves that the aforesaid Ordinance shall continue in force for a further period of one year commencing on the 8th day of December, 1960.

This Ordinance was first promulgated in 1950, and had a life of one year. Since then it has been extended from year to year, and I now move that it be extended for a further period of one year.

The Ordinance empowers the Minister to make Orders to regulate or prohibit the import and export of goods. In keeping with our policy to encourage trade, restrictions have been removed to a bare minimum so that almost all goods may be imported on open general import licence. Those under restriction are for reasons of security, health, exchange control and protection of our local industries. Export controls are also very few. We must, however, retain the powers to meet our international obligations to control the export of goods of strategic importance, in the event of a sudden shortage of certain goods, it is necessary in the interests of the State to retain powers to restrict exports of such goods. The current export procedures also afford facilities for ensuring that all export regulations are complied with.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly, in accordance with subsection (2) of section 1 of the Control of Imports and Exports Ordinance (Chapter 214), resolves that the aforesaid Ordinance shall continue in force for a further period of one year commencing on the 8th day of December, 1960.