CONVICTIONS IN COURTS AND DETENTIONS UNDER CRIMINAL LAW (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE AND P.P.S.O. (Statistics)

(Continued).

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he will give the figures, as on the 30th April, 1963, of (a) persons convicted in the Courts and serving sentences in prison; (b) persons detained under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance, and how many of these were 16 years of age and under at the Time of detention; and (c) persons detained under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance, and how many of these were 16 years of age and under at the time of detention.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, as on 30th April, 1963, (a) Persons convicted in the Courts and serving sentences in prison number 1,300. (b) Persons detained under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance, 1955, total 830, of whom 23 were 16 years of age or under at the Time of detention. (c) Persons detained under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance, 1955, number 149. All these persons were above 16 years of age at the time of detention.

Mr David Marshall: Does the Minister consider it appropriate that those under the age of 16 should be dealt with under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance? Would he consider some different approach to this problem?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, all these persons under 16 years of age - the moment after their detention - were sent to the Reformative Training Centre.