INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS (Report on conditions of Singapore detainees)

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he has received a report from the International Red Cross on the visit of their delegate to Singapore to investigate conditions of detainees, and whether he would make public the recommendations therein contained, and what action, if any, he proposes to take thereon.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, a report has been received from the Vice-President of the International Red Cross. A reply has been sent to the Vice-President thanking him for the report and informing him that steps have been taken to improve the conditions of detainees which are now better, and, therefore, the Government does not consider it necessary to publish this private report.

Mr David Marshall: Will the Minister reconsider the question particularly in the light of the inaccurate appellation that it is a "private" report? The International Red Cross is a public organisation. It was invited here for a public purpose at the request of public personalities.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the main objection, as far as we gather from the report, is that the detainees were confined individually in their cells in Outram Prison. No detainee is being confined individually in his cell at Outram Prison now. So there is no need to publish the report.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for your indulgence. Would the Minister consider that if, in fact, everything now is rosy in the garden there is no real reason why the report and its recommendations should be prevented from being known by the citizens of this country. What is there the Government is afraid or ashamed of?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Most of the recommendations have already been carried out.