SINGAPORE PORT (AMENDMENT) RULES, 1963

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, I beg to move,

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection(2) of section 490 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (Chapter 207), resolves that the Singapore Port (Amendment) Rules. 1963, published as Notification No. Sp. S 29 in the Gazette Subsidiary Legislation Supplement No. 10 dated 1st November, 1963, as contained in Sessional Paper S.L. 14 of 1963, be approved.

During the North-East monsoon last year considerable congestion was experienced in the more sheltered western anchorage of our port. In April this year a committee of Marine officials and port users recommended a new layout of this area designed to obtain the maximum benefit to shipping by the avoidance of crowding. These recommendations are being included in the Singapore Port Authority Bill.

It is necessary to redesign the anchorages as early as possible during the prevailing North-East monsoon, and we cannot wait for the Port Authority Bill to be passed. I therefore seek the approval of this House to enable the Singapore Port (Amendment) Rules, 1963, to be brought into operation which will give effect to this rearrangement of the anchorages I mentioned earlier.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection (2) of section 490 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (Chapter 207), resolves that the Singapore Port (Amendment) Rules, 1963, published as Notification No. Sp. S 29 in the Gazette Subsidiary Legislation Supplement No. 10 dated 1st November, 1963, as contained in Sessional Paper S.L. 14 of 1963, be approved.