MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

2.52 p.m.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Arising out of the Port Authority Bill, certain consequential amendments are necessary to the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, and these are embodied in the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill.

The provisions relating to the licensing and control of pilots, the control of movement of shipping within port limits and the handling of explosives and dangerous goods are being deleted from the Merchant Shipping Ordinance as these functions will in future be exercised by the Port Master of the Port Authority.

The Bill was considered by a Select Committee of the last Legislative Assembly, but no Report was submitted because of the dissolution of the Assembly. The present Bill has been slightly amended in the light of representations made by various interested parties to the Select Committee.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Dr Toh Chin Chye]

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.