FISHERIES BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

4.33 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Mr Ho Cheng Choon) (for the Minister for Law and National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

"That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The purpose of this Bill is to replace the existing Fisheries Ordinance which was enacted as far back as 1909, more than half a century ago. With the passage of time, the Fisheries Ordinance has become antiquated and is no longer adequate to deal with present-day problems of fishermen or to serve the purpose of developing an up-to-date and modern fishing industry in Singapore.

The Fisheries Bill will rectify many shortcomings in the Fisheries Ordinance. Whereas the Fisheries Ordinance provides mainly for the control of in-shore fisheries, the Fisheries Bill provides for the regulation and control of off-shore and deep-sea fisheries. It is the Government's aim to promote off-shore and deep-sea fisheries in Singapore.

The Bill will also provide, inter alia, for the distribution of fish, the use of certain areas as fishing ports or harbours, the methods of processing fish, the manning of fishing vessels, and the conditions of employment of fishing crew.

It will be seen that the Bill is comprehensive and has provisions covering all important aspects relating to the fishing industry which are necessary to put it on a modern footing. To carry out effectively the provisions of this Bill and to encourage the development of the fishing industry in Singapore, a new fishing port and a central wholesale fish market are being constructed at Jurong. Both the port and market are expected to be in operation by the end of this year. At the same time, the Ministry of Law and National Development will set up a Fisheries Training Centre to train fishermen in modern methods of fishing.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

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

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. --[Mr Ho Cheng Choon].

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