MINOR OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

6.19p.m.

The Minister of State of Defence (Mr Wee Toon Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the Bill seeks to amend the Minor Offences Ordinance so as to provide that the letting off of fireworks shall be restricted only when an Order has been issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police to restrict such fireworks. The Order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police may specify a period or place in which the letting off of fireworks may be restricted. The present provision in the Ordinance in this respect empowers the Deputy Commissioner of Police to issue Orders authorising the letting off of fireworks during any specific periods and within specified areas and makes it an offence to let off fireworks otherwise than in accordance with such Orders. The amendment contained in clause 3 of the Bill will, in effect, mean that fireworks may be let off at any time and at any place except those specified in an Order made by the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Opportunity has been taken to effect certain amendments to the Ordinance which have become necessary in consequence of the present status of Singapore and the administrative set-up. These amendments are contained in clauses 2 and 4 to 11.

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 Wee Toon Boon]

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