FEES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.07 p.m.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the Fees Ordinance was first passed in Singapore, as far back as 1881, to provide for the levy of fees and payments for licences where not otherwise provided by law. It was added to and amended, the last time in 1958, to provide for the Yang di-Pertuan Negara to frame fees by Order and to carry out such other acts which are administrative by nature.

This Bill seeks to make such amendments and deletions to the Ordinance as are necessary consequent upon Singapore establishing herself as a sovereign Republic.

The opportunity is taken in clause 4 to provide for the transfer of the power of the "Yang di-Pertuan Negara" to prescribe fees, and the carrying out of the functions of the Ordinance, to the "Minister for Finance". As it is an administrative procedure for all fees and charges levied under the Ordinance to be referred for the prior approval of the Treasury, it is neither necessary, nor appropriate, to refer administrative acts of this nature to the President. It is accordingly provided that the power to prescribe fees, and other administrative acts, be transferred to the Minister for Finance in accordance with constitutional practice.

The opportunity has also been taken to delete references to "the Colony" and to the "Legislative Assembly" and to substitute "Singapore" and "Parliament" instead.

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 Lim Kim San].

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