BOAT RACING (Promotion of sea sports)

Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs, as a means of promoting sea-sports in the Republic, if he will consider encouraging the authorities or bodies concerned to introduce boat racing, usually locally-made kolehs or Chinese dragon-boats, among the universities and colleges similar to the traditional annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

The Minister for Culture and Social Affairs (Inche Othman Bin Wok): Mr Speaker. Sir, as Singapore is surrounded by sea and it is Government's policy to encourage our young people to take to the sea to obtain their livelihood, it is in our vital interest to promote sea sports so as to make our citizens more sea conscious. Towards this direction, the Ministry has requested the Port of Singapore Authority to resuscitate its annual sea sports which had been held annually for 130 years on New Year's Day (except in 1964 when it was held on 3rd June) until they were suspended in 1965. The sea sports were discontinued after a decision made to have them again on National Day (3rd June, 1965) had to be cancelled because the 3rd of June was then not a scheduled holiday for employees of the Port of Singapore Authority.

Once resuscitated, the universities and colleges will be encouraged to take part in the sea sports by using locally-made kolehs or Chinese dragon boats as suggested by the Member for Mountbatten.

Although sea sports on a big scale were not continued after 3rd June, 1964, nevertheless, isolated sea sports events were held. Sea regattas and kolehs and speedboat races, organised by the Siglap Citizens' Consultative Committee, were held in February and November 1966. Similarly, in August 1967, during Pesta Sukan Week, boat racing events were organised by the Singapore Yachting Association, various Management Committees and Citizens' Consultative Committees in the Republic as part of the National Day celebrations.