SINGAPORE'S TERRITORIAL WATERS

Mr P. Selvadurai asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour if the Government has caused studies to be made of (a) the adequacy of the present limit of Singapore's territorial waters in the light of Singapore's vital interests in fishing, defence and the administration of revenue laws in these waters; and (b) the effect on Singapore's interest in these matters of claims to territorial waters made by neighbouring states; and if he will make a statement on these matters.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Inche A. Rahim Ishak) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, in international law the question of the width of territorial waters is one subject upon which there is unfortunately a divergence of views among states. The present position is that the vast majority of states claim territorial waters varying from three miles to 12 miles.

So far as Singapore's territorial waters are concerned, their delimitation to the north is governed by agreement delimiting the territorial waters midway between Singapore Island and the State of Johore and which has been given effect to in our municipal law under the provisions of the Straits Settlements and Johore Territorial Waters Agreement Act of 1928.

As for our remaining territorial waters, this is conditioned by our geographical position. In the absence of any specific agreement with neighbouring countries to the contrary, the line equidistant between Singapore and the adjacent territory would, therefore, constitute the limits of our territorial waters under the provisions of the Geneva Convention on Territorial Sea. However, since claims to territorial waters made by neighbouring states will have some implications for Singapore, the departments concerned are presently examining this question.