CUSTOMS (DUMPING AND SUBSIDIES) (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.24 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr Tang See Chim): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This is a very short amendment Bill, the aim of which is to simplify the procedures for invoking the law against dumping of imported goods in Singapore.

The Customs (Dumping and Subsidies) Ordinance, 1962, which first came into force on 16th April, 1962, provides the legislative framework against the dumping of imported goods in Singapore and for safeguarding locally-made goods from unfair competition posed by imported goods which have been subsidised by their countries of origin.

Under the Ordinance, the powers to invoke the law and impose duties rest with the President of the Republic. These powers have so far been invoked only once, and it was found that the procedures for invoking these powers were rather cumbersome. This amendment Bill, therefore, seeks to adopt a less cumbersome procedure, by transferring the powers from the President to the Minister, to enable the Minister to impose duties by publishing an order in the Gazette and presenting it to Parliament. This procedure is in line with other revenue legislation and is aimed at facilitating the imposition of duties and preventing any delays. Speedy action in cases of this nature is necessary to protect the interests of our local industries and of our honest trading partners, and to penalise those who are engaged in unfair competition by dumping imported goods in Singapore or who have the benefits of subsidies from foreign countries.

The transfer of powers from the President to the Minister is to be effected by clause 4 of the Bill. Clause 2 provides for such powers to be exercised by the Minister by publishing an order in the Gazette and presenting it to Parliament.

Clause 3 seeks to amend section 14 of the principal Ordinance to make it mandatory for all regulations made under the Ordinance to be published in the Gazette and presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication.

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 Tang See Chim].

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