PARKING PLACES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

7.50 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The law, as it stands, only provides for the establishment of public parking places and does not empower the appropriate authority, in this case, the Car Parks Division of the Ministry of National Development, to exercise any control over car parks managed under private ownership. More and more private car parks are being established; two large such parks came into operation recently - one at Collyer Quay with about 600 parking lots and the other at the People's Park Complex at New Bridge Road with about 500 parking lots. With the increase in the number and size of such car parks, it is desirable that proper control be exercised over their operations. Clause 7 of the Bill therefore seeks to re-enact section 6 of the Ordinance so as to empower the Minister to make rules for the control, regulation and supervision by registration of private car parks.

It is also proposed to empower the Superintendent of Car Parks to enter into agreements to take over the control and management of private car parks upon requests being made by the owners. Enquiries have, in fact, been received by the Division from some developers concerning the taking over and management of their private car parks. It is, therefore, proposed to add a new section 3A to the Ordinance to enable the Minister to authorise the use as a parking place of any private land or premises with respect to which an agreement has been made between the Superintendent of Car Parks and the owner or occupier thereof for the use of such land or premises as a parking place. This is provided for in clause 3.

Other amendments to the Ordinance have been incorporated in the Bill to make the administration of parking places more effective. Among the main amendments is the inclusion in clause 7 of provisions to enable the Minister to make rules in respect of the levy of surcharges and penalties for non-payment of parking charges and to provide for a maximum fine of $250 for any contravention of the rules.

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 Barker].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr N. Govindasamy in the Chair]

7.53 p.m.

Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 3 -

Mr Barker: Sir, with the general assent of the House, I beg to move,

In page 2, line 9, to leave out "arrangement" and insert "agreement".

Sir, one would not speak of an arrangement between the Superintendent of Car Parks and the owner occupier of a private car park. I think the word "arrangement" would more properly describe the relationship between a man and his mistress. So with the consent of the House, I would prefer to insert the word "agreement" there in place of the word "arrangement".

The Chairman: Does the Minister have the consent of the House to move the amendment?

Hon. Members indicated assent.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 3, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 4 to 9 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported with an amendment; read a Third time and passed.