DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR OFFICERS (OATHS AND FEES) (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

2.33 p.m.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Inche A. Rahim Ishak): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1968, empowers our overseas missions to provide consular services and to receive fees for the performance of these services. The rates for the levy of fees are set out in the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Fees) Order, 1970, which was published in the Gazette on 2nd October, 1970. The consular services performed overseas are similar to those provided in Singapore under a number of legislative measures. The schedule of fees chargeable overseas follows, therefore, the schedules which are applicable to Singapore. The Singapore schedules of fees can be amended or varied by individual Ministers under the respective legislation and such changes become effective by publication in the Gazette. However, under the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act, 1968, it is the President and not the Minister for Foreign Affairs who is empowered to amend or vary the schedules of rates. This amending Bill, therefore, seeks to provide for uniformity by giving the Minister for Foreign Affairs similar powers exercised by other Ministers in respect of fees.

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. - [Inche Rahim Ishak].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Clause 1 -

The Chairman: The date of the citation title will be changed to "1971".

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

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