PORT OF SINGAPORE AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

2.53 p.m.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Yong Nyuk Lin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The Port of Singapore Authority Ordinance, 1963, came into force early in 1964. Experience since then has revealed a number of difficulties and inadequacies in the law. The Bill now before the House seeks to rectify this situation by making appropriate amendments to the Ordinance so that the Authority can operate and carry out its functions more effectively.

Clause 2 of the Bill enables the Authority to dispose of goods which have remained in its custody longer than the stipulated time, in any manner it thinks fit, instead of by auction only, which is the case under the existing section. This amendment is necessary to ensure that the much needed space in the P.S.A.'s godowns are put to proper use, and also to provide for operational flexibility.

Clause 3 specifically empowers the Authority to make regulations relating to the towage of or assistance to vessels, the sale and supply of water in the port, as well as the use and licensing of harbour craft. In addition, the Authority can exclude or limit its liability for anything done under any such regulations made. To discourage contravention of regulations, the maximum penalties have been increased. These amendments are intended to control the activities of marine craft within port limits, to minimise pollution and to ensure that the fresh water supplied is not contaminated.

Under clause 4, the Authority is empowered to recover costs for the the removal of any vessel or aircraft sunk, or any other obstruction stranded or abandoned in the port or in any approach to the port.

Clause 7 seeks to amend section 88 of the Ordinance, which is somewhat obscure. The section is repealed and re-enacted with modifications for greater clarity.

Under clause 9, the Authority is protected from all liability in respect of the discharge, reception, storage or removal of any cargo subject to any general or particular average. Furthermore, the Authority will not be liable for any act, omission or default of any stevedore or workman employed by the Authority.

Clause 12 allows the Authority to own and operate vessels for providing any of the services which the Authority is required or empowered to provide.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to make a few observations on the Bill. Under clause 4, with the introduction of a new Part Villa, the Authority is empowered to raise and remove any vessel or aircraft sunk. This, to my mind, is very necessary in view of the fact that over the last two years there have been quite a number of collisions within the harbour limits. On at least one occasion I think the salvage operations proceeded very slowly. Members of the House may recall that on 19th March, 1969, a vessel by the name of Kuala Kangsar sank within the harbour limits. Despite considerable efforts made, the ship was not raised until 2nd September, 1970, a delay of a year and a half.

With this new provision I presume that the P.S.A, will now take a rather more active part in all salvage operations, such as the one which I have quoted. The one aspect which occurs to me is that our existing facilities for salvage do not seem to be very adequate in Singapore. Is it the intention of the P.S.A, to set up a salvage corps? Or is it the intention that a salvage association be formed, as is the practice in some other ports? I shall appreciate the Minister's clarification on this.

The other point is this. Looking at the Bill as a layman, it does seem to me that there are certain ambiguities. The Bill mentions only "vessel or aircraft sunk". What about the cargoes in the vessels? Will the Authority be authorised to raise and remove the cargoes from the vessels?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Jalan Kayu has raised a good point, with his insurance expertise! I can assure him that the reason why this Amendment Bill has been introduced is to give added powers to the Port of Singapore Authority to ensure that cases like the sinking of the Kuala Kangsar will not be allowed to lie on the bed of the harbour for too long a time, and that greater efforts will be made by the P.S.A, to get things moving. It is more than likely that the P.S.A, will have its own salvage unit. It is only when the P.S.A, feels that there are more salvage operations than it can handle in the circumstances that the commercial field will be invited to undertake the salvage.

As regards the question of whether sunken cargo comes within the ambit of this provision, I shall put this question to the Solicitor-General's Office for clarification, and the Member will be supplied with the information in due course.

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 Yong Nyuk Lin].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

3.02 p.m.

Clause 1 -

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

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 2 to 12 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

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