ADMIRALTY WATERS (REPEAL) BILL

3.32 p.m.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Yong Nyuk Lin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to introduce a Bill intituled "An Act to repeal the Admiralty Waters Ordinance (Chapter 72 of the 1955 Revised Edition)."

Bill read the First time.

Second Reading

Mr Speaker: Second Reading, what day?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Now, Sir.

Certificate of Urgency signed by the President in respect of the Bill, laid upon the Table by the Minister.

Typed copies of the Bill distributed to Members.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The control of the Admiralty Waters is presently vested in the Queen's Harbour Master under the Admiralty Waters Ordinance. With the British military pull-out, it has been agreed that the Singapore portion of the Admiralty Waters will be handed back to the control of the Singapore Government, with effect from 1st November, 1971. The Government has accordingly decided that the Port of Singapore Authority should take over the Waters 10 be handed back and, to implement this decision, it is necessary to repeal the Admiralty Waters Ordinance and to declare the Waters as part of the port limits under the Port of Singapore Authority Act.

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