MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS

Over the next five years, the Ministry of Communications will expand and improve the Republic's communications infrastructure, on land, sea, air or in space, to be up-to-date with the latest development in Communications, worthy of our position as one of the centres of World Communications.

Road Transportation

Since the reorganisation of the Public Bus Service 18 months ago, the three public bus companies have added over 1,100 new buses to their fleet bringing it up to a total of over 2,000 buses. The school bus fleet has also been increased from 149 to 1,360, whilst the number of taxis is close to 4,900 of which 2,600 are new vehicles. The setting up of the NTUC Transport Co-operative has enabled more taxi drivers to be owner drivers.

To avoid physical paralysis, arising out of traffic congestion, we are now undertaking a feasibility Mass Transit Study, with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. The study is expected to be completed in a year's time and will provide us with plans on transport systems and a judicious allocation of our limited land and road resources to achieve efficient domestic transportation.

Port Expansion

To meet increasing and a pattern of changing demands, the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) is continuously adjusting its services and upgrading equipment and installations. The West Coast Reclamation Project, when completed in 1975, will add about 1,300 meters of wharves for use by coastal vessels and lighters, and 239,000 square meters of transit sheds and warehouses. New facilities will be added to the Sembawang Port to enable it to handle high-volume cargo (such as rubber and timber) economically and quickly.

The very substantial investment in the container port development at the East Lagoon represents a quantum jump forward for the PSA. Singapore will continue to be the major port of call for the increasing number of container-ships on the Europe-Far East run.

A study is being made into the feasibility of establishing a modern bulk oil storage farm at Pulau Brani linked by submarine pipes to the reticulation system along the Keppel wharves, aimed at increasing the speed and efficiency of Singapore's oil bunkering operations. Aviation

A Vast expansion programme to provide a new passenger terminal, air cargo complex, Jumbo Jet hangar, and more sophisticated and safer air navigational aids is under way. A second runway at Paya Lebar is being planned.

Our national flag carrier, Singapore Airlines (SIA), is investing in new aircraft and ground facilities, including an integrated engineering complex for servicing and overhauling aircraft at Paya Lebar. Singapore's second carrier, Saber Air, will supplement SIA's role for charter passenger and air cargo transportation.

The meteorological services, necessary for safe air navigation, have also been continuously upgraded through a network of weather radar and electronic equipment for receiving pictorial information from weather satellites.

Telecommunications

More facilities for fast and reliable telephone and telex communications are being installed.

The integration of the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (TAS) and the Singapore Telephone Board (STB), scheduled for completion early in 1974, will mean greater operational efficiency.

A second satellite receiving station will he completed at Sentosa by 1973 to establish a link with the Pacific Ocean telecommunication satellite.

Both the international Telex Exchange and the Public Telegraph Network with its computerised message switching system will become fully automatic by next year. The current five-year development programme of the STB when completed in March 1977 will increase the number of direct exchange lines from 121,400 to 236,000. This works out to 152 telephones per 1,000 of population as compared with 90 per 1,000 of population in 1971.

Postal Services

The Postal Services Department plans to build 30 new post offices and a new Postal Headquarters Complex at Aljunied Road to replace the existing General Post Office at Fullerton Building. Mechanised processing of mail, and greater use of mechanical devices are being considered to provide faster services and improve working conditions.

Post Office Savings Bank (POSB)

Since becoming a statutory corporation on 1st January, 1972, deposits of the POSB have increased by 22 per cent to reach $111.4 million. Banking operations are being run on commercial lines and computer facilities will be used to provide quick service to depositors.

Manpower

The Marine Department is emphasising on the training of our youth for sea careers requiring higher skills.

The TAS and STB in conjunction with the Broadcasting Department are setting up a Telecommunication Training Centre at Dunearn Road to train our technicians for the operation and maintenance of sophisticated and up-to-date equipment.

The PSA is expanding its Training School into an Institute of Maritime Studies.

Plans have been finalised to develop the Air Traffic Training Centre at Paya Lebar into an Air Academy.

All training programmes are aimed at developing to the full the skills of our people so that they may earn better salaries and enjoy a higher standard of living.