LIGHT DUES (REPEAL) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

2.40 p.m.

The Minister of State for Communications (Dr Ang Kok Peng): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Let me begin by giving a brief history of the Singapore Light Dues Board. The Board was established on 1st March, 1957, under the provisions of the Light Dues Ordinance, 1957, and is responsible for the provision and maintenance of marine navigational aids. The Board, which consists of a Chairman and eight members, operates five lighthouses, and some Ill beacons and buoys. The operation, maintenance and improvement of navigational aids for the safe navigation of ships in Singapore waters is clearly a port function and should logically come under the ambit of the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) which has a Hydrographic Department dealing with surveys of Singapore waters. The Hydrographic Department, in conjunction with the Port Master's Department of the PSA, determines the location and recommends the type of navigational aids to be established. The purpose of this Bill therefore is to transfer these functions relating to navigational aids to the PSA.

When the Light Dues (Repeal) Bill comes into force, the Board will cease to exist and all its functions, liabilities, assets and staff will be transferred o the Port of Singapore Authority (Clause 3). The staff will be transferred to the service of the PSA on terms no less favourable than those enjoyed by them immediately prior to the date of coming into operation of this Bill (Clauses 4 and 5).

The transfer of the Light Dues Board's functions to the PSA will enable the Port to plan more efficiently its maritime activities within our waters and maintain the position of the Port of Singapore as one of the largest and safest ports in the world.

Mr Speaker, 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. - [Dr Ang Kok Peng].

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