NAVAL AND AIR BASES (REPEAL) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

4.13 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, the Naval and Air Bases Ordinance (Chapter 83 of the 1955 Edition) vests in the Lord High Admiral, or the Commissioners for the time being executing the office of Lord High Admiral, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Air Council established under the United Kingdom Air Force (Constitution) Act, 1917, certain rights over portions of the foreshore and seabed of Singapore in trust for Her Majesty for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a naval and air base in Singapore.

In the Exchange of Notes on Defence Arrangements between the Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Government of the United Kingdom, it was agreed, inter alia, that the Ordinance should be repealed. The Bill now before this House seeks to give effect to this Agreement and will repeal the Naval and Air Bases Ordinance. On the repeal of this Ordinance, such rights as mentioned will vest in the Singapore Government.

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. -[Mr Barker].

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