SINGAPORE RED CROSS SOCIETY (INCORPORATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL (As reported from Select Committee)

Order for Third Reading read. 3.06 p.m.

The Minister for Health (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time."

Members of the House would have read the Official Report of the Select Committee and the reasons for the proposed amendments. The President of the Republic of Singapore will now only be the Patron of the Society and the Society will be headed by a Chairman who will be appointed by the President of the Republic of Singapore. However, the Honourary Treasurer will no longer be appointed.

Members of the Society felt that it was necessary to enlarge the powers of the Council to enable it to recruit and train volunteers, in addition to full-time staff to carry out the functions of the Society. Accordingly the Committee has made an amendment to section 9 of the Act enlarging the powers of the Council. Under section 9 of the principal Act, the President of the Society approves the rules of the Council. With the abolition of the post of the President of the Society, it is necessary to amend section 9 so that the Director of Medical Services will approve the rules of the Council. The Society has no objections to the amendment to section 5(A) of the principal Act on Objects of the Society.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed.