STATUTES OF THE ASEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANISATION

3.25 p.m.

The Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology (Mr E.W. Barker): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Motion* standing in my name as it appears on the Order Paper.

*The motion reads as follows:

That this Parliament approves the Statutes of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) made on the 2nd day of September, 1977, at the Third ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation Conference at Manila, as set out in Paper Misc. 3 of 1978.

Sir, the Statutes of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation were finalised and signed at the Third ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation Conference held in Manila from 29th August to 2nd September 1977. The Senior Minister of State for Communications signed on behalf of Singapore.

The Joint Communique issued at the end of the Manila Conference states, inter alia, that it was agreed that the Statutes shall take effect upon acceptance by the competent authority of each member country of ASEAN. Indonesia and Thailand have already accepted the Statutes. In the case of Singapore, the competent authority to accept the Statutes is this House. Hence, the Motion before this House.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament approves the Statutes of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (AIPO) made on the 2nd day of September, 1977, at the Third ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation Conference at Manila, as set out in Paper Misc. 3 of 1978.