NATIONAL MARITIME BOARD (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 6.44 p.m.

The Minister for Communications and Minister for Labour (Mr Ong Teng Cheong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill seeks to amend the National Maritime Board Act, 1972, by introducing more flexibility in the appointment of Board members. It will also enable the Director of Marine, who is an ex-officio member of the Board, to perform the duties of the Chairman of the Board if the Chairman is unable to do so by reason of illness, leave of absence, or for any other reason.

The National Maritime Board Act does not provide for the resignation and vacating of office by Board members. The Bill will rectify this anomaly by allowing a member of the Board to vacate office by resignation. He will also be deemed to have vacated office if he dies, becomes mentally unfit or bankrupt, or is convicted for dishonesty, fraud or moral turpitude, or fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the Board without leave of the Board.

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 Ong Teng Cheong]

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

6.45 p.m.

Clause 1 -

The Chairman: The citation year will be altered from "1981" to "1982".

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

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