BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY MAPS BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

The Minister of State for Law (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The existing Boundaries and Survey Maps Act and the Landmarks Act were enacted long ago in 1884 and 1882 respectively. The Bill seeks to repeal both Acts and to re-enact them as a single new Act. This new Act will contain provisions of the two Acts that are still relevant and also introduce new provisions.

Sir, the new Act will primarily (1) facilitate the adoption of modern surveying technology; (2) legalise survey maps in electronic form to reflect the computerisation of survey records; (3) define the powers and duties of the Chief Surveyor who will administer the new Act.

Clause 7 of the Bill empowers the Chief Surveyor to establish and maintain a coordinated cadastre. Currently, land parcels are defined by boundaries represented by bearings and distances with reference to boundary marks. This is old technology. The Survey Department has shifted to the use of satellite technology or Global Positioning System. This modern technology allows boundaries to be demarcated and defined more accurately. For the shift, the Chief Surveyor will need to establish and maintain a legalised set of boundary points with precise coordinates called coordinated cadastre. The coordinates of the cadastre will act as reference points for defining land parcels.

The Chief Surveyor will convert existing areas already surveyed to the coordinated cadastre within five years, ie, by Year 2004. Section 7 of the new Act provides for the gazette declaration of these areas as and when they are converted. The conversion will only define existing land lots more accurately. It will not affect their land areas.

The Survey Department has completed the computerisation of survey data. Maps are now being maintained electronically in graphic databases in computers. It is timely to recognise such electronic maps. This will pave the way for electronic commerce of electronic survey records.

Clauses 3 to 6 make the Survey Department responsible for administering the new Act and provide for the appointment of the Chief Surveyor by the Minister. Under the new Act, the Chief Surveyor will:

(a) Conduct cadastral survey of any land parcel;

(b) Establish, protect, maintain, repair, alter or remove survey control marks on any land parcel;

(c) Inspect and verify the accuracy of cadastral surveys submitted by registered surveyors; and

(d) Assign lot numbers, maintain survey records and make available such records and plans at prescribed fees.

There are 45 sections in the Boundaries and Survey Maps Act catering for the survey of all lands in Singapore and the publication of the maps. By October 1978, every land parcel was systematically demarcated, surveyed and their maps published. The Chief Surveyor has identified 33 of the 45 sections as redundant. These 33 redundant sections will therefore be excluded from the new Act.

In addition, all 16 sections of the Landmarks Act are redundant and should be repealed. The Landmarks Act was enacted in 1882 to provide for the establishment of landmarks used to define the boundaries of land lots. The new Boundaries and Survey Maps Act has catered for land lots to be demarcated by boundary marks.

A consequential amendment arising from the substitution of the definition of "title survey" to "cadastral survey" in the new Act will also be made to the Land Surveyors Act.

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. - [Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee].

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