tion or any law under it were deemed to have been suspended with effect from 23rd March 1967. Under the proclamation the House of Representatives was dissolved, all political parties were dissolved and membership of political parties was prohibited. In addition, any reference to Governor General, Prime Minister, Minister or Cabinet in the 1961 Constitution was to be construed as a reference to the National Reformation Council. Government Ministries were subsequently reorganised into nine Departments and members of the National Reformation Council given responsibilities for them. On 27th April 1967 the National Reformation Council issued an amendment to the Proclamation to the effect that all Laws which had been passed since then and thenceforth should be referred to as Decrees. On 13th May the National Reformation Council issued a Decree, effective from 25th March, giving them power to appoint an Advisory Council consisting of not less than ten members. Their terms of reference were (1) to work out ways and means of calming down political feelings and bringing about national unity, free of tribalism and separatist agitation; (2) to work out steps leading to a peaceful return to civilian rule after a general election; (3) to work out a Constitution designed to incorporate the results of (1) above and to obviate all the underlying causes of the previous conflicts and corruption; (4) to advise on all matters referred to it by the National Reformation Council; and (5) to advise on any other matter which is in the general interest of the nation. RETURN TO CIVILIAN RULE On 22nd May 1967 the National Reformation Council established a Commission of Enquiry, under the chairmanship of Mr Justice Dove-Edwin, to enquire into the conduct of the last General Election and also, inter alia, into the election results. The Commission's report, which was submitted in September 1967, included a specific statement that the All People's Congress had won the election on their own merit and that the Governor General was manifestly right in appointing Mr Siaka Stevens as Prime Minister. The National Reformation Council did not accept the report in toto but stated that the report confirmed their view that the elections were rigged and corrupt. Subsequently, in November 1967, the National Reformation Council affirmed that it agreed in principle to hand over to civilian government in the shortest possible time and announced that a Civilian Rule Committee-representing all sections of the communitywould be appointed to advise on the method and procedure of handling over to civilian government. The Committee finally began its sessions in February 1968 with instructions to advise on the necessity for a fresh General Election; and, if this was not necessary, the method by which a National Government could be formed. The Committee reported in March 1968 but, before its recommendations were published the National Reformation Council itself was overthrown by an uprising of other ranks of the army and police on the night of 17/18th April. Nearly all army and police officers were placed in detention and an AntiCorruption Revolutionary Movement was formed of Warrant Officers, NCOs and junior police officers pledged to restore civilian rule immediately. They also set up a National Interim Council charged with the specific task of ensuring how this might be done in the shortest possible time and the Chief Justice, Mr Tejan-Sie, was sworn in as Acting Governor-General. Mr Tejan-Sie immediately invited all successful candidates at the last (March 1967) General Election to meet for consultations. These consultations led to an agreement to form a National Government under the leadership of Mr Siaka Stevens, who had been appointed Prime Minister in March 1967 but was prevented from holding office by the coup. Mr Stevens proceeded to form a Government consisting of 18 Ministers, 9 of whom (including himself) were members of the All People's Congress and 4 from the other major political party, Sierra Leone People's Party. The remaining offices were filled by Independents and Paramount Chiefs. The House of Representatives met on Wednesday, 5th June 1968, to enable members to take the oath and to elect a Speaker. Parliament was formally opened on 26th June 1968. On 11th April 1969 certain Cabinet changes were made providing a total of 20 Ministers of whom 16 were drawn from the A.P.C. The remaining places were filled by two Independents and two Paramount Chiefs. HISTORICAL LIST Sir Maurice Dorman, GCMG, GCVO, 27th April 1961 to 5th May 1962 H. J. Lightfoot, CMG, JP (later Sir Henry Lightfoot Boston, GCMG) 5th May to 11th July 1962 (acting) Sir Henry Lightfoot Boston, GCMG, JP, from 11th July 1962 to May 1967 The Hon. Mr Justice Banja Tejan-Sie, CMG, Chief Justice, from 23rd April 1968 (acting) MINISTRIES Sir Milton Margai, PC, MBE, 27th April 1961 to 28th May 1962 Sir Milton Margai, PC, MBE, 28th May 1962 to 28th April 1964 Albert M. Margai (later Sir Albert Margai), 28th April 1964 to 21st March 1967 Siaka P. Stevens, from 26th April 1968 GOVERNOR-GENERAL The Hon. Mr Justice Banja Tejan-Sie, CMG (acting) CABINET Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Minister of the Interior: Minister of Finance: The Hon. Dr Mohammed S. Forna Minister of External Affairs: The Hon. C. P. Foray Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources: The Hon. S. I. Koroma Minister of Information and Broadcasting: The Hon. J. I. Bash Taqi Minister of Social Welfare: The Hon. S. W. Gandi Capio Minister of Housing and Country Planning: The Hon. S. B. Kawusu Konteh Ministers of State: The Hon. J. C. Hadson Taylor Hon. Paramount Chief Bai Koblo Pathbana III PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES: The Hon. E. J. Kargbo (Defence) The Hon. Foday B. Turay (Lands, Mines and Labour) The Hon. G. Sobio Lamin (Transport and Communications) INGAPORE is an island to the south of the Malay Peninsula, from which it is separated by a narrow channel crossed by a causeway three-quarters of a mile long. Included within its boundaries are a number of smaller islands. A few miles to the south are islands belonging to Indonesia. Singapore is situated just north of the equator, its central point being about 1° 20' N. latitude and 103° 40′ E. longitude. The area is 224-5 square miles, and the highest point, Bukit Timah, is 581 feet above sea level. The name is derived from the Sanskrit 'Singa pura', or 'City of the Lion'. The climate of Singapore is similar to that of West Malaysia, being hot and humid with no clearly defined seasons. Rainfall averages 95 ins. a year, and the temperature is usually between 21°C (70°F) and 34°C (93°F). The last full census was held in 1957. In mid-1968 the population was officially estimated at 1,987,900. Racial groups comprised: The birth rate in 1968 was 23-7 per thousand and the death rate 5.5 per thousand. At least eight different Chinese dialects are used. However, many Chinese speak Mandarin in addition to their own dialect and many speak English and Malay. The Chinese written language is common to all Chinese. The principal Indian language is Tamil, but many others are spoken. Malay and English are also commonly used, and Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English are official languages. Primary education is free and universal. The literacy rate (1957) was 52.3 per cent but this has risen considerably since then. The main religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity. Many Chinese follow the Confucian system of ethics. Singapore's traditional means of livelihood is its entrepôt trade, including the processing of primary produce from neighbouring countries, but since 1961, as a result of various official incentive schemes, a large number of new factories have been set up. Singapore is one of the largest ports in world, with deep water wharves and ship repairing facilities. Ships also anchor in the roads and unload into lighters which bring the cargo ashore, usually into the Singapore River. The total cargo handled in 1967 was 30 million tons. The airport is at Paya Lebar, 64 miles from the centre of the city with a runway of 9,000 feet. Malaysia Singapore Airlines Ltd is the joint national airline of both Singapore and Malaysia. There are 16 miles of metre gauge railway, the railway crossing the Straits of Johore by the causeway and forming a part of the Malaysian system. In addition, eight miles of railway were completed in November 1965 to connect with the new industrial area at Jurong. There are 966 miles of roads, 524 miles of which are paved. Radio Singapore, owned and operated by the Singapore Government, broadcasts programmes in Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil and provides facilities for commercial advertising. Approximately 90 per cent of all households possess a radio set. In addition, Rediffusion Ltd, a private commercial enterprise, operate a wired radio service, providing advertising facilities in Mandarin, Malay and English. There are approximately 50,000 Rediffusion subscribers. Government-owned television, introduced in 1963, operates on two channels, programmes being in Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English, as with radio. 350,000 people are believed to watch regularly. Television also offers facilities for commercial advertising. Educational T.V. operated by the Ministry of Education and using T.V. Singapura's facilities was started in 1967. This is directed at secondary schools. T.V. Malaysia is also received in Singapore. In his Budget Speech on 5th December 1968, the Minister of Finance said that the Singapore Government have decided to change to a financial year running from 1st April to 31st March. To achieve this transition the new budget covers a period of fifteen months ending 31st March 1970. For the purpose of comparison, however, the Minister gave the figure of S$759-2m. as revenue for the calendar year 1969 against S$656-7m. for 1968, an increase of S$112.5m. (17.4 per cent); but compared with the final estimates for 1968, the real estimated increase in the 1969 calendar year will amount only to S$48-3m., or a fairly modest 6-8 per cent. So far as expenditure is concerned, no figures for the calendar year 1969 are available (May, 1969). For the fifteen months period, however, estimates of net expenditure amount to S$1,024.9m. against an estimated revenue for the period of S$1,015.65m.—a short fall of S$9.25m. Singapore's first Development Plan was completed in 1965. Total expenditure over five years was S$944 million, of which 62 per cent was on economic development and 36 per cent on social development. Two of the most notable features of this plan were the construction of over 50,000 subsidised housing units-the current rate of construction being over 12,000 units a year-and the establishment of industrial estates which have attracted many new manufacturing industries. The largest of these estates is at Jurong, which now forms the nucleus of a new town and has approximately 3,000 acres zoned for light and heavy industries and its own deep water port. The Second Plan, 1966-1970, is expected to cost over S$1,500 million. As before, the emphasis is on economic development (S$976 million) with a view to attracting export orientated industries. Major projects include a S$50 million extension to the East Lagoon of the Singapore Harbour, the Johore River Water Supply Scheme costing S$40 million and a new electric power station at Jurong. The announcement in January 1968 that the withdrawal of the British Forces in Singapore would be accelerated and completed by the end of 1971, aroused some concern about the effect on the economy of the Republic. It also necessitated changes in the Singapore Government's economic plans because the Budget, introduced in December 1967, was based on the assumption that the military withdrawal would not be completed until mid 1970s. To offset the economic repercussions of the decline in local expenditure on and by the British bases, the Government announced that official expenditure would be increased by approximately 1,070 million Singapore dollars during the period 1968-71, principally on expanding the Singapore Defence Forces and on an expanded public works programme. It is planned to raise the funds for this additional expenditure by domestic and foreign loans, the attraction of private capital for investment, increased taxation and, to a lesser extent, the running down of the Government's overseas assets. Her Majesty's Government have offered £50 million of aid to Singapore to help offset the economic consequences of the rundown of the Bases and to finance new development projects which will provide new sources of income for the country. Singapore's National Day is 9th August. HISTORY The history of Singapore prior to 1948 is outlined in the history of Malaysia. Singapore's rapid development from the time of Sir Stamford Raffles was due in part to the farsightedness of Raffles himself in choosing an island lying, with its magnificent natural harbour, not only on the trade routes to the Far East but also placed so as to be the natural trading centre for all the surrounding territories. Over the years Singapore flourished as a free port, living on its trade, its docking facilities and its processing of imported raw materials. It was not until 1921, with the emergence of Japan as the third naval power in the world, that a decision was made to construct there, in the channel between the island and the State of Johore, a first-class naval base with graving and floating docks to take the largest ships afloat. This base was completed in 1938. The defences of the island were however designed for resistance to attack by sea and in February 1942 it fell to a Japanese land attack down the Malay Peninsula and across the Johore Strait. On the liberation of Singapore in 1945, the island was detached from the other Straits Settlements and established as a separate Colony in 1946. At the same time Labuan was detached from Singapore and became part of the M |