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. Further Ministerial changes were made on 12th May 1970. On 11th September 1970 two senior Cabinet Ministers resigned from the Government. Following disturbances in the provinces a State of Emergency was declared on 14th September. On 15th September a reshuffled Cabinet was announced. A group of leading opposition personalities, including the two former Ministers mentioned above, formed a new political party called the United Democratic Party (UDP) on 19th September. The UDP was banned under the Emergency Regulations on 8th October and its leaders were detained. Most of them were released by the early part of 1971 but the State of Emergency, continued. On 23rd March 1971 two attempts were made to kill the Prime Minister and the Force Commander, Brigadier Bangura, broadcast that the army had taken control of the situation. He had little support within the army and the coup quickly collapsed. On 28th March the Prime Minister signed a defence agreement with Guinea. The Governor-General, Sir Banja Tejan-Sie, was relieved of his office and departed on leave with effect from 5th April 1971. On 19th April 1971 Sierra Leone became a Republic under a Constitution which provided for a Ceremonial President and the Acting Governor-General, Mr Christopher Cole, was sworn in as President. On 21st April the Constitution was amended to provide for an Executive President and the Prime Minister, Dr Siaka Stevens, was sworn in as President. 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 Siaka P. Stevens as Prime Minister 26th April 1968 to 21st April 1971; as President from 21st April 1971. CABINET President (with responsibility for Defence): Hon. Dr Siaka P. Stevens Hon. S. I. Koroma Minister of Finance: Hon. C. A. Kamara-Taylor Minister of Lands and Mines: Hon. S. B. Kowusu Konte Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Hon. A. G. Sembu Forna Minister of Information and Broadcasting: Hon. A. Khazali Minister of Education: Hon. J. Barthes-Wilson Minister of State and Leader of the House: Hon. A. B. S. Janneh Hon. P. C. Bai Koblo Pathbana, CBE Hon. P. C. A. J. Kaikai, MBE Resident Minister, Eastern Province: Hon. F. S. Anthony DEPUTY MINISTERS Deputy Minister, President's Office and Ministry of Defence: Hon. K. C. Gbamanja Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education: Hon. A. B. M. Kamara HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Speaker: The Hon. Sir Emile F. Luke, KBE CHIEF JUSTICE The Hon. Mr. Justice C. O. E. Cole, CMG, OBE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT The Hon. Mr Justice J. B. Marcus-Jones, CBE The Hon. Mr Justice S. C. W. Betts SIERRA LEONE REPRESENTATIVES IN Britain: J. A. C. Davies, OBE (High Com- COMMONWEALTH RepresentATIVES IN Britain: S. J. L. Olver, CMG, MBE (High sioner) (resident in Nairobi); Tanzania: R. SIERRA LEONE REPRESENTATION IN NON-COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES Germany: D. Luke (Ambassador); Guinea: Sorsoh Conteh (Ambassador); Liberia: S. R. Bultman (Ambassador); U.R.E.: Alhaji Gibril Sesay; U.S.A.: Tunga Seray Consulate General, New York) (Chargé d'Affaires); U.S.S.R.: Professor E. W. Blyden (Ambassador); Ethiopia: P. Palmer (Ambassador); O.A.U.: P. Palmer (Ambassador); France: Belgium: Italy: Netherlands: Luxembourg: E.E.C.: D. Luke (Ambassador) (resident in Bonn). S SINGAPORE 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 91 inches a year, and the average daytime maximum temperature is 87° dropping to an average minimum of 75° at night. A full census was held in June 1970 when the total population of the Republic was 2,074,507. Racial groups comprised: The birth rate in 1970 was 22.1 per thousand and the death rate 5.2 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 1971 was 48.1 million tons. The airport is at Paya Lebar, 64 miles from the centre of the city with a runway of 11,000 feet. Malaysia Mercury Singapore Airlines Ltd is the national airline of Singapore. There are 16 miles of metre guage 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 1,199 miles of roads, 809 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 61,000 Rediffusion subscribers. Government-owned television, introduced in 1963, operates on two channels, programmes being in Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English, as with radio. Approximately 1.3 million 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 7th March 1972, the Minister for Finance indicated that estimated government expenditure for the year 1st April 1972-31st March 1973 was S$1,488.6 million (10.5 per cent higher than 1971). Estimated revenue was S$1,449.1 million (10.9 per cent higher than the actual 1971 revenue). Defence expenditure accounted for 38.9 per cent of the Budget. The Minister explained that the satisfactory growth of Singapore's economy by about 14% in 1971 was mainly responsible for an increase of S$142.1 million or 10.9 per cent over the estimated revenue of S$1,307.2 million for the previous year. The Development Estimates for 1972/73 provide for expenditure of an additional S$408-5 million for Government development projects. Having a limited land space and no natural resources Singapore's prosperity was built up on entrepôt trade with the Port of Singapore, one of the largest in the world in terms of annual tonnage, as the keystone of the economy. To broaden the base of the economy and provide for more rapid growth an industrialisation programme was launched in 1960 which has since been accelerated in view of the rundown of British forces by the end of 1971. Singapore actively encourages foreign private investors by offering tax and other incentives and free repatriation of profits and capital. As a result of active promotional steps by the Government the manufacturing sector has achieved an impressive growth in recent years. In 1970 output reached in value S$3,982-6 million (of which gross local value added was S$1,193.5 million) as compared with S$2,636 million (local value added S$782 million) in 1969. One of the main factors responsible for industrial growth has been the provision of generous fiscal and other incentives. Although several industrial estates have been established the Jurong Industrial Complex with an estimated area of 12,000 acres, some 236 factories in production and another 100 planned or under construction is the largest industrial estate in South East Asia. Apart from the expansion of the manufacturing industry other growth sectors of the economy are shipbuilding/repairing and tourism. Business in shipbuilding and repairing rose to about S$250 million in 1970. Although still comparatively small, tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy. Since 1968 some 25 new hotels have either been completed or are in course of construction In 1971, 632,149 visitors came to Singapore by air and by sea-mainly from the USA, Britain, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan. In addition, because of its location and its high reputation for efficient communications and financial facilities, Singapore is becoming the region's biggest logistical and supply centre for the off-shore oil exploration activities in South East Asia. It is being called upon to provide a wide variety of goods and supporting services. Singapore's external trade in 1971, including trade with West Malaysia, rose to an all-time record. Provisional figures show that trade, excluding trade with Indonesia, rose in 1971 to S$14,026-3 million, an increase of S$1,736-7 million over 1970. Imports were worth S$8,665 million (S$7,534 in 1970) and exports were S$5,371-3 (S$4,756 million in 1970). The Special Aid programme of £50 million provided to help the Singapore Government overcome the economic effects of the British Military run-down had, by the end of 1971/72 been either committed or disbursed. The main projects in the economic sphere are the establishment of a wide-ranging technical education programme, substantial contributions to infrastructural projects such as roads and factories, the improvement of dockyard facilities and the provision of a wide range of British manufactured goods. Special Aid funds have also been used for defence projects. 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 Colony of North Borneo; and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (which were never occupied by the Japanese) and Christmas Island were transferred to Australia in 1955 and 1958 respectively. The Colony remained a free port and still continued to handle much of the trade of Malaya and to a lesser extent that of Indonesia. At the same time local industries were developed. A new constitution conferring full internal self-government and the title 'State of Singapore' was introduced in 1959, Singapore became a State of Malaysia on 16th September 1963. On 9th August 1965, it was separated from Malaysia and became an independent sovereign state. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT After the end of the war with Japan, a short period of military administration was followed by the restoration of civil government on 1st April 1946. By Order in Council of 27th March 1946 Singapore was established as a separate Colony and a provisional Advisory Council was created pending the establishment of fully representative Executive and Legislative Councils. The Advisory Council met for the first time on 11th April 1946 and set up a Committee to make recommendations as to the form of the Legislative Council. As a result of their recommendations, a partly elected Council met on 1st April 1948, with six Members elected from territorial constituencies. For the elections |