the manufacturing sector has achieved an impressive growth in recent years. In 1973 output reached in value S$7,224 million (of which gross local value added was S$2,326 million) as compared with S$5,413 million (local value added S$1,646 million) in 1972. One of the main factors responsible for industrial growth has been the provision of general fiscal and other incentives. Several industrial estates have been established, the Jurong Industrial Complex with an estimated area of 14,000 acres, some 500 factories in production employing about 52,000 workers and another 200 planned or under construction being the largest industrial estate in South East Asia. Apart from expansion of the manufacturing industry, other growth sectors of the economy are shipbuilding/repairing and tourism. Business in shipbuilding and repairing rose to around S$500 million in 1974 and the industry employs some 24,000 workers, compared with the oil refining industry which makes Singapore the third largest refining centre in the world after Houston and Rotterdam, employing less than 1% of the manufacturing workforce whilst accounting for more than 25% of the value output of the manufacturing sector in 1973/74. Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy. By the end of 1976 there will be approximately 76 tourist hotels providing about 11,150 rooms to cater for all categories of visitors. In 1974, over 1 million tourists visited Singapore (an increase of 12.8 per cent for the first six months of 1974). Visitors come to Singapore by air and sea mainly from the USA, Britain, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia or Japan. Earnings from tourism in 1974 were S$528.3 million. In addition, because of its location and its high reputation for efficient communications and financial facilities, Singapore has become the region's 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 1974, including trade with Peninsular Malaysia reached an all time record. Provisional figures show that trade rose in 1974 to S$34,560 million an increase of S$13,140 million or 61.3 per cent over 1973. Imports were worth S$20,405 million (S$12,513 million in 1973) and exports were S$14,155 million (S$8,907 million in 1973). It is interesting to note that for the first time since 1966, the rate of growth of exports surpassed that of imports reflecting the increased capacity and efficiency of the domestic producer. The Special Aid programme of £50 million provided to help the Singapore Government overcome the economic effects of the British Military run-down was completely disbursed by the end of 1973. There is a small Technical Assistance programme. 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 in 1951 the number of elected Members was increased to nine. In 1953 a Commission under the chairmanship of Sir George Rendel was set up to advise on a new constitution; and by Order in Council which came into force on 8th February 1955 Singapore was given a large measure of internal self-government. A Council of Ministers was formed, responsible collectively to a Legislative Assembly of thirty-two Members, of whom twenty-five were elected from singlemember constituencies, three were ex officio Members and four were Nominated Unofficial Members. The Governor ceased to preside over the Assembly and was replaced by a Speaker. There was a Council of Ministers consisting of the Governor, three ex officio Members and seven Ministers appointed from among the elected and nominated Members of the Assembly. Mr David Marshall became Singapore's first Chief Minister, but was succeeded by Mr Lim Yew Hock in the following year. In 1957, after discussions in Singapore and London, an Agreement was signed in London providing for the constitution of a State of Singapore with full internal self-government and the creation of a Singapore citizenship. The new constitution provided for a Head of State to be known as the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, a Cabinet presided over by a Prime Minister, and a fully elective Legislative Assembly of fifty-one Members with a Speaker and Deputy Speaker. On the coming into force of this Constitution in 1959 the Governor, Sir William Goode, became the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara of the State of Singapore and the first United Kingdom Commissioner; but he relinquished the former post six months later, Enche Yusof bin Ishak being appointed in his place. The first Prime Minister was Mr Lee Kuan Yew. One of the first acts of the new Government was to abolish the Singapore Municipal Council and to assume its functions. The United Kingdom Commissioner remained responsible for Defence and External Affairs but certain responsibilities in respect of the latter were delegated to the Government of Singapore. The Singapore Government was responsible for internal security subject to the oversight of an Internal Security Council consisting of three British Representatives, three Singapore representatives and one representative of the Federation of Malaya. On Singapore's entry into Malaysia the Internal Security Council ceased to exist, internal security becoming the responsibility of the Malaysian Government. The office of United Kingdom Commissioner was also abolished, the senior British representative being the Deputy High Commissioner who was responsible to the British High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur. After the separation from Malaysia, a British High Commissioner was appointed to Singapore. On 7th August 1965 the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore concluded an agreement on the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent sovereign state from 9th August. The Malaysian Government agreed to enact constitutional instruments to give effect to the separation. On 9th August the Malaysian Parliament passed the Constitution of Malaysia (Singapore Amendment) Act, 1965, providing for Singapore to become independent on that date and Singapore became a Member of the Commonwealth. By legislation passed in December 1965, with retrospective effect to 9th August, the island became a Republic, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara was re-styled President and the Legislative Assembly renamed Parliament. Singapore established a Presidential Council by legislation passed in December 1969. The 21-member Council, chaired by the Chief Justice, exists to examine legislation to see whether it contains elements which differentiate between racial or religious communities or contains provisions inconsistent with the fundamental liberties of Singapore citizens, and to report and advise the Government thereon. GOVERNMENT Following a General Election on 2 September 1972, the Government (People's Action Party-PAP) hold all 65 seats in Parliament. Of the 65 constituencies, 57 were contested. There was a 93.55 per cent poll with some 70 per cent of the votes cast for PAP candidates and 30 per cent for opposition candidates. The PAP has now held power for the last 16 years. HEAD OF STATE The President: Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares (re-elected to a second 4-year term of Office from 1st January 1975) CABINET Prime Minister: Mr Lee Kuan Yew Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence: Dr Gob Keng Swee Minister for Labour: Mr Ong Pang Boon Minister for National Development and Communications: Mr Lim Kim San Minister for Culture: Mr Jek Yeun Thong Minister for Finance: Mr Hon Sui Sen Minister for Science and Technology: Dr Lee Chiaw Meng PARLIAMENT Speaker: Dr Yeoh Ghim Seng, JP Deputy: Mr Tang See Chin Clerk to the Parliament: Mr A. Lopez THE JUDICIARY THE HIGH COURT OF SINGAPORE Chief Justice of the High Court of Singapore: The Hon. Mr Justice Wee Chong Jin The Hon. Mr Justice F. A. Chua The Hon. Mr Justice A. V. Winslow The Hon. Mr Justice Choor Singh JUDGES The Hon. Mr Justice T. Kulasekaram Registrar of the High Court in Singapore: Mr Tan Wee Kian CHAIRMAN OF STATUTORY BOARDS Economic Development Board: Chan Chin Development Bank of Singapore: Howe Housing and Development Board: Lee Hee Port of Singapore Authority: Howe Yoon Public Utilities Board: Lim Kim San Jurong Town Corporation: Woon Wan Telecommunications Authority of Singapore; Tourist Promotion Board: Runme Shaw National Stadium Corporation: Dr B. K. Central Provident Fund Board: William Industrial Training Board: Chua Chor Teck Nanyang University Council: Wee Cho Yaw Managing Director, Monetary Authority DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION COMMONWEALTH HIGH COMMISSIONERS Britain: J. P. Tripp, CMG; Australia: R. N. SINGAPORE REPRESENTATIVES IN OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES Britain: Dr Lee Yong Leng (High Commissioner); Australia: P. Coomaraswamy (High Commissioner); New Zealand: Chan Keng Howe (High Commissioner); Malaysia: SINGAPORE REPRESENTATION IN T SRI LANKA HE island of Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean off the southern extremity of the Indian sub-continent, between latitudes 5° 55′ and 9° 50′ N. and longitudes 79° 42′ and 81° 53′ E. It is separated from Cape Cormorin by the Palk Strait. The maximum length of the island from north to south is 270 miles and its greatest width is 140 miles. Its area is 25,332 square miles, about half the size of England. From a central massif of mountains composed of almost solid gneiss and of outstanding scenic beauty the land slopes down to the sea on all sides in a series of three terraces or peneplains. The third of these lies at approximately 6,000 feet, the second at 1,600 feet and the first at 100 feet. The first peneplain of coastal plain is broadest towards the north. The highest peak in the central massif is Pidurutalagala (8,281 feet). The other major peaks are Kirigalpota (7,857 feet), Totapola Kanda (7,733 feet), Adam's Peak (7,360 feet) and Great Western (7,269 feet). Although not particularly high, the fourth of these, Adam's Peak, is probably the most famous and spec |