1998 — Page 274

Page 274 of 606

UI 606

Page 274 of 606

268

PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

deterrent effect, the Steering Committee on Healthy Living has requested a review of the levels and forms of penalties for littering offences. The Director of Regional Services was tasked to coordinate a discussion paper on the subject.

The first draft of the paper was discussed at an inter-departmental working group formed under the Health and Welfare Bureau on 23 October 1998. The paper made reference to the penalty system for litter offences in Singapore and proposed for consideration by the working group possible forms of penalty for litter offenders including a fixed penalty system, a counselling system and a corrective services system.

Regarding part (a) of the question, the Urban Services Department stresses that RSD's proposals represent only initial thoughts at a working level and several details remain to be resolved, and so far the Healthy Living Campaign Steering Committee has not seen the proposals and has yet to take a decision on them. Therefore, the Department has not yet officially raised any different opinions to the Steering Committee on the fixed penalty system.

With regard to parts (b), (e), (e) and (f) of the question, since the proposals are only in an initial stage of discussion, the details of the counselling system and the corrective services system have neither been discussed in depth nor finalised at the present stage.

With regard to part (d) of the question, the government will certainly consult experts on the Bill of Rights and seek other legal advice before finalising the said proposals.

With regard to part (g) of the question, the USD has assured me that the Steering Committee fully recognises the need to consult the two Municipal Councils on any proposals which have implications on their work.

With regard to part (h) of the question on the terms of reference of the Steering Committee on Healthy Living Campaign, the Council Secretariat issued an information note to Members of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council on 2 June of this year, i.e. paper CW/36/98, in which Members were informed that the Steering Committee's terms of reference would be as follows:

(a) To formulate strategies and plans for a co-ordinated effort to upgrade

hygiene standards and promote healthy living;

(b) To devise measures to enhance community participation in efforts to

identify and resolve environmental and public health problems;

(c) To draw up plans to inform and educate the community on the

importance of environmental hygiene and healthy lifestyles;

(d) To co-ordinate the work of the departments and organisations concerned in the implementation of such strategies, measures and plans; and

£606.