HC Deb 06 February 1957 vol 564 cc53-4W
74. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his recent negotiations with Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaya, and Mr. Lim Yew Hock, Singapore, on the future constitution of both these places.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The negotiations with Tunku Abdul Rahman and his colleagues from the Federation of Malaya were confined to questions of defence and finance. Mr. Lim Yew Hock and I had a number of useful informal discussions and agreed that the next Conference on the Singapore Constitution should begin in London on 11th March. We also reached agreement on an Agenda for the Conference which is as follows:

Agenda for the Singapore Conference

  1. 1. To take note of the items in the Constitutional Proposals by the United Kingdom Government as set out in Appendix 8 of Command Paper 9777, which have already been agreed to in principle
  2. 2. Internal security.
  3. 3. External relations and external defence.
  4. 4. Designation of Her Majesty's representative in Singapore.
  5. 5. Date of coming into force of new constitution.
  6. 6. Position of civilian employees in the Armed Forces.
  7. 7. Any other business.