§ 65. Mr. Stan Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are at present detained under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance in Singapore; how many of them are trade union officials; how many are member of the staff or students of the Chinese schools; and if he will make a statement on the position.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe numbers are 113, 49 and 29, respectively. No one regrets more than the Singapore Government the necessity to detain persons under the Preservation of Public Security Ordinance; but it is convinced that this action is necessary to safeguard the orderly development of democratic government in Singapore against those who have used78W their position in the Trade Union movement, in education or elsewhere to further the ends of Communist subversion or who have knowingly permitted themselves to be used for that purpose.