Singapore Law Blog

Singapore has reaffirmed its commitment to international efforts to protect the ozone layer by acceding to the 1999 Beijing Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The 1999 Beijing Amendment, which is the most recent amendment to the Montreal Protocol, came into force on 25 Feb 2002. It introduced control measures for production for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and imposed restrictions on trade with non-Parties for these HCFCs. The amendment further introduced control measures for both production and consumption for one new group of substances, namely bromochloromethane (BCM). The periodical revisions of the Montreal Protocol have ensured that efforts to prevent ozone layer depletion are on track.

This Circular clarifies the property tax treatment on en-bloc sales sites or developments which are collectively sold by the owners of individual units to the developer.

India and Singapore have concluded a round of air services consultations with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the air services between both countries. This will pave the way for carriers of both sides to increase the number of services between the Indian metropolitan cities of Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi, and Singapore. A new air link between the Indian city of Coimbatore and Singapore is now also possible. There are additional fifth freedom traffic rights granted to the airlines of both India and Singapore under the MoU.

An Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income was signed today between the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Morocco.

AFTER 43 years in the legal profession, the Chief Judge of Malaya, Siti Norma Yaakob, retired on 5 January 2007.

The Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong announced at the Opening Of the Legal Year 2007 the appointment of three new Senior Counsels - Sant Singh, Harpeet Singh and Toh Kian Sing. This being in total 45 Senior Counsels in Singapore.

The Singapore Management University (SMU) will be starting a School of Law with effect from 2007. The SMU School of Law will provide legal education with a strong business orientation to prepare its graduates for law practice in Singapore and in the region. It will also add richness and diversity to the legal education landscape in Singapore. The School will offer a 4-year undergraduate single Law degree programme, and a 5-year double degree programme combining the Law degree programme with SMU’s existing non-law programmes of Accountancy, Business, Economics, Information Systems, and Social Sciences. The School will start to admit students in Academic Year (AY) 2007.

In a press statement dated 27 December 2006, but embargoed for release on 4 Janaury 2007, the Subordinate Courts announced its new and improved website which will also host the new ATOMS on the Internet. ATOMS on the Internet will enable offenders of minor traffic and parking offences will be able to settle their traffic or parking fines online.

Police suspect elderly man to be responsible for 57 burglary cases and a recent adultery charge as well.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued amendments to the Code on Collective Investment Schemes (Code) to give fund managers greater operational flexibility while safeguarding investors' interest.

The 1998 concession on deferment of payment of stamp duty on agreements for purchase of properties will be withdrawn with immediate effect from 15 December 2006. Henceforth, the purchase of a property will pay stamp duty based on normal stamp duty rule that is within 14 days after the date of the sale and purchase agreement or the date of acceptance of the option to purchase.

The new Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation between Singapore and Germany comes into effect on 12 December 2006. This follows the completion of ratification formalities and exchange of ratification instruments in Berlin.

The Legal Night Before Christmas
from Eric Thelin <eric@generation-i.com>

Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to a mouse.

Genting International and Star Cruises, both part of Malaysia's Genting Group, were named as winner of a second casino licence on Sentosa island. Their family-oriented proposal featured a Universal Studios theme park and the world's largest oceanarium. Genting plans to invest SGD 5.2 billion in the project.

The amendment to the Legal Profession Act introducing limited liability law partnerships comes into effect on 4 Dec 2006.

Electronic legal information publisher Justis Publishing Ltd has signed an agreement with the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) to supply the JustCite service as well as the British Incorporated Council of Law Reporting (ICLR) products through SAL’s LawNet service. These ICLR products include the authoritative series The Law Reports for the United Kingdom dating back to 1865.

The Ministry of Trade & Industry ("MTI") announced that Singapore and the Gulf Co=operation Council (GCC) have agreed to start FTA negotiations.

The UK Government published the controversial Legal Services Bill, signalling the onset of a radical shake-up to make the UK the most liberal legal market in the world.

Rules on registering charities are to be tightened with powers to the Commissioner of Charities (COC) to reject a new charity application and de-register existing ones. The proposals are open for public feedback at www.reach.gov.sg.

The Beijing High Court, last Friday, rejected the appeal by Ching Cheong, the chief China correspondent for Singapore's Straits Times. This is according to his lawyer and China's official Xinhua news agency.

The Co-operative Group, UK has launched a free legal services helpline as the company continues to position itself to take advantage of the post-Clementi liberalisation of legal services.

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has launched two free services on the Internet: the Land Query and StreetMap@Singapore services. The services can be found at www.inlis.gov.sg.

The E-Government Congress is organised by DZ Hampton with theme "Creating a Citizen-Centric Government to Achieve Excellence in Public Service".

Two new tertiary maritime law programmes launched as part of efforts to plug the severe manpower shortage in the maritime industry.

Prime Minister announced in Parliament on 13 Nov 2006 that GST will be raised to 7%. Details of the raise and the offset package will be announced on 15 February 2007, which is Budget Day.