Singapore Law Blog

Las Vegas Sands has won the bid to build Singapore's first integrated resort. The project will be called The Marina Bay Sands. The other three bidders are Genting International and Star Cruises, Harrah's Entertainment and Keppel Land, and MGM Mirage along with CapitaLand.

Singapore, 25 May 2006...The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Bank of Thailand (BOT), which regulates Thailand's banking sector on behalf of Thailand's Minister of Finance.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today released a consultation paper on the proposed enhancements to the liquidity risk supervision framework.

Singapore Exchange Derivatives Clearing Limited (SGX-DC) is inviting public comments on its proposed amendments to the SGX-DC Clearing Rules.

A new specialist Community Court will be set up next month to deal with young offenders, those with mental disabilities and attempted suicide cases.

The Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC), established in April 1999 to oversee and advise on the research and development, production, use, handling and release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Singapore, is releasing a new set of guidelines to further promote and enhance the biosafety culture amongst Singapore scientists who are working on genetically modified organisms and, to establish a common framework for the assessment and notification of research on GMOs in Singapore.

Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Lim Hng Kiang is in Manila, the Phillippines from 15-17 May 06 for the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Retreat. The AEM held talks with the Republic of Korea’s Trade Minister Kim Hyun-Chong on 16 May 06, and Minister Lim signed the Agreement on Trade in Goods under the ASEAN-Korea Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation.

The Media Development Authority (MDA) has concluded its investigation into whether exclusive carriage agreements substantially foreclose the Pay-TV market in Singapore and should be regulated.

On 10 May this year, an electronic portal will be launched by the Police to allow ex-offenders round-the-clock convenience to check whether their personal criminal records have been marked as spent. The electronic portal may be accessed via the internet websites: http://www.spf.gov.sg or http://www.ecitizen.gov.sg . A person who wishes to log in to the e-portal will have to key in his NRIC number as the login ID and SingPass (Singapore Personal Access) as the authentication password. More information on SingPass can be found on the SingPass website at http://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/singpass/index.htm .

IRAS has reviewed the tax treatment of donations with benefits. To further encourage philanthropic giving, as a concession, certain donations made to registered charities and institutions of a public character (IPCs) will be deemed to be pure donations notwithstanding there is a benefit given in return for the donation. To qualify for the concessionary tax treatment, donations with benefits given in return will be regarded as pure donations if the benefits are treated as having no commercial value.

the hidden message inserted by a High Court judge into his ruling on the Da Vinci Code copyright trial has already been solved. Mr Justice Peter Smith's code, has been cracked by a London lawyer.

The Elections Returning Officer, Tan Boon Huat, has declared Saturday, 6 May 2006 as Polling Day. Polling Day is a public holiday. Nomination Day will be on Thursday, 27 April 2006.

Media Statement by Mr Teo Nam Kuan, Group Director, Quality & Standards, SPRING Singapore at the Media Briefing on Amended Weights and Measures Act and Regulations on 20 April 2006 at Board Room, SPRING.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) invites comments and views on Singapore's Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) in conjunction with its annual review of DTA policies.

Singapore has acceded to the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Singapore and Saudi Arabia today signed two economic agreements, in a demonstration of the strengthening bilateral economic relations between the two countries.

An Agreement, which was signed on 6th October 2003 between the Government of the Republic of Singapore and Government of the Sultanate of Oman for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, enters into force on 7 April 2006 following the completion of ratification formalities. The provisions of this Agreement shall have effect on income derived on or after 1st January 2007.

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has, on 6 April 2006, released the details of a proposed Block Exemption Order for Liner Agreements in the Maritime Industry (BEO) for public consultation.

Minister Ng Eng Hen's speech at 2nd Reading of the Enlistment (Amendment) Bill (3 Apr 2006).

Ministerial Statement By Prof Jayakumar, DPM & Minister For Law, In Parliament On 3 April 2006 Changes To The Legal Service Commission And Legal Service Personnel Management System.

Second Reading Speech by Senior Minister of State for Law & Home Affairs Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee on April 2006 on the The Moneylenders (Amendment) Bill.

The National Wages Council (NWC) chaired by Prof Lim Pin, Professor of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, will commence its deliberations on wage and wage-related guidelines for 2006/ 2007 in mid-April 2006. To assist the NWC in its deliberations, members of the public and organisations are invited to offer their views on the wage guidelines.

Chief Justice Yong Pung How will retire on 10 April 2006.

The President, acting in his discretion, and in concurrence with the advice of the Prime Minister, has appointed:

a) Mr Chan Sek Keong, Attorney-General, as the Chief Justice from 11 Apr 06 for a period of 3 years in the first instance;

b) Justice Chao Hick Tin, Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court, as Attorney-General from 11 Apr 06 for a period of 2 years in the first instance;

c) Mr Lee Seiu Kin, Second Solicitor-General, as a Judge of the High Court of Singapore from 11 Apr 06; and

d) Mr Sundaresh Menon as a Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court from 3 Apr 06, for a period of 1 year.

The President, acting on the advice of the Cabinet, has also appointed Mr Chan Sek Keong as the Chairman of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, from 11 Apr 06 for a period of 3 years.

India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath, and Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Lim Hng Kiang, met in Singapore on 31 March 2006 for a Mid-term Review of the India-Singapore CECA.

Singapore Chief Justice Yong Pung How will retire on April 10 2006, after more than 15 years in the top legal position. In a letter, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked Chief Justice Yong for his outstanding contributions to the administration of justice in Singapore.