Singapore Law Blog

Asean member countries are expected to establish a legal framework to expedite implementation of the Asean Single Window (ASW), a customs initiative to ensure faster clearance of goods and services.

myGovernment is the single gateway to information and services provided by Malaysian Government agencies on the Internet. The myGovernment initiative was undertaken by Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU). MAMPU is a central agency under the Prime Minister Department entrusted with the task of introducing administrative reforms in the public sector to upgrade the quality, efficiency, effectiveness and integrity of Malaysian public service in accordance with national goals.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force is seeking public views on proposed amendments to Fire Safety (Fire Safety Managers) Regulations.

The President acting in his discretion has concurred with the advice of the Prime Minister to appoint Judicial Commissioner Andrew Phang Boon Leong, age 47, as a Judge of the High Court under Article 95 of the Constitution with effect from 8 December 2005.

Singapore, 7 December 2005... The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has released a consultation paper on a proposed framework for the nomination of beneficiaries in respect of the proceeds of insurance policies.

A new Agreement, which was signed on 19th May 2005 between the Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Government of the State of Israel for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income enters into force on 6 December 2005 following the completion of ratification formalities. The provisions of the new Agreement shall apply with effect from the Year of Assessment 2007.

ASEAN stepped up its efforts in the enforcement of CITES and other legislation for wildlife protection with the launch of the ASEAN Wildlife Law Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) on 1 December 2005 in Bangkok.

The Ministry of Finance invites members of the public to give their views on the proposal for a unique identification number, also known as Unique Establishment Identifier (UEI), for establishments in Singapore.

Singapore and China have signed an expanded air services pact which allows airlines of both countries to operate passenger and all-cargo services between China and Singapore with no restrictions on capacity, routing or aircraft type.

1 Singapore will become the first Asian country to host a diplomatic conference in the field of intellectual property (IP), when IP policy makers from all member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) meet to negotiate a key international treaty in the field of trademarks next year.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a patent-infringement lawsuit involving eBay and MercExchange that eBay lost in 2003.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) today announced: (a) The Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme for private residential, commercial and hotel development for the first half of 2006; and (b) The supply of private residential, commercial and hotel space from projects that will be initiated by various Government agencies in the first half of 2006, apart from the GLS programme.

The Ministry Of Manpower presents the draft Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations, Workplace Safety and Health (First Aid) Regulations and Workplace Safety and Health (Registration of Factories) Regulations for consultation.

Speech by Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs , 21 November 2005.

Second Reading Speech on Small Claims Tribunals (Amendment) Bill 2005 by Deputy Prime Minister, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law Prof S Jayakumar, Mon, 21 November 2005.

Second Reading Speech on Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill 2005 by Deputy Prime Minister, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law Prof S Jayakumar, Mon, 21 November 2005.

Second Reading Speech on Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Bill 2005 by Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee, Mon, 21 November 2005 which seeks the following amendments:
(a) Amendments Due to Changes in Modes of Commencement of Court Proceedings;
(b) Amendments to the Computer Misuse Act and Criminal Procedure Code;
(c) Amendments to the Trade Marks Act;
(d) Amendments Due to Operation of Companies (Amendment) Act 2005;
(e) Amendments to the Interpretation Act;
(f) Amendments to the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act and Land Titles (Strata) Act;
(g) Amendments to the Probate and Administration Act; and
(h) Amendments to the Securities and Futures Act.

The Minister for Education and Deputy Chairman, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today moved the Payment Systems (Oversight) Bill (the Bill) for first reading in Parliament. The Bill will be read for a second time and discussed at the next available Parliamentary sitting.

With bloggers appearing the Singapore news (not necessarily for the right reasons), an Article entitled "Bloggers Beware: The Five Commandments for Bloggers" in the November 2005 Issue of the Law Gazette is timely. The Law Gazette is a publication of the Law Society of Singapore. Another webpage for Singapore bloggers to read is the FAQ page of Ong Tay & Partners.

Singapore has ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 138 on Minimum Age for employment. This was announced by the ILO at the current ILO Governing Body Session being held in Geneva from 3-18 November 2005.

The Ministry of Manpower has announced the formation of the Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC) to help galvanise industry efforts to raise occupational safety and health standards in Singapore.

Prepaid SIM card users are reminded that from 1 November, all prepaid SIM cards users have to register their particulars with their respective mobile operators, M1, SingTel and StarHub.

This consultation paper invites comments on the draft Deposit Insurance Regulations and Deposit Insurance (Composition of Offences) Regulations. Among other things, these Regulations set out details on (i) asset maintenance requirements; (ii) premium contributions payable by Scheme members; (iii) target size of the Deposit Insurance Fund and (iv) offences which may be compounded by MAS under the Act.

Starting from today, a new feature called the URT (which stands for Updating, Renewals and Terminations) modules is now available through the Online Business Licensing Service (OBLS) at www.business.gov.sg/licences . The URT modules allow businesses to update, renew or terminate 45 different types of licences through the OBLS. Previously, the OBLS only permitted businesses to apply for new licences.

The Ministry of Manpower ("MOM") has published draft regulations under the proposed Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act slated to be passed by Parliament before the end of 2005. MOM is seeking public feedback on the proposed regulations.