2.—(1) Despite anything in section 17(2B), 22(2), 28(2)(b), 29(1) or (3)(b), 40(1)(b) or 43(2) or (3)(b) of the Women’s Charter (Cap. 353) requiring, or relating to, the presence or appearance of any person to perform any act, or to witness or attest the doing of anything, under any of those provisions, such person is taken to be present or to appear for that purpose during the specified period if —| (a) | the person, with the permission of the Registrar, attends and performs that act, or witnesses or attests the doing of that thing, through the use of a live video or live television link that is created using a remote communication technology approved by the Registrar; | | (b) | the person complies with such conditions that the Registrar considers necessary or expedient to impose relating to the use of the remote communication technology; | | (c) | the Registrar is satisfied that there are sufficient administrative and technical facilities and arrangements made at the place where the person is located; and | | (d) | both parties and the witnesses (if required) to an intended marriage, a proposed marriage or a marriage (as the case may be) are all in Singapore. |
| (2) If a notice of marriage is given under section 14 of the Women’s Charter on or after the relevant date, the reference to the period of 3 months in sections 16(2), 17(1), 18 and 40(1)(c) of the Women’s Charter is taken to be a reference to the period of 12 months starting after the date such notice is given (called in this section the extended period). |
(3) However, if a notice of marriage given under section 14 of the Women’s Charter is cancelled during the extended period, then, to avoid doubt —| (a) | the reference to the period of 3 months in section 16(2) of the Women’s Charter is taken to be a reference to the period starting after the date the notice is given and ending on the date the notice is cancelled; and | | (b) | the requirement under section 17(1) of the Women’s Charter for the Registrar to issue a marriage licence does not apply. |
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| (4) Despite section 28 or 29 of the Women’s Charter, the requirement for the entry of a marriage in a certificate of marriage to be signed or attested by the persons mentioned in either of those provisions is deemed to be satisfied if the persons each sign, or the persons attest by each signing, as the case may be, on such document as is required by the Registrar, when communicating with one another using a remote communication technology in accordance with this section. |
| (5) The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, declare that this section ceases to apply in relation to all or any matter under this section. |
(6) In this section —“control measure” means any of the following that is related to COVID‑19:| (a) | a notification made under section 17(1) of the Infectious Diseases Act (Cap. 137); | | (b) | an order made under section 17A(1) or (2) of that Act; | | (c) | an order made under section 20(1) of that Act; | | (d) | a direction given under section 21(1) of that Act; | | (e) | an order made under section 55(1)(g) or (i) of that Act; | | (f) | regulations made under section 73 of that Act prescribing any measure prohibiting or limiting the meeting or gathering of individuals; | | (g) | a control order made under section 34(1) of the COVID‑19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 (Act 14 of 2020); |
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| “COVID‑19” means the infectious disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019; |
| “Minister” means the Minister charged with the responsibility for family development; |
| “Registrar” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Women’s Charter; |
| “relevant date” means a date that is 3 months before the date of commencement of this section; |
“specified period” means —| (a) | any period a control measure is in force; or | | (b) | any further period that the Minister, having determined that it is necessary or expedient for the purposes of conducting any matter under this section in a safe and efficient manner and to prevent the spread of COVID‑19, prescribes by order in the Gazette. |
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