National Sports Promotion Board Bill

Bill No. 11/1969

Read the first time on 11th June 1969.

An Act to establish the National Sports Promotion Board and for other purposes connected therewith, and to repeal the Singapore Sports Stadium Incorporation Ordinance (Chapter 274 of the Revised Edition).

Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows: —

Short title and commencement

1. This Act may be cited as the National Sports Promotion Board Act, 1969, and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“Board” means the National Sports Promotion Board established under section 3 of this Act;

“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board;

“functions” includes powers and duties;

“member” means a member of the Board and includes the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and the Executive Secretary of the Board.

Establishment of the National Sports Promotion Board

3.—(1) There shall be established a body to be known as the “National Sports Promotion Board”.

(2) The Board —

(a)	shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal;
(b)	shall have power to acquire, hold and dispose of movable and immovable property; and
(c)	may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

Members of the Board

4.—(1) The Board shall consist of —

(a)	a Chairman;
(b)	a Deputy Chairman;
(c)	an Executive Secretary; and
(d)	eight other members.

(2) The Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, the Executive Secretary and all the other members of the Board shall be appointed by the Minister and shall hold office for a term of three years or for such shorter period as the Minister may in any case determine, but shall be eligible for re-appointment.

(3) The Minister may revoke any appointment at any time without assigning any reason therefor.

(4) A member may resign his office by writing under his hand delivered to the Minister.

(5) The Minister may, on the death, resignation or revocation of appointment of a member, appoint a person to fill the vacancy so created for the remainder of the term of office of the member.

Functions of the Board

5.—(1) The functions of the Board shall be —

(a)	to encourage, develop and promote sports on a national basis for both competitive and recreational purposes;
(b)	to co-ordinate the activities of, and to facilitate co-operation among, voluntary sports organisations;
(c)	to organise, in consultation with the national sports associations and the Singapore National Olympic Committee, national, international and other sports competitions and games;
(d)	to foster research and study in sports and physical education and to provide for the training of instructors;
(e)	to manage and maintain any sports stadium or other sports facilities as may be approved by the Minister;
(f)	to provide, manufacture and maintain sports equipment and other sports items; and
(g)	to establish and maintain any clubs, hotels, hostels, restaurants or other conveniences in connection with the Board’s property.

(2) The Board shall have power to do all things that are necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may —

(a)	appoint committees consisting of persons who may or may not be members of the Board and delegate to such committees such of its functions as the Board determines;
(b)	receive donations or contributions from any source and raise funds by all lawful means;
(c)	make grants or contributions to any person or sports association subject to such conditions as the Board thinks fit;
(d)	prescribe minimum standards for participation in international sports competitions and games and other terms and requirements for the purpose of receiving aid from the Board;
(e)	enter into agreement with any person in connection with any sports, games or pastimes upon such terms as the Board may deem expedient;
(f)	lend money to, or enter into guarantees on behalf of, any person in connection with any matters relating to sports, games or pastimes; and
(g)	promote schemes for the provision and improvement of sports and recreational facilities.

National Sports Promotion Fund

6.—(1) There shall be established a fund to be known as the “National Sports Promotion Fund” (hereinafter in this Act referred to as “the Fund”) which shall be vested in the Board and which shall consist of —

(a)	grants or loans made to the Fund by the Government;
(b)	any donations or contributions made to the Fund by any person; and
(c)	any moneys accruing to the Board in the course of the discharge of its functions.

(2) The Board shall open and maintain an account with a bank to be approved by the Minister and shall pay all moneys forming part of the Fund into such account.

(3) All cheques drawn upon the said account shall be signed by two of the following: —

(a)	the Chairman;
(b)	the Deputy Chairman; and
(c)	the Executive Secretary.

Application of moneys

7.—(1) The moneys and property of the Board whensoever derived shall be applied solely for the purpose of making payments in or in connection with the performance of its functions under this Act, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to its members.

(2) Any moneys of the Board not immediately required for the purposes of the Board may be invested in such manner as may be authorised by the Minister.

Meetings of the Board

8.—(1) Meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and places as the Board or the Chairman may from time to time determine.

(2) The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board at which he is present and shall have the right to vote on any question coming before or arising at any meeting of the Board.

(3) The Deputy Chairman shall preside at any meeting of the Board at which the Chairman is not present; in the absence of both the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman from any meeting, the members present shall appoint one of their number to preside at that meeting.

(4) At any meeting of the Board five members shall constitute a quorum.

(5) All questions coming before or arising at any meeting of the Board shall be decided by a simple majority of the members present and voting; and in the event of any equality of votes, the Chairman or the person presiding at the meeting shall have a casting vote.

(6) The proceedings of any meeting of the Board shall be valid notwithstanding any vacancy among its members or by reason of a defect in the appointment of any of its members.

Disclosure of interest

9.—(1) A member of the Board shall, if he is in any way directly or indirectly interested in a contract made or proposed to be made by the Board, disclose the nature of his interest at a meeting of the Board as soon as possible after the relevant circumstances have come to his knowledge.

(2) Any disclosure made by a member under subsection (1) of this section shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board, and that member shall not take part in any deliberation or decision by the Board with respect to that contract.

Execution of documents

10. All deeds, documents or other instruments requiring the seal of the Board shall be signed and sealed by the Chairman and one other member authorised by the Board for this purpose, and such signing shall be sufficient evidence that the said seal was duly and properly affixed and that the same is the lawful seal of the Board.

Employment of staff

11.—(1) The Board may, from time to time, and subject to such directions as may be given by the Minister, appoint such number of employees on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Board may determine.

(2) The Board may grant pensions, gratuities or retiring allowances to employees of the Board and require them to contribute to any pension or provident fund scheme.

Accounts and audits

12.—(1) The Board shall keep proper accounts and other records in respect of its activities and proceedings and shall prepare a statement of accounts in respect of each year ending on the 31st day of December.

(2) The accounts of the Board shall be audited by an auditor appointed by the Board and approved by the Minister.

(3) As soon as the accounts of the Board have been audited, a copy of the statement of accounts together with a copy of any report made by the auditor shall be submitted to the Minister.

(4) The Minister shall present a copy of any such statement of accounts and auditor’s report to Parliament.

Annual Report

13. The Board shall, as soon as may be practicable after the 31st day of December each year, prepare and furnish a report of its activities during that year to the Minister who shall present a copy of such report to Parliament.

Power to make rules

14. The Board may make rules, subject to the approval of the Minister —

(a)	to regulate the procedure of the Board;
(b)	for the appointment of committees;
(c)	to regulate the appointment, conduct and dismissal of employees of the Board; and
(d)	generally to carry out the purposes of this Act.

Directions

15.—(1) The Minister may give to the Board such directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as he thinks fit as to the exercise and performance by the Board of its functions under this Act and the Board shall give effect to such directions.

(2) The annual report of the Board for any year shall set out any direction given by the Minister under subsection (1) of this section and shall contain a report of any action taken by the Board during that year pursuant to such direction.

Gifts to the Fund to be exempt from income tax

16. The Fund shall be deemed to be an institution of a public character approved by the Minister for Finance for the purpose of paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 37 of the Income Tax Ordinance (Cap. 166).

Repeal

17. The Singapore Sports Stadium Incorporation Ordinance (Cap. 274) is hereby repealed.

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