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No. S 208

Public Order Act

(CHAPTER 257A)

Public Order
(Unrestricted Area)
Order 2016

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 14 of the Public Order Act, the Minister for Home Affairs makes the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1. This Order is the Public Order (Unrestricted Area) Order 2016 and comes into operation on 8 May 2016.

Unrestricted area

2. The public place known as Speakers’ Corner in Hong Lim Park and described in the Schedule (called in this Order the Speakers’ Corner area) is, under section 14(1) of the Act, designated to be an area where assemblies or processions may be held without a notice being given or a permit being granted under sections 6 and 7 of the Act.

Conditions for public speaking

3.—(1) An individual who engages in public speaking at an assembly or procession in the Speakers’ Corner area (whether or not in combination with a play‑reading, recital, performance or an exhibition) must —

(a)	be a citizen of Singapore; and
(b)	comply with the conditions stated in sub‑paragraph (2).

(2) For sub‑paragraph (1)(b), the conditions are —

(a)

the individual must not, while engaging in public speaking —

(i)	speak about a matter that relates, directly or indirectly, to any religious belief or to religion generally; or
(ii)	speak about a matter or in a way that may cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill‑will or hostility between different racial or religious groups in Singapore;

(b)

the individual must, while engaging in public speaking, use an official language of Singapore, or a related dialect; and

(c)

the individual must not, at any time before, during or after public speaking at the assembly or procession, display or exhibit, or cause to be displayed or exhibited, any banner, flag, poster, placard, photograph, film, sign, writing or other visual representation or paraphernalia, containing violent, lewd or obscene material.

(3) An individual who fails to comply with sub‑paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

(4) In this paragraph, “public speaking” includes —

(a)	giving a lecture, talk or address; or
(b)	participating in a public debate or discussion.

Conditions for organisers of demonstrations

4.—(1) An individual who organises a demonstration in the Speakers’ Corner area (whether or not as part of an assembly or procession or in combination with a play‑reading, recital, performance or an exhibition) must —

(a)	be a citizen of Singapore; and
(b)	comply with the conditions stated in sub‑paragraph (2).

(2) For sub‑paragraph (1)(b), the conditions are —

(a)

the individual must ensure that —

(i)	the demonstration does not deal with a matter that relates, directly or indirectly, to any religious belief or to religion generally; or
(ii)	the demonstration is not about a matter, or is not conducted in a way, that may cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill‑will or hostility between different racial or religious groups in Singapore;

(b)

the individual, or an authorised agent of the individual, must be present at all times during the demonstration;

(c)

the individual, or an authorised agent of the individual, must ensure that only individuals who are citizens of Singapore or permanent residents of Singapore participate in the demonstration; and

(d)

the individual must not, at any time before, during or after the demonstration, display or exhibit, or cause to be displayed or exhibited, any banner, flag, poster, placard, photograph, film, sign, writing or other visual representation or paraphernalia, containing violent, lewd or obscene material.

Conditions for participants in demonstrations

5.—(1) An individual who participates in a demonstration in the Speakers’ Corner area (whether or not as part of an assembly or procession or in combination with a play‑reading, recital, performance or an exhibition) —

(a)	must be a citizen of Singapore or a permanent resident of Singapore; and
(b)	must not, at any time before, during or after the demonstration, display or exhibit, or cause to be displayed or exhibited, any banner, flag, poster, placard, photograph, film, sign, writing or other visual representation or paraphernalia, containing violent, lewd or obscene material.

(2) An individual who fails to comply with sub‑paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —

(a)	to a fine not exceeding $3,000; or
(b)	where the individual is a repeat offender, to a fine not exceeding $5,000.

(3) For the purposes of sub‑paragraph (2)(b), an individual is a repeat offender in relation to an offence under sub‑paragraph (2) if the individual who is convicted, or found guilty, of an offence under that provision —

(a)	has been convicted or found guilty on at least one other earlier occasion of an offence under sub‑paragraph (2);
(b)	has (whether before, on or after 30 March 2015) been convicted or found guilty on at least one other earlier occasion of an offence under paragraph 4(3) of the Public Order (Unrestricted Area) Order 2013 (G.N. No. S 30/2013);
(c)	has (whether before, on or after 12 September 2015) been convicted or found guilty on at least one other earlier occasion of an offence under paragraph 5(2) of the Public Order (Unrestricted Area) Order 2015 (G.N. No. S 158/2015); or
(d)	has (whether before, on or after 8 May 2016) been convicted or found guilty on at least one other earlier occasion of an offence under paragraph 5(2) of the Public Order (Unrestricted Area) (No. 2) Order 2015 (G.N. No. S 552/2015).

Saving

6. Nothing in this Order limits or affects the operation of any other written law.

Made on 26 April 2016.

LEO YIP

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Singapore.

[MHA 112/2/0108; AG/LEGIS/SL/257A/2015/2 Vol. 1]

(To be presented to Parliament under section 14(4) of the Public Order Act).