International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (World Intellectual Property Organization) Order 2005

Status:

Current version
as at 23 Nov 2024

No. S 121

International Organisations
(Immunities and Privileges) Act

(Chapter 145)

International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (World Intellectual Property Organization) Order 2005

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act, the President hereby makes the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (World Intellectual Property Organization) Order 2005 and shall be deemed to have come into operation on 1st February 2005.

Definitions

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

“senior official”, in relation to the WIPO Office —

(a)	means the Director of the WIPO Office; and
(b)	includes any other official of WIPO of an equivalent or higher grade designated by WIPO with the consent of the Government and assigned to the WIPO Office;

“WIPO” means the World Intellectual Property Organization;

“WIPO Office” means the WIPO office in Singapore.

Status of WIPO

3. WIPO is an organisation of which the Government and the governments of foreign sovereign Powers are members.

Privileges of WIPO Office

4.—(1) The WIPO Office shall have the like inviolability of official archives and premises occupied as offices as is accorded in respect of the official archives and premises of an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to the Republic of Singapore.

(2) The WIPO Office shall have the like exemption or relief from the following taxes and rates as may be accorded to a foreign sovereign Power:

(a)

radio and television licence fees;

(b)

goods and services tax in respect of goods and services consumed in Singapore by the WIPO Office;

(c)

tax incurred by the WIPO Office on utilities bills and telephone charges; and

(d)

property tax, and stamp duty in respect of any tenancy agreement entered into, for —

(i)	the premises occupied by the WIPO Office; and
(ii)	if payable by the WIPO Office, the premises used as the residence of the Director of the WIPO Office.

(3) The WIPO Office shall be exempted from customs duties on all dutiable goods directly imported by it for its official use in Singapore, such exemption to be subject to compliance with such conditions as the Director-General of Customs may prescribe for the protection of revenue.

Privileges of officials of WIPO Office

5.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), where an official of the WIPO Office is not a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore, he shall enjoy in respect of any salary, emolument or allowance paid by WIPO the like exemption or relief from income tax as is accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to the Republic of Singapore.

(2) For the avoidance of doubt, sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply to any income tax payable in respect of any pension or annuity paid in Singapore to —

(a)	any former official of WIPO or the WIPO Office; or
(b)	any beneficiary of any such former official.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), where a senior official of the WIPO Office is not a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore, he shall enjoy the like exemption or relief from the following taxes as is accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to the Republic of Singapore:

(a)	all vehicle taxes and fees (including any goods and services tax, fee for certificate of entitlement, registration fee and additional registration fee) in respect of one motor vehicle intended for his personal use;
(b)	radio and television licence fees;
(c)	customs duties on all dutiable goods; and
(d)	goods and services tax in respect of all goods imported by him for his personal use.

(4) Where any senior official of the WIPO Office has enjoyed the exemption or relief referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(a) in respect of any motor vehicle, that sub-paragraph shall not apply in respect of any other motor vehicle acquired by that official within 4 years from the date on which that official acquired the first-mentioned motor vehicle.

(5) Where the Director of the WIPO Office is not a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore, he shall enjoy the like exemption or relief from the following taxes as is accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to the Republic of Singapore:

(a)	if payable by him, property tax, and stamp duty in respect of any tenancy agreement entered into, for the premises used as his residence; and
(b)	foreign domestic worker levy in respect of one foreign domestic worker employed by him.

Made this 7th day of March 2005.

By command,

LAU WAH MING

Secretary to the Cabinet,
Singapore.

[LAW 44/001/010 V2; AG/LEG/SL/145/2001/1 Vol. 2]

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