PART 2 | Disrespecting National Flag |
5.—(1) A person commits an offence if —| (a) | the person knowingly does an act in relation to the National Flag; and | | (b) | the act is disrespectful to the National Flag. |
| (2) A person in possession of the National Flag must not, without reasonable excuse, allow or cause the National Flag to touch the floor or ground, even when lowering the National Flag from a staff or flagpole. |
| (3) A person who contravenes paragraph (2) commits an offence. |
| (4) A person who is guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) or (3) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. |
|
| Display of National Flag outside buildings |
6.—(1) If the National Flag is displayed outside a building, the National Flag must be displayed on or in front of the building.(2) If the National Flag is displayed outside a building or in an open space, the National Flag —| (a) | must be flown from a flagpole; and | | (b) | must not be flown at night unless the National Flag is properly illuminated. |
|
(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply during —| (a) | the National Day period; and | | (b) | any other period that the Minister may specify (which period must be published in the Gazette). |
|
| (4) A person who knowingly contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. |
|
| Display of National Flag on vehicles, vessels and aircrafts |
7.—(1) The National Flag must not be displayed on a motor vehicle unless —| (a) | the President is travelling in the motor vehicle; | | (b) | a Minister is travelling in the motor vehicle on official business; | | (c) | the display is during the National Day period and the motor vehicle is not a hearse; or | | (d) | the Minister approves the display. |
(2) The National Flag must not be displayed on a vessel or aircraft unless —| (a) | the vessel or aircraft is a Government vessel or aircraft; | | (b) | the vessel or aircraft is authorised to do so under written law; | | (c) | the display is during the National Day period; or | | (d) | the Minister approves the display. |
|
| (3) The Minister must not give approval under paragraph (1)(d) or (2)(d) unless the Minister is satisfied that the display of the National Flag will not give rise to disrespect to the National Flag. |
| (4) A person who knowingly contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. |
|
| Display of National Flag in relation to other flags, objects, etc. |
8.—(1) Subject to international practice, the National Flag must take precedence over all other flags when displayed in Singapore.| (2) When the National Flag is displayed with any other flag or flags, the National Flag must be displayed prominently, in the position of honour and, where practicable, above the other flag or flags. |
(3) When raised or carried in a procession with any other flag or flags, the National Flag must be raised or carried —| (a) | high on the right shoulder of the standard bearer; | | (b) | if in a single file, in front of the other flag or flags; and | | (c) | if carried side‑by‑side with the other flag or flags, in the position of honour. |
|
| (4) The National Flag must not be displayed below any other flag, emblem or object. |
(5) When the National Flag is displayed on a platform or stage, the National Flag must —| (a) | be above all decorations; | | (b) | subject to sub‑paragraph (c), be behind and above any person speaking from the platform or stage; and | | (c) | if displayed from a staff standing on the platform or stage, be on the right side of any person speaking from the platform or stage. |
|
(6) When the National Flag is hung —| (a) | the National Flag must be hung against a vertical wall or other vertical flat surface; and | | (b) | the crescent and stars must be on the top left position as seen by a spectator facing the National Flag and the wall or surface, as the case may be. |
|
| (7) The National Flag must not be dipped in salute to any person or thing. |
| (8) A person who knowingly contravenes paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7) commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. |
(9) In this regulation —| “flag” means any flag that is not the national flag of another State; |
“position of honour”, in relation to the display of the National Flag side‑by‑side with, and at the same level as, any other flag or flags, means —| (a) | the left as seen by any spectator facing —| (i) | the National Flag and the other flag or flags; or | | (ii) | the front of the building on which, or in front of which, the National Flag and the other flag or flags are flown; or |
| | (b) | where the National Flag and the other flag or flags are carried in a procession, the right as seen by the standard bearers. |
|
|
|
9.—(1) The National Flag must be flown at full mast.| (2) However, during a period of national mourning declared by the Government, the National Flag may be lowered to half‑mast. |
| (3) The declaration of a period of national mourning must be published in the Gazette or in some other way that will secure adequate publicity for the declaration. |
| (4) A person who knowingly contravenes paragraph (1) commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. |
|
| National Flag not to be displayed if damaged, etc. |
10.—(1) A person must not knowingly display, or cause to be displayed, a National Flag that is damaged or not in a proper and clean condition.| (2) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) commits 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. |
|
| Use of National Flag or image thereof for private funeral, etc. |
11.—(1) A person must not knowingly use or display the National Flag or an image of the National Flag at a private funeral, wake, memorial service or other funerary rite, ceremony or procession unless the Minister approves the use or display.| (2) The Minister must not give approval under paragraph (1) unless the Minister is satisfied that the use or display of the National Flag or an image of the National Flag will not give rise to disrespect to the National Flag. |
| (3) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. |
|
| Commercial use of National Flag or image thereof |
12.—(1) A person must not knowingly use or apply the National Flag or an image of the National Flag —| (a) | for a commercial purpose; or | | (b) | as a means of advertisement or for the purpose of any advertisement. |
(2) However, a person may use or apply the National Flag or an image of the National Flag if —| (a) | the use or application is during the National Day period and does not give rise to disrespect to the National Flag; or | | (b) | the use or application is approved by the Minister. |
|
| (3) The Minister must not give approval under paragraph (2)(b) unless the Minister is satisfied that the use or application of the National Flag or an image of the National Flag will not give rise to disrespect to the National Flag. |
| (4) A person must not knowingly use or apply the National Flag or an image of the National Flag as or as part of a trademark. |
| (5) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) or (4) commits 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. |
|
| Use of National Flag or image thereof as decoration, etc. |
13.—(1) A person must not knowingly use or apply the National Flag or an image of the National Flag as part of any furnishing, covering or receptacle unless the Minister approves the use or application.(2) A person must not knowingly use or apply the National Flag or an image of the National Flag as a decoration unless —| (a) | the use or application —| (i) | is during the National Day period; and | | (ii) | does not give rise to disrespect to the National Flag; or |
| | (b) | the use or application is approved by the Minister. |
|
| (3) The Minister must not give approval under paragraph (1) or (2)(b) unless the Minister is satisfied that the use or application of the National Flag or an image of the National Flag will not give rise to disrespect to the National Flag. |
(4) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction —| (a) | in a case involving disrespect to the National Flag — to a fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both; or | | (b) | in any other case — to a fine not exceeding $5,000. |
|
| (5) In this regulation, “receptacle” includes a paper, plastic and refuse bag. |
|
| Use of National Flag or image thereof on attire |
14.—(1) A person must not knowingly use or apply the National Flag or an image of the National Flag as part of any costume or attire unless —| (a) | the use or application —| (i) | is not for a commercial purpose; and | | (ii) | does not give rise to disrespect to the National Flag; |
| | (b) | the use or application —| (i) | is during the National Day period; and | | (ii) | does not give rise to disrespect to the National Flag; or |
| | (c) | the use or application is approved by the Minister. |
| (2) The Minister must not give approval under paragraph (1)(c) unless the Minister is satisfied that the use or application of the National Flag or an image of the National Flag will not give rise to disrespect to the National Flag. |
(3) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction —| (a) | in a case where the National Flag is used or applied in a manner that gives rise to disrespect to the National Flag — to a fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both; | | (b) | in any other case — to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. |
|
|
| Flags that distort or modify National Flag, etc. |
15.—(1) A person must not knowingly produce or display a flag that distorts or otherwise modifies the design of the National Flag. | | A flag with words or graphics superimposed on the design of the National Flag, or vice versa, is a modification of the design of the National Flag. |
|
|
| (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to the flag of a Government department. |
| (3) A person who contravenes paragraph (1) commits 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. |
|
| Stop order against disrespectful acts |
16.—(1) If —| (a) | a person has done or is doing an act in relation to the National Flag; and | | (b) | an authorised officer is of the opinion that the act causes disrespect to the National Flag, |
| the authorised officer may order the person to do one or both of the following: |
| (c) | cease doing the act; | | (d) | take any specified action to remedy the disrespect caused. |
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), an act in relation to the National Flag includes —| (a) | an act in relation to an image of the National Flag; and | | (b) | an act in relation to distorted, or otherwise modified, but still recognisable elements of the National Flag. |
|
| (3) Part 10 applies to and in relation to an order under paragraph (1). |
|
|
