Public Order (Exempt Assemblies and Processions) Order 2009

Status:

Current version
as at 20 Apr 2024

FIRST SCHEDULE

Paragraph 2

Exempt assemblies

1. A public assembly held in the Botanic Gardens with the written permission of the National Parks Board.

2. A public assembly held in connection with a wedding or a funeral held —

(a)	on any State land with the written permission of the Commissioner of Lands;
(b)	on any part of the common property of a housing estate of the Housing and Development Board with the written permission of the Estates Officer of the Housing and Development Board or, where a Town Council is established under the Town Councils Act (Cap. 329A) constituted to control, manage, maintain and improve the common property of that housing estate, the written permission of that Town Council; or
(c)	on any public road with the written permission of the chief executive of the Land Transport Authority of Singapore.

3. A public assembly held in connection with any sporting competition or activity (other than horse racing or dog racing) in a stadium, sports complex or other sporting facility that is open to the general public.

4.—(1) A public assembly (other than an election meeting within the meaning of the Public Order (Election Meetings and Processions in Parliamentary Elections) Regulations 2009 (G.N. No. S 486/2009) or the Public Order (Election Meetings and Processions in Presidential Elections) Regulations 2017 (G.N. No. S 273/2017)) that is held wholly inside a building or other enclosed premises outside of the prohibited area, and —

(a)	every organiser of which is a citizen of Singapore or a Singapore entity; [S 558/2016 wef 01/11/2016]
(b)	every individual giving a speech or lecture during the assembly (whether in person, through real‑time transmission or a recording) is a citizen of Singapore; [S 558/2016 wef 01/11/2016]
(c)	the purpose of which is to demonstrate support for or opposition to the views or actions of any person, group of persons, to publicise a cause or campaign, or to mark or commemorate any event, without dealing with any matter which relates (directly or indirectly) to any religious belief or religion, or any matter which may cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different racial or religious groups in Singapore; and
(d)	during which an organiser thereof, or an authorised agent of such an organiser, is present at all times during the assembly. [S 135/2011 wef 14/03/2011] [S 261/2014 wef 01/04/2014] [S 118/2016 wef 19/03/2016] [S 558/2016 wef 01/11/2016] [S 277/2017 wef 01/06/2017] [S 493/2020 wef 26/06/2020]

(2) In this item, unless the context otherwise requires —

“company” means a company incorporated in Singapore under the Companies Act (Cap. 50);

“real‑time transmission”, in relation to the delivery of a speech or lecture at an assembly, means the simultaneous audio or visual transmission, through the Internet or other form of communication network, to the place of that assembly, of the speech or lecture being delivered at another place, including any reasonable period of delay, due to any technical or other reason, between the delivery of the speech or lecture and the audio or visual transmission of such delivery;

“recording” means any disc, magnetic tape or solid state recording device containing information by the use of which sound (whether or not accompanied by images) may be produced electronically;

“Singapore entity” means a Singapore‑controlled corporation, a Singapore‑controlled partnership or a Singapore‑controlled unincorporated association;

“Singapore‑controlled corporation” means a body corporate incorporated under any written law in Singapore —

(a)	with a management body (whether called an executive or board of directors or otherwise), the majority of whose members (whether called directors, partners or otherwise) are citizens of Singapore; and
(b)	with a majority of members who are citizens of Singapore or one or more Singapore entities or, in the case of a company having a share capital, the majority of whose shares are held by citizens of Singapore or one or more Singapore entities;

“Singapore‑controlled partnership” means —

(a)

a partnership registered under the Business Names Registration Act 2014 (Act 29 of 2014) in Singapore, the majority of whose partners are citizens of Singapore or one or more Singapore entities; or

(b)

a limited partnership registered under the Limited Partnerships Act (Cap. 163B) in Singapore —

(i)	the majority of whose general partners as defined in that Act are citizens of Singapore or one or more Singapore entities; and
(ii)	the majority of whose limited partners as defined in that Act are citizens of Singapore or one or more Singapore entities;

“Singapore‑controlled unincorporated association” means an unincorporated association formed in Singapore under any written law —

(a)	with a management body (whether called a committee or council or otherwise), the majority of whose officers are citizens of Singapore; and
(b)	the majority of whose members are citizens of Singapore or one or more Singapore entities. [S 558/2016 wef 01/11/2016]

5. A public assembly in a place of public resort for the purpose for which the place is licensed under the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act (Cap. 257).

6. A public assembly held in connection with any public entertainment that is licensed under the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.

7. A public assembly held solely for the purpose of any celebration of the Seventh Month Festival of the Chinese Lunar calendar —

(a)

which is held on any premises with the prior consent of the owner of those premises;

(b)

which will end not later than 10.30 p.m.;

(c)

which does not involve the installation, erection, removal or dismantling of any stage, shed or other structure between 11 p.m. of a day and 7 a.m. of the following day (both times inclusive);

[S 474/2015 wef 06/08/2015]

(d)

which will involve the use of not more than 4 loudspeakers, each of which must be positioned so that the loudspeakers face the audience and are inclined downwards;

[S 474/2015 wef 06/08/2015]

(e)

during which an organiser thereof, or an authorised agent of such an organiser, is present at all times during the assembly;

[S 474/2015 wef 06/08/2015]

(f)

which will only involve one or more of the following activities:

(i)	a “sing-song” ;
(ii)	an auction;
(iii)	a dinner;
(iv)	a prayer service;
(v)	a performance of instrumental music;
(vi)	a performance of classical music;
(vii)	a performance of traditional puppetry or folk puppetry;
(viii)	a performance of traditional opera or folk opera;
(ix)	an activity organised by or with the authority of the organiser solely for the purpose of celebrating the Seventh Month Festival of the Chinese Lunar calendar; [S 474/2015 wef 06/08/2015] [S 376/2016 wef 29/07/2016]

(g)

during which no vulgar or obscene gesture or remark is made by any performer at the assembly;

[S 474/2015 wef 06/08/2015]

(h)

during which no vulgar or obscene song is sung by any performer at the assembly;

[S 474/2015 wef 06/08/2015]

(i)

during which no person on the stage or any other performance area is indecently attired;

[S 474/2015 wef 06/08/2015]

[S 376/2016 wef 29/07/2016]

(j)

during which the organiser of the assembly takes immediate steps to have any person who makes a vulgar or obscene gesture or remark, or sings a vulgar or obscene song, escorted off the stage or out of any other performance area;

[S 376/2016 wef 29/07/2016]

(k)

during which no performer at the assembly mingles with the audience;

[S 474/2015 wef 06/08/2015]

(l)

which is not organised by a person who has previously been convicted of any offence under the Act in relation to the organisation of any celebration of the Seventh Month Festival.

[S 474/2015 wef 06/08/2015]

[S 376/2016 wef 29/07/2016]

8. A public assembly held by or under the direction or control of the Government.

9.—(1) A public assembly of the description prescribed in sub-paragraph (2) held by or under the direction or control of —

(a)	a body that is specified in the Schedule to the Accounting Standards Act (Cap. 2B); or
(b)	a charity within the meaning of the Charities Act (Cap. 37) that is also approved as an institution of public character under that Act.

(2) A public assembly —

(a)

the purpose of which is either to raise funds for the body or charity in sub-paragraph (1), or to promote sports, physical exercise or other recreational activity, but —

(i)	without dealing with any matter which relates (directly or indirectly) to any religious belief or religion, or any matter which may cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different racial or religious groups in Singapore; and
(ii)	without glorifying the commission or preparation (whether in the past, in the future or generally) of acts of terrorism or any offence or otherwise having the effect of directly or indirectly encouraging or otherwise inducing members of the public to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism or such an offence;

(b)

the conduct of which does not require the closure of any public road or part thereof;

(c)

which involves —

(i)	no singing or playing of any radio or other musical equipment, any drum, cymbal, gong or other musical instrument; or
(ii)	singing or playing of such musical equipment or musical instruments between 11 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. on any day (both times inclusive) only;

(d)

the conduct of which involves —

(i)	no stage, shed or other structure; or
(ii)	the installation, erection, removal and dismantling of a stage, shed or other structure in connection with the assembly outside of 11 p.m. of a day and 7 a.m. the following day (both times inclusive);

(e)

which is held on any premises with the prior consent of the owner of those premises;

(f)

during which no organiser and no participant of the assembly —

(i)	uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaves in a threatening, abusive or insulting manner; or
(ii)	dresses indecently, or disrobes or removes his clothes (except for the purpose of search by a police officer);

(g)

before, during and after which no organiser and no participant of the assembly displays or exhibits any banner, flag, poster, placard, photograph, film, sign, writing or other visible representation containing any violent, lewd or obscene material; and

(h)

during which an organiser thereof, or an authorised agent of such an organiser, is present at all times during the assembly.

10. A public assembly comprising wholly or partly of a workshop or lecture organised by The Esplanade Co. Ltd. in any place to which the public or any class of the public has access, whether gratuitously or otherwise.

11. A press conference in any public place.

12.—(1) A public assembly held on the day of nomination (except 30 June 2020) at an election under the Parliamentary Elections Act (Cap. 218) around a place of nomination for that election —

(a)

to show support —

(i)	for any person or group of persons seeking nomination as a candidate or group of candidates at that election; or
(ii)	for any candidate or group of candidates in that election at or about the time the Returning Officer or an Assistant Returning Officer is to declare a candidate or group of candidates to be elected under section 33(1) of that Act;

(b)

at which only placards, banners, flags, posters, photographs, signs, writings or other visible representations containing the image, symbol or logo of any candidate or group of candidates at that election are displayed or exhibited after the close of nomination proceedings; and

(c)

before and during which no other placard, banner, flag, poster, photograph, film, sign, writing or other visible representation is displayed or exhibited.

[S 493/2020 wef 26/06/2020]

(2) In this item and item 13, “candidate”, “group”, “Returning Officer”, “Assistant Returning Officer”, “day of nomination” and “place of nomination” shall have the same meanings, respectively, as in the Parliamentary Elections Act (Cap. 218).

[S 135/2011 wef 14/03/2011]

13. A public assembly held on the day of nomination (except 30 June 2020) at an election under the Parliamentary Elections Act after the close of nomination proceedings at such part within a place of nomination for that election as the Returning Officer or an Assistant Returning Officer may designate —

(a)

comprising the following persons only:

(i)	the candidates in an election (whether contested or uncontested) under the Parliamentary Elections Act;
(ii)	each candidate’s or group’s proposer, seconder and assentors;
(iii)	the Returning Officer or any Assistant Returning Officer; and
(iv)	any other person entitled under that Act to be present at the nomination proceedings at the place of nomination; and

(b)

at which speeches or addresses to a public assembly referred to in item 12(1) are made —

(i)

with the prior approval of the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer, as the case may be, by the following (and no others):

(A)

in the case of an election in a group representation constituency — one or more candidates from the group of candidates declared to be elected under section 33(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act or, in the case of a contested election, one or more candidates from each group of candidates standing for election, in the order determined by the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer, as the case may be; or

(B)

in the case of an election in any other constituency — the candidate declared to be elected under section 33(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Cap. 218) or, in the case of a contested election, each candidate standing for election in the order determined by the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer, as the case may be;

(ii)

using such equipment as is authorised by the Returning Officer or an Assistant Returning Officer, as the case may be; and

(iii)

lasting not more than such duration for each candidate or, in the case of an election in a group representation constituency, for each group in total, as the Returning Officer or an Assistant Returning Officer may fix before the start of the speeches or addresses.

[S 135/2011 wef 14/03/2011]

[S 493/2020 wef 26/06/2020]

14.—(1) A public assembly held on nomination day at an election under the Presidential Elections Act (Cap. 240A) around a nomination place for that election —

(a)

to show support —

(i)	for any person seeking nomination as a candidate at that election; or
(ii)	for any candidate in that election at or about the time the Returning Officer or an Assistant Returning Officer is to declare a candidate to be elected under section 15(1) of that Act;

(b)

at which only placards, banners, flags, posters, photographs, signs, writings or other visible representations containing the image, symbol or logo of any candidate at that election are displayed or exhibited after the close of nomination proceedings; and

(c)

before and during which no other placard, banner, flag, poster, photograph, film, sign, writing or other visible representation is displayed or exhibited.

(2) In this item and item 15, “candidate”, “Returning Officer”, “nomination day” and “nomination place” shall have the same meanings, respectively, as in the Presidential Elections Act.

[S 135/2011 wef 14/03/2011]

15. A public assembly held on nomination day at an election under the Presidential Elections Act after the close of nomination proceedings at such part within the nomination place for that election as the Returning Officer may designate —

(a)

comprising the following persons only:

(i)	the candidates in an election (whether contested or uncontested) under the Presidential Elections Act;
(ii)	each candidate’s proposer, seconder and assentors;
(iii)	the Returning Officer; and
(iv)	any other person entitled under that Act to be present at the nomination proceedings at the nomination place; and

(b)

at which speeches or addresses to a public assembly referred to in item 14(1) are made —

(i)

with the prior approval of the Returning Officer by the following (and no others):

(A)	in the case of a contested election, each candidate standing for election in the order determined by the Returning Officer; or
(B)	the candidate declared to be elected under section 15(1) of the Presidential Elections Act (Cap. 240A);

(ii)

using such equipment as is authorised by the Returning Officer; and

(iii)

lasting not more than such duration for each candidate as the Returning Officer may fix before the start of the speeches or addresses.

[S 135/2011 wef 14/03/2011]

16. A public assembly not wholly inside a building or other enclosed premises —

(a)	that is held primarily to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew;
(b)	that is organised by or under the direction of the People’s Association;
(c)	that is held between 19 March 2016 and 31 March 2016 (both dates inclusive); and
(d)	during which the organiser provides crowd control measures that are necessary for the safety and wellbeing of persons attending the public assembly. [S 118/2016 wef 19/03/2016]

17. A public assembly wholly inside a building or other enclosed premises and not comprising a talk or lecture, and —

(a)	that is held primarily to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew;
(b)	that is organised by or under the direction of the People’s Association;
(c)	that is held between 19 March 2016 and 31 March 2016 (both dates inclusive); and
(d)	during which the organiser provides crowd control measures that are necessary for the safety and wellbeing of persons attending the public assembly. [S 118/2016 wef 19/03/2016]

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