Singapore Act 1966

1966 CHAPTER 29

An Act to make provision in connection with the establishment of Singapore as an independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth.

[9th August 1966]

1 Effect on existing law of Singapore’s becoming an independent sovereign Commonwealth state. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, all law which, whether being a rule of law or a provision of an Act of Parliament or of any other enactment or instrument whatsoever, was in force immediately before 9th August, 1965 (being the day on which Singapore became an independent sovereign state separate from and independent of Malaysia) or, having been passed or made before that day comes or has come into force thereafter, shall, unless and until provision to the contrary is made by Parliament or some other authority having power in that behalf, have the same operation in relation to Singapore, and persons and things belonging to or connected with Singapore, as it would have, apart from this subsection, if Singapore had not become an independent sovereign state as aforesaid.

(2) The enactments specified in the Schedule to this Act (being enactments applicable to Commonwealth countries having fully responsible status) shall have effect in accordance with the provisions of that Schedule.

(3) Subsection (1) of this section applies to law of, or of any part of, the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and, in relation only to an enactment of the Parliament of the United Kingdom or any Order in Council made by virtue of any such enactment whereby any such enactment applies in relation to Singapore, to law of any other country or territory to which that enactment or Order extends.

(4) This section shall be deemed to have had effect from 9th August, 1965.

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 2 repealed by Family Law Act 1986 (c. 55, SIF 49:3), s. 68(2), Sch. 2

3 Judicial Committee of Privy Council. U.K.

(1) Her Majesty may by Order in Council confer on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council such jurisdiction and powers in respect of appeals from the Federal Court of Malaysia, acting on appeals from the High Court of Singapore, and in respect of appeals from any other court being a court having jurisdiction under the laws of Singapore, as appear to Her Majesty to be appropriate for giving effect to any arrangements made in that behalf between Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the government of Singapore in accordance with any provision of those laws.

(2) An Order in Council made under this section may determine the classes of cases in which, and the conditions as to leave and otherwise subject to which, any such appeal may be entertained by the said Committee and the practice and procedure to be followed on any such appeal, and may contain such incidental or supplemental provisions as appear to Her Majesty to be expedient.

(3) Except as otherwise provided by an Order in Council under this section, and subject to such modifications as may be so provided, the M1 Judicial Committee Act 1833 shall have effect in relation to appeals in respect of which jurisdiction is conferred under this section as it applies in relation to appeals to Her Majesty in Council.

(4) An Order in Council under this section may be varied or revoked by a subsequent Order in Council.

Marginal Citations

M1 1833 c. 41.

4 Power to make consequential adaptations. U.K.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3 any Order in Council or other instrument made under any other enactment which varies or revokes a previous Order in Council or instrument in consequence of Singapore’s becoming an indeendent sovereign state within the Commonwealth may be made so as to have effect from 9th August 1965.

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 4(1)(3) repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 (c. 52), Sch. Pt. VI

F3 Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 (c. 52), Sch. Pt. VI

5 Short title and interpretation. U.K.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Singapore Act 1966.

(2) References in this Act to any enactment are references to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any other enactment.

Section 1(2).

SCHEDULE U.K. Modification of Enactments

1 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

Textual Amendments

F4 Sch. para. 1 repealed by British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61, SIF 87), Sch. 9

Armed Forces U.K.

F5 2 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F5 Sch. para. 2 repealed (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 17; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

3 U.K. In the M2 Visiting Forces (British Commonwealth) Act 1933, section 4 (attachment and mutual powers of command) shall have effect in relation to forces raised in Singapore as it has effect in relation to forces raised in Dominions within the meaning of the M3 Statute of Westminster 1931.

Marginal Citations

M2 1933 c. 6.

M3 1931 c. 4 (22 & 23 Geo. 5).

4 U.K. In the M4 Visiting Forces Act 1952, at the end of section 1(1)(a) (countries to which that Act applies) there shall be added the words “ Singapore or ” and, until express provision with respect to Singapore is made by Order in Council under section 8 of that Act (application to visiting forces of law relating to home forces), any such Order for the time being in force shall be deemed to apply to visiting forces of Singapore.

Marginal Citations

M4 1952 c. 67.

5 U.K. In section 84(2) of the M5 Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 (exclusion of application to visiting forces) before the words “and any country” there shall be inserted the word “ Singapore ”.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 The text of Sch. paras. 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

M5 1963 c. 41

Diplomatic Immunities U.K.

6 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

Textual Amendments

F6 Sch. para 6 repealed by Finance Act 1969 (c. 32), Sch. 21 Pt. IX

7 U.K. In section 1(6) of the M6 Diplomatic Immunities (Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland) Act 1952, before the words “and the Republic of Ireland” there shall be inserted the word “ Singapore ”.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 The text of Sch. paras. 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

M6 1952 c. 18

8 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7

Textual Amendments

F7 Sch. para. 8 repealed by International Organisations Act 1981 (c. 9, SIF 68:1), Sch.

Financial U.K.

9 U.K. In section 2(4) of the M7 Import Duties Act 1958, before the words “together with” there shall be inserted the word “ Singapore ”.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 The text of Sch. paras. 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

M7 1958 c. 6

Ships and Aircraft U.K.

F8 10 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F8 Sch. para. 10 repealed (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 21, ss. 314(1), 316(2), Sch. 12 (with ss. 312(1), Sch. 14 para. 1)

F9 11 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F9 Sch. para. 11 repealed (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 21, ss. 314(1), 316(2), Sch. 12 (with ss. 312(1), Sch. 14 para. 1)

Commonwealth Institute U.K.

F10 12 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F10 Sch. para. 12 repealed (7.1.2003) by 2002 c. 39, ss. 3, 4(2), Sch. 3

13 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F11

Textual Amendments

F11 Sch. para. 13 repealed by Films Act 1985 (c. 21, SIF 45A), Sch. 2

Companies U.K.

14 U.K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12

Textual Amendments

F12 Sch. para. 14 repealed by Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985 (c. 9, SIF 27), ss. 21, 23, 29, 31(8), Sch. 1