Singapore legislation
Section 7
Section 7
Permit for public assembly or public procession
(1)
The Commissioner must, upon receipt of any notice and application under section 6 for a permit in respect of a proposed public assembly or public procession, have regard to the information provided in the notice and any other information available to the Commissioner in relation to the proposed public assembly or public procession (as the case may be) and may thereafter either —
grant a permit (with or without conditions) in respect of the proposed public assembly or public procession, as the case may be; or
refuse to grant a permit in respect of the proposed public assembly or public procession.
(2)
The Commissioner may refuse to grant a permit for a proposed public assembly or public procession in respect of which notice under section 6 has been given if the Commissioner has reasonable ground for apprehending that the proposed public assembly or public procession may —
occasion public disorder, or damage to public or private property;
create a public nuisance;
give rise to an obstruction in any public road;
place the safety of any person in jeopardy;
cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill will or hostility between different groups in Singapore;
glorify the commission or preparation (whether in the past, in the future or generally) of acts of terrorism or any offence or otherwise have 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;
be held within or enter a prohibited area, or an area to which an order or a notification under section 13 applies; or
be directed towards a political end and be organised by, or involve the participation of, any of the following persons:
an entity that is not a Singapore entity;
an individual who is not a citizen of Singapore.
(3)
During the period an activation order has effect under the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Act 2018, the Commissioner may refuse to issue any permit for or in respect of a public assembly or public procession to be held within or enter an area which is the target of a special authorisation granted under that Act as a result of the activation order.
(4)
In this section —
Definition
“directed towards a political end” means —
promoting the interests of a political party or other group of persons organised, in Singapore or elsewhere, for political objects;
influencing, or seeking to influence, the outcome of elections or referendums, whether in Singapore or elsewhere;
influencing, or seeking to influence, the policies or decisions of national or regional governments, whether in Singapore or elsewhere;
influencing, or seeking to influence, the policies or decisions of persons on whom public functions are conferred by or under the law of Singapore or of a country or territory outside Singapore;
influencing, or seeking to influence, the policies or decisions of persons on whom functions are conferred by or under international agreements;
influencing, or seeking to influence, public opinion on a matter which, in Singapore or elsewhere, is a matter of public controversy;
bringing about, or seeking to bring about, changes of the law in the whole or a part of Singapore or elsewhere, or otherwise influencing, or seeking to influence, the legislative process in Singapore or elsewhere; or
promoting or opposing political views, or public conduct relating to activities that have become the subject of a political debate, in Singapore or elsewhere;
Definition
“Singapore entity” means a Singapore‑controlled corporation, a Singapore‑controlled partnership or a Singapore‑controlled unincorporated association;
Definition
“Singapore‑controlled corporation” means a body corporate that —
is incorporated under any written law in Singapore;
has a management body (called an executive, a board of directors or otherwise), the majority of whose members (called directors, partners or otherwise) are citizens of Singapore; and
has a majority of members who are citizens of Singapore or 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 Singapore entities;
Definition
“Singapore‑controlled partnership” means —
a firm registered under the Business Names Registration Act 2014 in Singapore, the majority of whose partners are citizens of Singapore or one or more Singapore entities; or
a limited partnership registered under the Limited Partnerships Act 2008 in Singapore —
the majority of whose general partners as defined in that Act are citizens of Singapore or Singapore entities; and
the majority of whose limited partners as defined in that Act are citizens of Singapore or Singapore entities;
Definition
“Singapore‑controlled unincorporated association” means an unincorporated association that —
is formed in Singapore under any written law;
has a management body (called a committee, council or otherwise), the majority of whose members are citizens of Singapore; and
has a majority of members who are citizens of Singapore or Singapore entities.