Singapore legislation
Clause 20
Clause 20
Licence for multi-discipline and corporate practice
(1)
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board may grant to a corporation a licence to supply architectural services in Singapore if —
the memorandum of association of the corporation provides that the primary object of the corporation is to supply architectural services;
at least $1 million of the authorised capital of the corporation is paid up;
the articles of association of the corporation provide that no person other than a registered architect or an allied professional shall be a director of the corporation;
the articles of association of the corporation provide that not less than two-thirds, or such lower proportion as the Minister may specify in relation to any particular corporation, of each class of shares of the corporation shall be owned by and registered in the names of registered architects or allied professionals or both, all of whom shall be directors, managers or employees of the corporation;
the business of the corporation, so far as it relates to the supply of architectural services, will be under the control and management of a manager of the corporation who —
is a registered architect ordinarily resident in Singapore; and
has in force a practising certificate; and
the corporation is insured against professional liability in accordance with section 24.
(2)
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board may grant a licence to any unlimited corporation to supply architectural services in Singapore if —
the corporation complies with the requirements set out in subsection (1)(a), (c) and (e); and
the members of the corporation comprise registered architects or allied professionals or both, all of whom shall be directors, managers or employees of the corporation.
(3)
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board may grant to a partnership not consisting wholly of registered architects a licence to supply architectural services in Singapore if —
the partnership is one in which only registered architects, each of whom shall have in force a practising certificate, and allied professionals have a beneficial interest in the capital assets and profits of the partnership; and
the business of the partnership, so far as it relates to the supply of architectural services in Singapore, will be under the control and management of a manager who is a registered architect ordinarily resident in Singapore and has in force a practising certificate.
(4)
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board may grant to any corporation (whether unlimited or not), or a partnership not consisting wholly of registered architects, a licence to supply architectural services in Singapore if the corporation or partnership has in force a licence granted under section 17 of the Land Surveyors Act 1991 or section 21 of the Professional Engineers Act 1991 and —
in the case of an unlimited corporation, the corporation complies with the requirements set out in subsections (1)(c) and (e) and (2)(b);
in the case of any other corporation, the corporation complies with the requirements set out in subsection (1)(b), (c), (d), (e) and (f); or
in the case of a partnership, the partnership complies with the requirements set out in subsection (3).
(5)
Any application for a licence under this section shall be in such form and shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed.
(6)
The Board may refuse to grant a licence to any corporation (whether unlimited or not) or partnership if, in the opinion of the Board, the past conduct of any director, manager or employee of the corporation, or any partner, manager or employee of the partnership, affords reasonable grounds for believing that the corporation or partnership, as the case may be, will not supply architectural services in Singapore in accordance with the written law and with honesty and integrity.
(7)
Every licence granted under this section shall, unless earlier revoked, be valid for such period as may be specified therein.
(8)
Any person whose application for a licence has been refused by the Board may, within 30 days after being notified of such refusal, appeal in the prescribed manner to the Minister whose decision shall be final.