Singapore legislation

Clause 10

Funds from foreign source for the purposes of a newspaper other than commercial purposes prohibited

(1)

Subject to this section, no person shall, on or after the grant or renewal of a permit under section 12 of this Act, receive on behalf or for the purposes of any newspaper to which this Part applies any funds from a foreign source without the prior approval of the Minister.

(2)

The Minister may grant such approval if he is satisfied, on such evidence as he may require to be furnished to him, that the funds from a foreign source are intended for bona fide commercial purposes.

(3)

Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section where any funds from a foreign source are sent to a person without his prior knowledge, consent or solicitation and such funds are intended for or given by the donor for the purposes of the newspaper, that person shall within three days of the receipt thereof report the circumstances and particulars of the receipt of such funds and the purposes for which such funds were received to the Minister.

(4)

Where funds from a foreign source have been received by a person for the purposes of the newspaper under subsection (3) of this section and the Minister refuses his approval for the retention of those funds the person shall, within such time as is specified by the Minister, return them to the sender thereof or, if the sender is untraced, such funds shall be donated to any charity specified by the Minister.

(5)

For the purposes of this section “foreign source” includes —

(a)

the government of a country outside Singapore or the agent of any such government;

(b)

any company, association or society incorporated or constituted under any law in force outside Singapore whether or not it has a branch office or place of business in Singapore;

(c)

any person who is not a citizen of Singapore whether or not he is resident in Singapore; or

(d)

such other source outside Singapore as the Minister may by notification in the Gazette declare to be a foreign source for the purposes of this section.

(6)

In this section “funds” means money, securities, movable or immovable property or other valuable consideration.

(7)

Nothing in this section shall apply to any dealing by any person in the shares of a newspaper company quoted on a Stock Exchange in Singapore.

(8)

Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1), (3) or (4) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine and the Court may, in addition to any other penalty that it may impose, order the forfeiture to the Government of any funds which are the subject of the charge.

Read in full context — Newspaper and Printing Presses Bill →