Singapore legislation

Clause 47

of Trust Companies Bill

Clause 47

Inspection in Singapore by parent supervisory authority

(1)

In relation to a licensed trust company that is incorporated outside Singapore, the parent supervisory authority may, with the prior written approval of the Authority and under conditions of secrecy, conduct an inspection in Singapore of the books, accounts and transactions of any branch or office of that licensed trust company in Singapore in accordance with this section if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

the inspection is required by the parent supervisory authority for the sole purpose of carrying out its supervisory functions; (b)the parent supervisory authority —

(i)

is prohibited by the laws applicable to the parent supervisory authority from disclosing information obtained by it in the course of the inspection to any other person; or

(ii)

has given to the Authority such written undertaking, as to the confidentiality of the information obtained, as the Authority may determine; and

(c)

the parent supervisory authority has given a written undertaking to the Authority to comply with the provisions of this Act and such conditions as the Authority may impose under subsection (2).

(2)

The Authority may at any time, whether before, on or after giving written approval for an inspection under this section, require the parent supervisory authority to comply with conditions relating to —

(a)

the classes of information to which the parent supervisory authority shall or shall not have access in the course of the inspection;

(b)

the conduct of the inspection;

(c)

the use or disclosure of any information obtained in the course of the inspection; and

(d)

such other matters as the Authority may determine.

(3)

Subject to compliance by a parent supervisory authority with such conditions as the Authority may impose under subsection (2), a licensed trust company under inspection —

(a)

shall afford the parent supervisory authority access to such books, accounts and documents of the branch or office of the licensed trust company under inspection, and provide such information (including information relating to the licensed trust company’s internal control systems) and facilities as may be required to conduct the inspection; and

(b)

shall not be required to afford the parent supervisory authority access to its books, accounts and documents or to provide information or facilities at such times or at such places as would unduly interfere with the proper conduct of the normal daily business of the licensed trust company.

(4)

A parent supervisory authority may, with the prior written approval of the Authority, appoint another body to conduct the inspection under subsection (1), and in such event the provisions of this section shall apply to the appointed body as they apply to the parent supervisory authority.

(5)

For the purposes of ensuring the confidentiality of any information obtained in the course of an inspection by a parent supervisory authority under this section, section 49(1) shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to any official of the parent supervisory authority as if the official were an officer of a licensed trust company.

(6)

Any licensed trust company which refuses or neglects, without reasonable excuse, to afford access to any book, account or document or provide any information or facility as may be required by this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $75,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $7,500 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.

Clause 47 — Trust Companies Bill | laws.sg