Clause 31

by deleting subsection (2) and substituting the following subsections:“(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Authority may, in a notice issued under that subsection, impose limits on each liquid asset or class of liquid assets to be held by a bank or class of banks.(2A) Where the Authority issues a notice under subsection (1) to a class of banks, the Authority may require different banks within the class of banks to hold different amount or amounts of liquid assets, having regard to the risks arising from the activities of each bank, the systemic impact of each bank on the financial sector and such other factors as the Authority may consider relevant.”;

by deleting the words “one month” in subsection (3) and substituting the words “3 business days”;

by deleting the word “notice” in subsection (4) and substituting the words “requirement imposed”;

by inserting, immediately after subsection (6), the following subsections:“(6A) The Authority may, at any time, utilise the liquid assets of a bank held for the purposes of subsection (1) for the settlement of the bank’s payment obligations, book-entry securities and instruments under any real-time gross settlement system established and operated under section 29A of the Monetary Authority of Singapore Act (Cap. 186), notwithstanding that this may result in the bank failing to comply with any requirement imposed under subsection (1).(6B) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and subject to subsection (6E), a bank may, in accordance with the requirements imposed under subsection (6C), utilise its liquid assets held for the purposes of subsection (1) if the bank —

is in a liquidity stress situation; and

is solvent immediately before, and will remain solvent after, the utilisation of its liquid assets.(6C) For the purposes of subsection (6B), the Authority may, from time to time, by notice in writing to a bank impose requirements in relation to the utilisation by the bank of its liquid assets held for the purposes of subsection (1), including —

the procedures which the bank must comply with before or after utilising, or during the utilisation of, its liquid assets; and

the manner in which the bank may utilise its liquid assets.(6D) A bank shall, within such time as may be specified by the Authority, provide any information required by the Authority in relation to its liquidity stress situation and the utilisation of its liquid assets held for the purposes of subsection (1).(6E) Where the Authority is of the opinion that —

a bank is not in a liquidity stress situation;

a bank has failed to comply with any requirement imposed under subsection (6C);

a bank is or is likely to become insolvent, or that it is or is likely to become unable to meet its obligations, or that it is about to suspend payments; or

it is in the public interest to do so,the Authority may by notice in writing to the bank —

where the bank has already utilised its liquid assets held for the purposes of subsection (1), direct the bank to comply with any requirement imposed under subsection (1) within such time as may be specified by the Authority in the notice; or

where the bank has not, or has not fully, utilised its liquid assets held for the purposes of subsection (1), do one or more of the following:

refuse to allow the bank to utilise its liquid assets held for the purposes of subsection (1) which are within the control of the Authority;

direct the bank to cease utilising its liquid assets held for the purposes of subsection (1);

direct the bank to comply with any requirement imposed under subsection (1) within such time as may be specified by the Authority in the notice.”;

by deleting subsections (7) and (8) and substituting the following subsections:“(7) Any bank which fails to comply with any requirement imposed under subsection (1) shall be liable to pay, on being called upon to do so by the Authority, for every day or part thereof of such failure, a financial penalty in accordance with such formula as the Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, prescribe.(8) For the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of subsections (4) and (7), a bank shall be treated as having failed to comply with a requirement imposed under subsection (1) even if such failure is the result of an action of the Authority under subsection (6A).(8A) Any bank which fails to comply with —

subsection (4) or (6D);

any requirement of the Authority under subsection (6) or (6C); or

any direction of the Authority under subsection (6E),shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $250,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of $25,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.”; and

by deleting subsection (9) and substituting the following subsection:“(9) In this section —“liquid assets” means —

notes and coin which are legal tender in Singapore other than assets maintained and held for the purposes of section 40;

balances with the Authority other than cash balances maintained for the purposes of section 39 and assets maintained and held for the purposes of section 40; and

such other assets as the Authority may from time to time approve;“liquidity stress situation” has the meaning given to it in the Fifth Schedule.”.