Clause 30

For the purposes of this Act, there shall be an officer known as the Public Guardian to be appointed by the Minister.

If the Public Guardian is temporarily absent from Singapore or temporarily incapacitated by reason of illness or for any reason temporarily unable to perform his duties, the Minister may appoint a person to act in the place of the Public Guardian during any such period of absence from duty.

The Public Guardian may in writing appoint any public officer as an authorised officer for the purposes of this Act.

The Public Guardian may delegate to any authorised officer all or any of the functions or powers conferred on the Public Guardian by this Act except the powers conferred by this subsection.

The Public Guardian may disclose information obtained in connection with the administration or execution of this Act to any authorised officer if this is necessary to enable such officer to perform his official duties under this Act.

An authorised officer to whom information under subsection (5) is disclosed may only disclose or use such information to the extent necessary for performing his official duties under this Act, but not otherwise.

Any person who contravenes subsection (6) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

Subsections (5) and (6) are without prejudice to any right of disclosure under this Act or any other written law or rule of law.

The Public Guardian shall be deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of the Penal Code (Cap. 224).