Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Bill

“affidavit” includes any affirmation, statutory or other declaration, acknowledgment, examination, and attestation or protestation of honour;

“consular officer” includes a consul-general, consul, vice-consul, pro-consul and consular agent of Singapore;

“diplomatic officer” includes an ambassador, high commissioner, minister, charge d’affaires, deputy high commissioner, secretary and attache of a diplomatic mission of Singapore;

“swear” includes affirm, declare and protest.

Every diplomatic officer and consular officer exercising his functions outside Singapore may in that country —

Any document purporting to have affixed, impressed or subscribed thereon or thereto the seal and signature of any person authorised by this section to administer an oath or affirmation in testimony of any oath, affirmation, affidavit or act being administered, taken or done by or before him, shall be admitted in evidence without proof of the seal or signature being the seal or signature of that person, or of the official character of that person.

The President may by order direct that so much of subsection (2) of this section as relates to the proof of notarial acts done in any country or place outside Singapore by diplomatic officers and consular officers of Singapore shall apply in relation to notarial acts done by such persons as may be specified in that order, being persons serving in the diplomatic, consular or other foreign service of a Power which, by arrangement with the President, has undertaken to represent the interest of Singapore in any country or place in which Singapore has no diplomatic or consular representatives.

For the purposes of this section, “oath” includes any oath required to be taken for the purposes of the Constitution provided that such oath is taken before a diplomatic officer or consular officer who is himself a citizen of Singapore.

Save as provided in any orders made under the provisions of section 4 of this Act, a diplomatic officer or consular officer entrusted with consular duties shall not ask for or take any fee or reward for or on account of any act, thing or service done, performed or rendered by him in the execution of his office.

Any diplomatic officer or consular officer who acts in contravention of or fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall, without prejudice to any other liability, be guilty of an offence under this Act.