Diplomatic Privileges (Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland) Act

“Commonwealth officer” means an officer of a country to which this Act applies for the time being recognised by the Government of Singapore as an officer of that country performing in Singapore functions substantially corresponding to those which in the case of a foreign power would be performed by a consular officer;

“consular officer” has the same meaning as in the Consular Conventions Act [Cap. 52];

“employee” means any person employed at the office of a Commonwealth officer for the performance of executive, administrative, clerical, technical or professional duties or as a guard, messenger or driver of a vehicle whose name has been communicated by the Commonwealth officer to the Minister, but does not include any person employed on domestic duties;

“office” means any building or part of a building which is exclusively occupied for the purpose of the official business of a Commonwealth officer.

Subject to this section, the office of a Commonwealth officer shall not be entered by a police officer or other person acting in the execution of any warrant or other legal process or in the exercise of powers conferred by or under any written law (whether passed before or after the commencement of this Act) or otherwise, except with the consent of the Commonwealth officer in charge of the office or, if that consent is withheld or cannot be obtained, with the consent of the Minister.

Nothing in this section shall apply to any entry effected —

The countries to which this Act applies are Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

The President may by order published in the Gazette provide for including among the countries to which this Act applies any country specified in the order, being —

Any order made under subsection (2) may be revoked by a subsequent order.

Any order made under subsection (2) shall be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication.

The President may by order published in the Gazette provide that this Act shall cease to apply to, or shall be modified in its application to, any country on the ground that that country is failing to accord corresponding treatment to the Government of Singapore.

Section 6(3) and (4) shall apply to any order made under this section.