/akn/sg/act/sub_leg/1948/IOIPA-OR8

International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955

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Type: Subsidiary Legislation
Status: In force
Enacted: 1948
Sections: 7

Quick answer

About this subsidiary legislation

International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955 is Singapore Subsidiary Legislation, cited as Subsidiary Legislation IOIPA-OR8 1948, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1948.

Regulation 1

Citation

This Order is the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955.

Regulation 2

Status of Universal Postal Union

Subregulation 1

The Universal Postal Union (called in this Order the Union) is an organisation of which the Government and the governments of foreign sovereign Powers are members.

Subregulation 2

The Union has the legal capacities of a body corporate.

Regulation 3

Immunities and privileges of the Union

Subregulation 1

The Union has immunity from suit and legal process, except insofar as in any particular case it has expressly waived its immunity.

Subregulation 2

No waiver of immunity is deemed to extend to any measure of execution.

Subregulation 3

The Union has the like inviolability of its official archives and premises occupied as offices as is accorded in respect of the official archives and premises of an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to the Republic of Singapore.

Subregulation 4

The Union has the like exemption or relief from taxes and rates, other than taxes on the importation of goods, as is accorded to a foreign sovereign Power.

Subregulation 5

The Union has exemption from taxes on the importation of —

(a)

goods directly imported by the Union for its official use in Singapore or for exportation; and

(b)

any of the publications of the Union directly imported by it,subject to compliance with any condition that the Director‑General of Customs may prescribe for the protection of the revenue.

Subregulation 6

The Union has exemption from prohibitions and restrictions on importation or exportation —

(a)

in the case of goods directly imported or exported by the Union for its official use; and

(b)

in the case of any publication of the Union directly imported or exported by it.

Subregulation 7

The Union has the right to avail itself —

(a)

for telegraphic communications sent by it and containing only matter intended for publication by the press; or

(b)

for broadcasting (including communications addressed to or despatched from places outside Singapore),of any reduced rate applicable for the corresponding service in the case of press telegrams.

Regulation 4

Immunities and privileges of representatives on organs or committees of the Union

Subregulation 1

Except insofar as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the governments whom they represent, representatives of members at Congresses, on the Executive and Liaison Committee, at administrative conferences or on commissions provided for in the constitution of the Union, or on any committee of any of these bodies enjoy —

(a)

while exercising their functions as such, and during their journeys to and from the place of meeting — immunity from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal baggage and inviolability of all papers and documents; and

(b)

immunity from legal process of every kind in respect of words spoken or written and things done or omitted to be done by them in their capacity as representatives.

Subregulation 2

Where the incidence of any form of taxation depends on residence, representatives are not deemed to be resident in Singapore during any period when they are present in Singapore for the discharge of their duties.

Subregulation 3

In this paragraph, “representatives” includes, in addition to the representatives, their official staff accompanying them as such representatives, who are —

(a)

alternate representatives;

(b)

advisers;

(c)

technical experts; and

(d)

secretaries of delegations,and Part 4 of the Second Schedule to the Act does not operate so as to confer privileges or immunities on the staff of representatives other than on those persons falling within the abovementioned descriptions.

Subregulation 4

Sub‑paragraphs (1) to (3) do not confer any immunity or privilege on any person —

(a)

as the representative of the Government;

(b)

as a member of the staff of a representative mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a); or

(c)

who is a citizen of Singapore.

Regulation 5

Immunities and privileges of Director of International Bureau of the Union

Except insofar as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the Union, any Director of the International Bureau of the Union (including any officer acting for him or her during his or her absence from duty) is accorded, in respect of himself or herself, his or her spouse and his or her children under 21 years of age —

(a)

the like immunity from suit and legal process, the like inviolability of residence and the like exemption or relief from taxes, other than income tax, as are accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign Power accredited to the Republic of Singapore and the envoy’s spouse and children; and

(b)

exemption from income tax in respect of emoluments received by him or her as an officer of the Union.

Regulation 6

Immunities and privileges of other officials of the Union

Except insofar as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the Union, officials of the Union of any category specified by it enjoy —

(a)

immunity from suit and legal process in respect of words spoken or written and things done or omitted to be done by them in the course of the performance of their official duties; and

(b)

exemption from income tax in respect of emoluments received by them as officers or employees of the Union.

Regulation 7

Publication of names

The names of the persons to whom paragraphs 4 and 5 apply are to be set out in a list compiled and published from time to time by the President under section 2(3) of the Act, and the list must show in regard to each person —

(a)

the date as from which, for the purposes of this Order, he or she first held the office or employment in question; and

(b)

the date when he or she ceased to hold that office or employment.[Note: The Government of the Republic of Singapore succeeded the Universal Postal Union on 18 March 1966.]

Common questions

What is International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955?: International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955 is Singapore Subsidiary Legislation, cited as Subsidiary Legislation IOIPA-OR8 1948, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1948.
Is International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955 still in force?: Yes — International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955 is currently in force.
When did International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955 take effect?: International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955 was first recorded in 1948.
How many regulations does International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955 have?: International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955 contains 7 regulations.
Where can I read the official version of International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955?: The official text of International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Universal Postal Union) Order 1955 is published at sso.agc.gov.sg.