Women’s Charter

“brothel” means any place occupied or used by any two or more women or girls whether at the same time or at different times for the purpose of prostitution;

“club” means any place which is used by an association of two or more persons for any purpose or object;

“Conciliation Officer” means a Conciliation Officer appointed under section 46 of this Ordinance;

“Deputy Registrar” means a Deputy Registrar of Marriages appointed under section 25 of this Ordinance;

“Director” means the Director of Social Welfare, and includes an Assistant Director of Social Welfare;

“minor” means a person who is under the age of twenty-one years and who is not married or a widower or widow;

“occupier” of a place means the tenant, sub-tenant or lessee thereof or any person in charge of the place whether or not he is in actual occupation and whether he has or has not powers to let or sub-let;

“owner” of a place means a person who, for the time being, has power or authority to let, hire, sell or convey the place to another person, or who receives the rent of the place whether on his own account or as an agent or trustee for any other person;

“place” means any building, house, office, flat, room or cubicle or any part thereof, and any open or enclosed space and includes a ship, boat or any vessel, whether afloat or not, and any vehicle;

“place of assignation” means any place where communication is established with any woman or girl, either directly or through an intermediary, for any immoral purpose;

“place of public resort” means any place to which the public for the time being have access;

“place of safety” means any place of safety established under the provisions of section 162 of this Ordinance;

“Po Leung Kuk Fund” means the moneys and securities originally administered by the Po Leung Kuk Society established under rules made by the Governor in Council on the 8th day of March, 1905, and includes the moneys and securities kept in banks under the name of the Po Leung Kuk Fund;

“prostitution” means the act of a female offering her body for promiscuous sexual intercourse for hire, whether in money or in kind;

“register of marriages” includes the State Marriage Register and any local marriage register kept or made under this Ordinance;

“Registrar” means the Registrar of Marriages appointed under section 25 of this Ordinance and includes an Assistant Registrar of Marriages;

Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section this Ordinance shall apply to all persons resident in Singapore and shall also apply to all persons domiciled in Singapore who are resident outside Singapore.

Parts II to VI and Part IX of this Ordinance shall not apply to any person who is married under, or to any marriage solemnized or registered under, the provisions of the Muslim law or of any written law in Singapore or in the Federation of Malaya providing for the registration of Muslim marriages.

No marriage one of the parties to which is a Muslim shall be solemnized or registered under this Ordinance.

For the purposes of this Ordinance, a person who is a citizen of Singapore shall be deemed, until the contrary is proved, to be domiciled in Singapore.

Any person who enters a caveat against the issue by a Registrar of a certificate for marriage and makes any false representation in or in support of the caveat knowing or believing such representation to be false or not having reason to believe it to be true, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

Any person who enters a caveat against the issue of a certificate for marriage and pretends or falsely represents himself to be a person whose consent to the marriage is required by law knowing or believing such pretence or representation to be false or not believing it to be true shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

Any person who knowingly and contrary to this Ordinance solemnizes a marriage —

Any Registrar who knowingly and contrary to this Ordinance issues any certificate for marriage —

If the Registrar is satisfied by statutory declaration or otherwise that any entry relating to a marriage is erroneous in form or substance, he may, in the presence of the persons married, or, if they are absent, in the presence of two credible witnesses, correct the error by ruling through any entry in the certificate of marriage which is erroneous and making the correct entry therein and he shall thereupon cause the entry in the local marriage register to be corrected in the same manner.

The Registrar or the Deputy Registrar shall sign and date the correction made in the certificate of marriage and the local marriage register.

Every entry made under subsection (1) of this section shall be attested by the witnesses in whose presence it was made.

Every marriage register and index kept by the Registrar under the provisions of this Ordinance shall be open to inspection upon payment of the prescribed fee by any person applying to inspect the same.

The Registrar shall upon payment of the prescribed fee furnish to any person requiring the same a copy of any entry certified under his hand and seal of office.

Any person who —

Any male person who is convicted of a second or subsequent offence under paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of subsection (1) of this section shall in addition to any term of imprisonment awarded in respect of such offence be liable to caning.

For the purposes of this section it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that —

Reasonable cause to believe that a girl was of or above the age of sixteen years shall not be a defence to a charge of an offence under paragraph (j) of subsection (1) of this section:Provided that in the case of a man of twenty-four years of age or under the presence of reasonable cause to believe that the girl was over the age of sixteen years shall be a valid defence on the first occasion on which he is charged with such an offence.

Any person who buys, sells, procures, traffics in, or brings into or takes out of Singapore for the purpose of such traffic, and whether or not for the purpose of present or subsequent prostitution, any woman or girl, shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars.

No person shall be charged with an offence under this section if he satisfies the Director that the woman or girl brought into or taken out of Singapore by him or intended to be brought into or taken out of Singapore by him was so brought into or taken out of Singapore or is intended to be so brought into or taken out of Singapore for the purpose of her marriage or adoption and that such marriage or adoption can be solemnized or made and has been or will be solemnized or made under the laws and customs for the time being in force in Singapore.

Any person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars.

Any male person who is convicted for a second or subsequent offence under this section shall in addition to any term of imprisonment awarded in respect of such offence be liable to caning.

Where any person is proved to live with or be habitually in the company of a prostitute or prostitutes or is proved to have exercised control, direction or influence over the movements of a prostitute or prostitutes in such a manner as to show that such person is aiding, abetting or compelling her or their prostitution with any other person or generally, such person shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be deemed to be knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution.

Any person who keeps, manages or assists in the management of a place of assignation shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine; and on a second or subsequent conviction shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

Any person who keeps, manages or assists in the management of a club or a place of public resort which is used as a place of assignation shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine; and on a second or subsequent conviction shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

Any person who keeps or manages or assists in the management of a brothel shall be guilty of an offence under this section.

Any person who is the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of any place which is used as a brothel shall unless such person proves that he has no knowledge that the place is used as a brothel be guilty of an offence under this section.

Any person who being the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of any place lets such place or any part thereof shall notwithstanding such letting be guilty of an offence under subsection (2) of this section if the place or any part thereof is used as a brothel, unless he proves that he has no knowledge that the place or such part thereof is used as a brothel.

Any person who being the owner of any place or the agent of such owner lets the same or any part thereof with the knowledge that such place or some part thereof is to be used as a brothel or is wilfully a party to the continued use of such place or any part thereof as a brothel shall notwithstanding such letting be guilty of an offence under this section.

Any person who is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine; and on a second or subsequent conviction shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

Where the Director has reason to believe that a place is being used as a brothel or as a place of assignation he may serve or cause to be served a notice in the prescribed form on the owner of such place, as well as the occupier thereof.

If the owner or occupier is not otherwise known, service shall be made on the person inscribed in the books kept under any written law for the time being in force as the owner or occupier of such place; and if the name of the owner or occupier is not inscribed in such books or if the name of the owner or occupier cannot by the exercise of due diligence be found, then the notice may be served by being affixed to the principal outer door or upon the outside of any door or window or any conspicuous part of the place.

Every occupier receiving a notice under this section shall forthwith inform the owner or the person from whom he rents the place of the fact of receipt of such notice who shall in like manner inform the owner or the person from whom he rents the place and so on till the notice is brought to the knowledge of the owner, each tenant being responsible to bring the notice to the knowledge of his immediate lessor.

Any occupier who refuses or omits to inform the owner or the person from whom he rents the premises that such notice has been received shall be liable to prosecution under section 225C of the Penal Code (Cap. 119).

If in proceedings under this Part of this Ordinance, it is proved that the notice referred to in subsection (1) of this section has been served on the owner or occupier of a place it shall be presumed that the place is so kept, managed or used to the knowledge or with the permission of the owner or occupier of such place.

Upon the conviction of the occupier of any place for any offence under section 132 or 133 of this Ordinance in respect of such place, the owner of such place shall within one month require the person so convicted to deliver up possession of the place to the owner, and in the event of the person so convicted failing within one month of being so required to deliver up possession as aforesaid, the owner of such place shall be entitled to determine the lease or contract of tenancy but without prejudice to the rights or remedies of any party to such lease or contract accrued before the date of such determination.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Control of Rent Ordinance (Cap. 242), where the owner of any place has determined the lease or contract of tenancy in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section and the occupier has not delivered up possession of the place after such determination, a Magistrate’s Court may on the application of the owner make a summary order for the delivery of possession of the place to the owner.

If the occupier disobeys any order made by a Magistrate’s Court under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, he shall be liable to the penalty prescribed in that behalf in section 188 of the Penal Code (Cap. 119).

When any person is charged with or convicted of having committed any offence under this Part of this Ordinance, or under section 354 or 376, or sections 354 and 511, or sections 376 and 511 of the Penal Code (Cap. 119) in respect of any woman or girl, the court conducting a preliminary inquiry into, or trying such offence, or hearing any appeal or special case or any point reserved by a Judge of the High Court in relation to such offence, may order that all proceedings before it shall be dealt with in camera.

Whenever any such order is made the court shall not be deemed an open court, and the court shall order that no person shall have access to or be or remain in such court except such persons as are necessary for the purpose of the proceedings.

The court shall order proceedings before it to be dealt with in camera in any case where the girl in respect of whom an offence under this Part of this Ordinance, or under section 354 or 376, or sections 354 and 511, or sections 376 and 511 of the Penal Code is alleged to have been committed has not attained the age of sixteen years.

No newspaper report of any proceedings under this Part of this Ordinance in any court shall reveal the name or address, or include any particulars calculated to lead to the identification of any woman or girl in respect of whom the offence is alleged to be committed, nor shall any picture be published in any newspaper as being or including a picture of any such woman or girl.

Any person who publishes any matter in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

All offences against this Part of this Ordinance shall be cognizable by a District Court:Provided that no prosecution shall be instituted in respect of any such offence without the previous sanction of the Director or the Public Prosecutor or his deputy.

Any District Court may, notwithstanding anything in the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 132), impose the full punishment prescribed by this Part of this Ordinance in respect of any offence.

Prosecutions in respect of offences committed under this Part of this Ordinance may be conducted by the Director or any officer of the Ministry of Labour and Law, authorized in writing in that behalf by the Director.

Any court inquiring into or trying an offence punishable under this Part of this Ordinance or under section 309, 312, 313, 317, 354, 370, 371, 372, 373, 373A, 376, 376B, 377 or 498 of the Penal Code or defined in section 321, 322, 339, 340, 350, 351, 360, 361 or 362 of the Penal Code may order any woman or girl in respect of whom the offence is alleged to have been committed to be detained temporarily until the determination of the proceedings against the person accused.

Where an order is made under subsection (1) of this section the Director shall receive such woman or girl and shall put her in a place of safety and shall there detain her until the determination of the proceedings.

Notwithstanding the determination of the proceedings against the accused person, the Director may by warrant under his hand, order the detention in a place of safety of any woman or girl referred to in this section whom he considers to need protection, and thereupon such arrangements shall be made for her welfare as the Director deems necessary:Provided that in exercising his powers under this subsection, the Director shall not contravene the provision of section 146 of this Ordinance.

If the Director has reasonable cause to believe that —

The Director may also require any person in whose custody or under whose control the woman or girl appears to be to furnish him with copies of her and such person’s photograph and to furnish security to the satisfaction of the Director that such woman or girl will not leave Singapore without the previous consent in writing of the Director and will not be trained or disposed of as a prostitute or for immoral purposes and will not whether by way of adoption, marriage or otherwise, be transferred to the care and custody of any other person without the previous consent in writing of the Director and that she will be produced before the Director whenever he requires it.

In default of such photographs and security being given the Director may by warrant under his hand order such woman or girl to be removed to a place of safety and there detained until she can be returned to the place from whence she was brought or until other proper provision can be made for her welfare.

Where the Director has reason to believe that such woman or girl may be sent from Singapore, he may issue an order for the detention of such woman or girl in a place of safety until the determination of any inquiries or until after such arrangements have been made for her welfare as the Director deems necessary.

The Director or any officer generally or specially authorized in that behalf in writing by the Director may at any time visit and inspect the place where any woman or girl in respect of whom security has been furnished under section 141 of this Ordinance lives or is believed to live or to be.

The Director or any such officer may inquire into the condition and circumstances of such woman or girl and for the purposes of such inquiry the Director or such officer as aforesaid may require any person to answer any questions he may think proper to ask.

Any person who —

Whenever the Director is of opinion that it is in the interests of any such woman or girl as is referred to in section 141 of this Ordinance that such woman or girl should be permitted to leave Singapore, the Director may grant such permission upon being supplied with such photographs of such woman or girl as he may require and upon security being given to his satisfaction that the person in whose custody or control such woman or girl appears to be will bring such woman or girl before such public officer within such period and at such destination as may be specified in the bond.

The giving of such further security shall not relieve any person who furnished the security required by section 141 of this Ordinance from any obligation under the conditions of the bond entered into under that section, other than the condition relating to departure from Singapore, unless the public officer in the territory where such woman or girl then resides obtains fresh security conditioned in the manner specified in section 141 of this Ordinance.

A certificate under the hand of the public officer referred to in subsection (1) of this section that such woman or girl has not been brought before him shall in any legal proceedings be conclusive evidence to that effect, unless the court requires such officer to be called as a witness.

If the Director has reasonable cause to believe that any girl under the age of twenty-one years is being trained or used for immoral purposes or lives in or frequents any brothel or is habitually in the company of prostitutes or brothel keepers or procuresses or persons employed or living in brothels or persons directly interested in the business carried on in brothels or by prostitutes, he may, by warrant under his hand, order such girl to be removed to a place of safety and there temporarily detained until an inquiry has been held by him.

If the Director after holding such inquiry is satisfied that such girl comes within the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, he may, by warrant under his hand, order such girl to be detained in a place of safety.

Any woman or girl —

Every such inquiry shall be completed within a period of one month from the date of such woman’s or girl’s admission into the place of safety.

If after holding such inquiry, the Director is satisfied that such woman or girl is in need of protection, he may by warrant under his hand order that such woman or girl be detained in a place of safety.

Any woman or girl may on her own application be received by the Director into a place of safety if he is satisfied that such woman or girl is in urgent need of refuge.

Where the situation warrants it, the person in charge of any place of safety may receive into such place of safety any woman or girl who makes an application to her.

Where the person in charge of a place of safety receives any woman or girl into such place of safety in accordance with subsection (2) of this section she shall within forty-eight hours of the admission of such woman or girl, produce her before the Director with a full report of the circumstances.

Whenever an order has been made under subsection (3) of section 140, section 141, 144 or 145 of this Ordinance for the detention of a woman or girl in a place of safety and it appears to the Minister to be expedient in the interests of such woman or girl that she should be removed from such place of safety and transferred to a place of safety established in the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, Brunei or Hong Kong under the provisions of any law for the time being in force in the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, Brunei or Hong Kong, as the case may be, for the protection of women and girls, it shall be lawful for the Minister to issue an order that such woman or girl shall be removed to such place of safety established in the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, Brunei or Hong Kong:Provided that no woman or girl admitted into a place of safety in Singapore on the request in writing of her lawful guardian under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 145 of this Ordinance shall be so removed from such place of safety except with the approval in writing of her lawful guardian.

The order for removal under this section shall be addressed to the person in charge of the place of safety in which the woman or girl is detained and shall direct such person to deliver the woman or girl to the person mentioned in the said order for removal at such place in the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, Brunei or Hong Kong and in such manner as may be specified in the said order for the purpose of transfer as aforesaid; and the woman or girl shall be delivered up and shall be transferred accordingly.

The Minister may direct that any conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Part of this Ordinance, which may be prescribed by the provisions of any law for the time being in force in the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, Brunei or Hong Kong for the reception of women and girls from Singapore into the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, Brunei or Hong Kong, and the detention therein of such women and girls shall be observed.

Any woman or girl removed under this Part of this Ordinance to a place of safety in the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, Brunei or Hong Kong may, if she so desires, on being discharged from such place of safety, be returned to Singapore.

Whenever the Government of the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, Brunei or Hong Kong makes a representation to the Minister that it is expedient that any woman or girl whose detention in a place of safety has been ordered by the authority thereunto empowered by the law of such territory should be removed to Singapore for detention in a place of safety within Singapore, and satisfies the Minister that provision will be made for the payment of all expenses that may be incurred in the reception, maintenance and detention of, or otherwise in relation to, such woman or girl, the Minister, if it appears to him that there is sufficient accommodation for such woman or girl in a place of safety within Singapore, may by warrant under his hand in the prescribed form direct such woman or girl, when brought into Singapore, to be received therein and conveyed to a place of safety specified in such warrant and to be there detained until discharged in due course of law or until further order.

The representation mentioned in subsection (1) of this section shall be delivered under the hand of the Minister or the officer for the time being charged with the responsibility for making such a representation on behalf of the Government concerned.

Every warrant purporting to be issued in pursuance of this Part of this Ordinance and to be under the hand of the Minister shall be received in evidence in every court without further proof and shall be evidence of the facts therein stated, and all acts done in pursuance of such warrant shall be deemed to have been authorized by law.

Every woman or girl detained under this Part of this Ordinance shall be subject to such rules as are prescribed.

Every woman or girl detained or ordered to be detained under this Part of this Ordinance who leaves any place in which she is detained otherwise than in accordance with such rules may be arrested and taken back to such place by any police officer or by any officer duly authorized thereto either specially or generally by the Director.

Any person who induces or assists any woman or girl so detained as aforesaid to leave the place in which she is detained, otherwise than in accordance with such rules, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

Whenever the Director, after inquiry, has reason to believe that a breach of any of the provisions of this Part of this Ordinance is about to be or has been committed by any person, the Director may direct that such person be photographed, and his finger impressions taken at such time and place and in such manner as the Director may think fit, and the person so directed shall submit to be photographed and to have his finger impressions taken at such time and place and in such manner as the Director may think fit and in default of so doing shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

Any person whose finger impressions and photograph have been taken under subsection (1) of this section may apply on the expiry of five years from the date when such finger impressions and photograph were taken for the return of such finger impressions and photograph and the Director shall, unless such person has in such period of five years been convicted of any offence under this Part of this Ordinance, deliver to such person the sheet upon which his finger impressions have been made together with the negative and all copies of any photograph taken of him, or, if no such application is received within three months from the period specified in this subsection, shall destroy such sheet and every such negative and photograph.

The Director may summon any person who he has reason to believe can give any information —

The person so summoned shall attend at the hour and place specified in the summons and shall produce all documents in his custody, possession or control relating to such woman or girl or place, as the case may be, and shall answer truthfully all questions which the Director may put to him respecting any such woman or girl or place or in any way relating to the matter being inquired into, and where the inquiry relates to any woman or girl, such person shall also, if so required by the Director, produce such woman or girl, unless such person is able to satisfy the Director that he is unable to do so.

The Director shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Penal Code (Cap. 119) and may administer oaths to and examine on oath any person summoned before him for the purposes of this Part of this Ordinance.

Any person summoned who fails to attend at the hour and place specified in the summons or to do any of the other acts referred to in subsection (2) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to both such imprisonment and fine.

The Director shall not be compellable in any judicial proceeding to answer any question as to the grounds of his decision or belief in any case dealt with by him under this Part of this Ordinance or as to anything which came to his knowledge in any inquiry made by him as Director.

The Director may during or after such inquiry as is referred to in subsection (1) of this section arrest or cause to be arrested any person whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be liable to prosecution for any offence under this Part of this Ordinance committed in respect of such woman or girl or such place, and may seize and detain any articles or any books, documents or accounts which he may have reason to believe to relate to such offence.

The Director, or any person being either a person employed in the Ministry of Labour and Law, or a police officer not below the rank of Inspector or an officer of the Immigration Department, Singapore, and being generally or specially authorized for that purpose in writing by the Director, may enter, and for that purpose use force if necessary, and search —

Any person who refuses to be searched or refuses the Director or such person or officer as aforesaid access to such place or otherwise obstructs or hinders him in effecting an entrance to such place or in removing any such woman or girl shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or to both such imprisonment and fine.

The Director, or any person being either a person employed in the Ministry of Labour and Law, or a police officer not below the rank of Inspector or an officer of the Immigration Department, Singapore, and being generally or specially authorized for that purpose in writing by the Director, may arrest or cause to be arrested any person reasonably believed to be liable to prosecution for an offence under section 128, 129, 130, 131, 132 or 133 of this Ordinance and may seize, and for that purpose use force if necessary, and detain any articles or any books, documents or accounts which he may have reason to believe to relate to an offence.

Where any person is arrested by the Director or by any of the persons mentioned in subsection (1) of this section the Director or any such person making the arrest shall comply with the provisions of sections 35 and 36 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 132) as if he were a police officer.

Any person who obstructs or hinders the Director or such person or officer as aforesaid in the arrest of any such suspected person or in the seizure or detention of such articles, books, documents or accounts shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or to both such imprisonment and fine.

Every warrant or summons purporting to be issued in pursuance of this Part of this Ordinance and to be under the hand and seal of the Director shall be received in evidence in any court without further proof and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated.

All acts done in pursuance of such warrant or summons shall be deemed to have been authorized by law.

The Minister may by notification in the Gazette appoint for every place of safety a Board of Visitors to advise and make recommendations to the Director on such matters as he may refer to it.

A Board of Visitors may be appointed for one or more places of safety as the Minister thinks fit.

A Board of Visitors shall consist of twelve persons of whom at least five shall be women.

The Minister may appoint for a place of safety a Discharge Committee which shall advise and make recommendations to the Director on the discharge and aftercare of women and girls in such place of safety.

A Discharge Committee may be appointed in respect of one or more places of safety as the Minister thinks fit.

A Discharge Committee shall consist of seven persons a majority of whom shall be women.

Every person who on the 2nd day of March 1961, is lawfully married under any law, religion, custom or usage to one or more spouses shall be incapable, during the continuance of such marriage or marriages of contracting a valid marriage under any law, religion, custom or usage with any person other than such spouse or spouses.

Every person who on the 2nd day of March 1961, is lawfully married under any law, religion, custom or usage to one or more spouses and who subsequently ceases to be married to such spouse or all such spouses, shall, if he thereafter marries again, be incapable during the continuance of that marriage of contracting a valid marriage with any other person under any law, religion, custom or usage.

Every person who on the 2nd day of March 1961, is unmarried and who after that date marries under any law, religion, custom or usage shall be incapable during the continuance of such marriage of contracting a valid marriage with any other person under any law, religion, custom or usage.

Every marriage contracted in contravention of the provisions of section 4 of this Ordinance shall be invalid.

If any male person lawfully married under any law, religion, custom or usage shall during the continuance of such marriage contract a union with a woman which but for such marriage would confer rights of succession or inheritance upon such woman or upon the issue of such union, no issue of such union shall be legitimate or have any right of inheritance in or succession to the estate of such male person, and no such woman shall have any such right by reason of the death intestate of such male person.

Nothing in this section shall affect the liability of any person to pay such maintenance as may be directed to be paid by him under any written law.

A marriage may be solemnized by the Registrar or any other person to whom a licence to solemnize marriages under this section has been granted by the Minister.

The Minister may grant a licence to any suitable person to solemnize marriages in Singapore.

A marriage solemnized between a man and any of the persons mentioned in the first column of Part I of the First Schedule to this Ordinance, or between a woman and any of the persons mentioned in the second column of the said Part I, shall be void.

A marriage solemnized between a man and any of the persons mentioned in the first column of Part II of the said First Schedule, or between a woman and any of the persons mentioned in the second column of the said Part II, shall not be void by reason only of affinity.

A marriage which by virtue of subsection (2) of this section is not void if solemnized after the decease of any person shall be void if solemnized during the lifetime of that person.

A marriage solemnized between a man and a sister of his divorced wife and a marriage between a woman and a brother of her divorced husband shall be void if solemnized during the lifetime of such divorced wife or divorced husband as the case may be.

A Registrar in whose presence a declaration for the purpose of section 16 of this Ordinance is made shall explain to the person making the same what are the prohibited degrees of kindred and affinity and the penalties which may be incurred under other provisions of this Ordinance.

Subject to the provisions of this section a certificate for marriage under section 16 of this Ordinance or a licence under section 20 of this Ordinance for the marriage of a minor shall not be issued without the consent of a person mentioned in the Second Schedule to this Ordinance who is authorized to give such consent:Provided that —

An application to the High Court under this section shall be made to a judge in chambers.

When an application is made to the High Court in consequence of a refusal to give consent notice of the application shall be served upon the person who refused to give consent.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Part of this Ordinance consent to the marriage of a minor shall not be necessary if the minor has been previously married.

There shall be no appeal from an order of a judge under this section.

Upon receipt of such notice such Registrar shall cause the notice to be filed serially.

The Registrar shall also cause a copy of the notice to be posted up in a conspicuous place in his office and shall keep the same so posted up until he grants his certificate as hereinafter mentioned, or until three months shall have elapsed.

Any person on payment of the prescribed fee may enter a caveat with the Registrar against the issue of a certificate for the marriage of any person named in the caveat and notice of whose intended marriage has been given to the Registrar.

A caveat entered under this section shall contain the name and place of residence of the person entering the caveat and the grounds of objection upon which the caveat is founded and shall be signed by the person entering the caveat.

If a caveat is entered in accordance with the provisions of section 18 of this Ordinance the Registrar shall not issue a certificate for the marriage against which the caveat has been entered unless —

Where the Registrar has refused to issue the certificate for marriage the person applying for the same shall have a right of appeal to the High Court which shall thereupon either confirm the refusal or direct the grant of the certificate for marriage.

The High Court may examine the allegations contained in the caveat in a summary way and may hear evidence in support of and in opposition to the objection.

The proceedings under this section shall be before a judge in chambers.