Diplomatic and Consular Relations (Bank for International Settlements) Order 2020

No. S 49

Diplomatic and Consular Relations Act

(CHAPTER 82A)

Diplomatic and Consular Relations
(Bank for International Settlements)
Order 2020

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6(3) of the Diplomatic and Consular Relations Act, the Minister for Foreign Affairs makes the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order is the Diplomatic and Consular Relations (Bank for International Settlements) Order 2020 and comes into operation on 16 January 2020.

Definitions

2.  In this Order —

“BIS” means the Bank for International Settlements;

“BISIH Singapore Centre” means the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub — Singapore Centre, a unit of the BIS;

“Centre Head” means the head of the BISIH Singapore Centre appointed by the BIS;

“General Manager” means the general manager of the BIS appointed by the BIS;

“member of the personnel”, in relation to the BISIH Singapore Centre, means —

(a) any individual employed by the BIS and designated by the BIS as a member of the personnel of the BISIH Singapore Centre, including the Centre Head;

(b) any individual seconded to the BISIH Singapore Centre from a central bank of a foreign country or territory; or

(c) any individual assigned to the BISIH Singapore Centre by the Government or a statutory body;

“statutory body” means a body corporate established by or under any public Act to perform or discharge a public function.

Additional immunities and privileges of BIS

3.  In addition to its immunities and privileges under the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Bank for International Settlements) Order 2020 (G.N. No. S 48/2020), the BIS enjoys the following immunities and privileges:

(a) inviolability of all its archives and documents (including electronic data) belonging to or held by it;

(b) freedom from censorship of its official communications, subject to any agreement in writing between the Government and the BIS on any appropriate security precaution that may be adopted;

(c) free communication for all official purposes, including the right to use codes;

(d) the right to send and receive correspondence by a courier or in a sealed bag, being a courier or bag of the same status as a diplomatic courier or diplomatic bag under Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Additional immunities and privileges of members of personnel of BIS, etc.

4.—(1)  In addition to his or her immunities and privileges under the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Bank for International Settlements) Order 2020, each of the following individuals who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore enjoys exemption from goods and services tax and customs and excise duties when importing used personal and household effects (except tobacco, liquor and motor vehicles) within 6 months after first taking up his or her post in Singapore:

(a) a member of the personnel of the BISIH Singapore Centre;

(b) an employee of the BIS visiting the BISIH Singapore Centre to carry out a temporary mission for the BIS.

(2)  Despite sub-paragraph (1), the immunity or privilege under that sub‑paragraph which is enjoyed by any individual in any particular case is to be waived by the General Manager if the General Manager is of the opinion that —

(a) the immunity or privilege impedes the course of justice; and

(b) the immunity or privilege can be waived without prejudice to the interest of the BIS.

Made on 15 January 2020.

CHEE WEE KIONG

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Singapore.

[MAS/INT 0015/2019; AG/LEGIS/SL/82A/2015/7 Vol. 1]

(To be presented to Parliament under section 6(4) of the Diplomatic and Consular Relations Act).