PENAL CODE (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.40 p.m.

The Minister for Labour and Law (Mr K. M. Byrne): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The primary object of the Bill is to make such amendments of the law as are necessary to enable the International Convention for the Suppression of Counterfeiting Currency to be acceded to by the United Kingdom Government on behalf of Singapore.

The International Convention for the Suppression of Counterfeiting Currency was signed at Geneva on the 20th day of April, 1929, but was not ratified by the United Kingdom till 1935, when the Counterfeit Currency (Convention) Act, 1935, was enacted to enable effect to be given to the Convention. The purpose of the Convention is to lay down rules to provide the most effective means for ensuring the prevention and punishment of the offence of counterfeiting currency. Article 23 of the Convention provides that the Convention cannot be ratified by any country unless its legislation and administrative organisations are in conformity with the rules contained in the Convention; and that the Convention cannot be acceded to on behalf of any territory unless the legislation and administrative organisation of that territory are in conformity with such rules.

Mr Speaker, Sir, many of the provisions of the Convention are already part of the law of Singapore, but in order to give complete effect to the Convention certain amendments to the Penal Code are required and these are contained in the Bill.

Clause 3 of the Bill proposes a definition of "currency note" which follows the definition contained in section 1 (2) of the United Kingdom Counterfeit Currency (Convention) Act, 1935. This gives effect as far as paper money is concerned to Article 2 of the Convention, which defines currency as meaning "paper money (including bank notes) and metallic money, the circulation of which is legally recognised." As respects metal money, the definitions of "coin" and "current coin" in section 230 of the Penal Code are already in accord with the requirements of the Convention.

Clauses 2 and 4 of the Bill provide for the seizure and forfeiture of counterfeit currency and coin, as well as instruments or other articles for counterfeiting in order to give effect to Article 11 of the Convention. These provisions are based on section 11(5) of the United Kingdom Coinage Offences Act, 1936, and section 2 of the Counterfeit Currency (Convention) Act, 1935.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr Byrne].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

3.45 p.m.

Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 3-

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

In page 2, line 9, to leave out "and 489D" and insert ", 489D and 489E".

The purpose of this amendment, Mr Speaker, Sir, is to extend the definition of "currency note" to section 489E. It has been overlooked.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 3, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported with an amendment; read the Third time and passed.