Every morning on the way to work in Singapore -- I passed by by Hong Lim Park which houses Singapore's version of London's Speakers' Corner where members of the public can give speeches and engage public debates.
Launched in 2000, the corner was created because critics claimed Singapore's strict censorship laws were not giving enough space to public debate.
- The speaker has been approved by the Commissioner and the person complies with the terms and conditions of such approval
- The speaker must be a citizen of Singapore
- The speaker does not deal with any matter -
- which relates, directly or indirectly, to any religious belie or to religion generally; or
- which may cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different racial or religious groups in Singapore
- The speaker speaks only in any of the 4 official languages in Singapore
- The speaker does not display or exhibit, or cause to be display or exhibit (whether before, during or after the public speaking), any placard, banner, flag, poster, photograph, film, sign, writing or other visible representation or paraphernalia which contains any violent, lewd or obscene material
Sounds a lot like America, but Singapore has more to learn from us about restricting free speech.
ReplyDeleteI guess they have outsourced free speech.
ReplyDelete1
ReplyDeleteTERMS AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
CARRIED OUT AT SPEAKERS’ CORNER, HONG LIM PARK
1 All events and activities carried out by any approved person at Speakers’
Corner, Hong Lim Park, are subject to the terms and conditions stated below and
such other terms and conditions as the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation (‘the
Commissioner’) may from time to time impose. The Commissioner reserves the right
to cancel any approval or disallow any event or activity at any time without prior
notice in the event of any breach of or non-compliance with the terms and conditions
herein or where in the Commissioner’s opinion the event or activity may endanger or
cause discomfort or inconvenience to other park users and/or the general public.
2 All approved persons are to observe the Parks and Trees Act (Cap. 216) and the
Parks and Trees Regulations (Cap. 216, Rg 1). Certain activities, including setting up
of structures and use of fire, require the Commissioner's approval (please refer to
regulations 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of the Parks and Trees Regulations for more details).
PARK USAGE
3 Please note that approval does not entitle any approved person to exclusive
ReplyDeleteuse of Speakers’ Corner, Hong Lim Park. Every approved person must -
(a) keep the park clean and tidy at all times;
(b) not damage or destroy any property, tree or plant within the park;
(c) reinstate any damage to park property, facilities, trees and shrubs to
the Commissioner’s satisfaction at the person’s own expense;
(d) remove all props within the same day;
(e) not tap or use any power source from any park facility at any time;
(f) not carry out any event or activity other than on the date or dates and
within the times specified in the approval; and
(g) where amplification equipment is used, use only handheld, selfpowered
amplification equipment (eg. loudhailers) and only between
the hours of 9.00 am and 10.30 pm.
4 The approved person shall indemnify NParks and/or the Government from or
against any liability, loss, claim, cost or expense incurred arising from or in
connection with the event or activity. This includes any claim in respect of
interruption of utilities (eg. water, electricity, etc.) whether due to power shortage or
electrical/mechanical/manpower failure or any other cause.
CONDITIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC ORDER (UNRESTRICTED AREA) ORDER
2009 AND THE PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS (SPEAKERS’
CORNER) (EXEMPTION) ORDER 2008 FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING,
DEMONSTRATIONS, PERFORMANCES AND EXHIBITIONS AT SPEAKERS’
CORNER, HONG LIM PARK
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5 In addition to the conditions of park usage specified in paragraphs 3 and 4
above, an approved person should also be aware that he is exempted from the
provisions under the Public Order Act (Act 15 of 2009) (‘POA’) and the Public
Entertainments And Meetings Act (Cap. 257) (‘PEMA’), only if he complies with the
conditions under the Public Order (Unrestricted Area) Order 2009 and the Public
Entertainments And Meetings (Speakers’ Corner) (Exemption) Order 2008
respectively, relating to any public speaking, demonstration, performance or
exhibition organised or being held at the Speaker’s Corner, Hong Lim Park. These
conditions are highlighted in paragraphs 6, 7, 8 and 9 below.
Public Speaking
6 Public speaking in the form of a lecture, talk, address, debate or discussion
(whether or not in combination with a play-reading, recital, performance or
exhibition) at Speakers’ Corner, Hong Lim Park, is exempted from the provisions of
the POA if the following conditions are complied with:
(a) the speaker must be a citizen of Singapore;
(b) the speaker does not deal with any matter —
(i) which relates, directly or indirectly, to any religious belief or to
religion generally; or
(ii) which may cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility
between different racial or religious groups in Singapore;
(c) the speaker speaks using only any of the 4 official languages in
Singapore, or any related dialect; and
(d) the speaker does not display or exhibit, or cause to be displayed or
exhibited (whether before, during or after the public speaking), any
banner, flag, poster, placard, photograph, film, sign, writing or other
visible representation or paraphernalia which contains any violent,
lewd or obscene material.
7 Public speaking in the form of a play-reading or recital at Speakers’ Corner,
Hong Lim Park, is exempted from the provisions of the PEMA if the following
conditions are complied with:
(a) the speaker must be a citizen of Singapore;
(b) the speaker does not deal with any matter —
(i) which relates, directly or indirectly, to any religious belief or to
religion generally; or
(ii) which may cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility
between different racial or religious groups in Singapore;
(c) the speaker speaks using only any of the 4 official languages in
Singapore, or any related dialect; and
(d) no placard, banner, poster, photograph or film which contains any
violent, lewd or obscene material is displayed or exhibited by the
speaker, whether before, during or after the public speaking.
Demonstrations
8 A demonstration (whether or not in combination with a play-reading, recital,
ReplyDeleteperformance or exhibition) held at Speakers’ Corner, Hong Lim Park is exempted
from the provisions of the POA if the following conditions are complied with:
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(a) the organiser must be a citizen of Singapore;
(b) the demonstration does not deal with any matter —
(i) which relates, directly or indirectly, to any religious belief or to
religion generally; or
(ii) which may cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility
between different racial or religious groups in Singapore;
(c) the organiser, or an authorised agent of the organiser, is present at all
times during the demonstration; and
(d) no banner, flag, poster, placard, photograph, film, sign, writing or
other visible representation or paraphernalia which contains any
violent, lewd or obscene material is displayed or exhibited (whether
before, during or after the demonstration) by or on behalf of the
organiser or by any person participating in the demonstration.
Performances and Exhibitions
9 A performance or an exhibition at Speakers’ Corner, Hong Lim Park, is
exempted from the provisions of the PEMA if the following conditions are complied
with:
(a) the organiser must be a citizen of Singapore;
(b) there are only citizens and permanent residents of Singapore
participating in the performance or exhibition;
(c) the organiser, or an authorised agent of the organiser, is present at all
times during the performance or exhibition, as the case may be;
(d) the performance or exhibition does not deal with any matter —
(i) which relates, directly or indirectly, to any religious belief or to
religion generally; or
(ii) which may cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility
between different racial or religious groups in Singapore; and
(e) no placard, banner, poster, photograph or film which contains any
violent, lewd or obscene material is displayed or exhibited by the
organiser of or any person participating in the performance or
exhibition, whether before, during or after the performance or
exhibition.
10 A Police Permit must be obtained if permanent residents of Singapore are
speaking or organising a demonstration, performance or exhibition, and/or if
foreigners are speaking or participating in or organising activities at Speakers’
Corner, Hong Lim Park.