Statute Details
- Title: Consular Conventions (Remission of Fee for Radio Licence) (Revocation) Direction 2005
- Act Code: CCA1951-S280-2005
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (Direction)
- Authorising Act: Consular Conventions Act (Chapter 52)
- Enacting Authority: President of Singapore
- Legal Basis: Powers under section 4 of the Consular Conventions Act
- Commencement: 1 May 2005
- Key Provisions: (1) Citation and commencement; (2) Revocation of an earlier direction
- Document Identifier: S 280/2005
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Made Date: 29 April 2005
- Maker: LAU WAH MING, Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore (by command)
- Related Instrument Revoked: Consular Conventions (Remission of Fee for Radio Licence) Direction (Dir 1)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Consular Conventions (Remission of Fee for Radio Licence) (Revocation) Direction 2005 is a short but legally significant instrument. In plain terms, it ends (revokes) a previous direction that had provided for the remission (i.e., waiver or reduction) of a fee connected to radio licensing for certain consular-related purposes under Singapore’s consular conventions framework.
Singapore’s consular conventions regime is designed to implement international obligations and arrangements concerning the privileges and immunities of consular posts and their officials. Within that broader framework, subsidiary directions can be issued to specify how particular benefits—such as fee remissions—are to operate. This 2005 Direction does not create a new remission scheme; instead, it removes an existing one by revoking the earlier “Dir 1” direction.
For practitioners, the practical takeaway is that the legal basis for any remission of the relevant radio licence fee under the earlier direction is no longer available after the commencement date (1 May 2005). Any claim to remission after that date would need to be grounded in a different legal instrument, if one exists, rather than relying on the revoked direction.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation and commencement) provides the formal identification of the instrument and when it takes effect. The Direction may be cited as the “Consular Conventions (Remission of Fee for Radio Licence) (Revocation) Direction 2005” and comes into operation on 1 May 2005. This is crucial for determining the temporal scope of the revocation: any remission regime under the revoked direction would cease to have effect from that date (subject to any general legal principles about the treatment of past actions, which are not addressed in the text of this Direction).
Section 2 (Revocation) is the substantive operative provision. It states that the Consular Conventions (Remission of Fee for Radio Licence) Direction (Dir 1) is revoked. In other words, the earlier direction is withdrawn in its entirety. The revocation is not limited to particular categories of consular officers, particular radio licences, or particular time periods; the language indicates a full revocation of the earlier instrument.
Because this Direction is a revocation direction, it is important to understand what it does not do. It does not itself specify a replacement remission policy, does not set out any new criteria, and does not describe any transitional arrangements. Therefore, after commencement, the legal position is that the earlier remission direction can no longer be relied upon as a source of entitlement.
Enacting formula and legal authority confirm that the President makes the Direction “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 4 of the Consular Conventions Act.” This matters for legal validity and for interpreting the scope of the revocation power. Practitioners should note that the revocation is grounded in statutory authority, meaning it is not merely an administrative change; it is a formal legal act capable of affecting rights and expectations tied to the earlier direction.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Direction is structured in a very streamlined manner, reflecting its limited purpose. It contains:
(a) Enacting formula — sets out the statutory power under section 4 of the Consular Conventions Act and indicates that the President is making the Direction.
(b) Section 1 — “Citation and commencement,” identifying the instrument and its effective date.
(c) Section 2 — “Revocation,” which revokes the earlier “Dir 1” direction concerning remission of the radio licence fee.
There are no additional parts, schedules, definitions, or procedural provisions in the extract provided. As a result, the legal effect is concentrated entirely in the revocation clause and the commencement date.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Direction is made under the Consular Conventions Act and concerns remission of a fee for radio licensing in the context of consular conventions. While the text of the Direction itself does not list categories of beneficiaries, the subject matter indicates that it relates to consular posts and/or consular officials who would otherwise have been eligible for the remission under the revoked “Dir 1” direction.
In practical terms, the “applicability” question for lawyers is usually not “who is named in the Direction,” but rather “who previously benefited under Dir 1 and whether any other instrument continues to provide remission.” After 1 May 2005, any person or entity seeking remission of the relevant radio licence fee cannot rely on the revoked direction. They would need to identify whether another direction or regulation under the Consular Conventions Act (or another applicable licensing regime) provides a continuing basis for remission.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although brief, this Direction is important because it changes the legal landscape for fee remissions connected to radio licensing. Fee remission regimes can affect compliance costs, budgeting, and administrative processing for consular missions. Revocation means that the prior basis for waiver is removed, and the default position under the general licensing framework (whatever that framework is) would apply unless another exemption or remission is available.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, revocation directions often require administrative systems to be updated. For example, licensing authorities and internal processing teams must ensure that they no longer apply the remission that was previously authorized under “Dir 1.” Failure to update could lead to incorrect fee waivers or, conversely, to disputes if fees are charged without proper legal basis. The existence of a formal revocation direction helps clarify that the remission authorization has been withdrawn.
For legal practitioners advising consular missions or related stakeholders, the key significance is evidentiary and entitlement-focused. If a client claims that a radio licence fee should be remitted, the practitioner must check the effective date and the legal instruments in force at the relevant time. The revocation direction provides a clear cutoff: the revoked direction is no longer operative from 1 May 2005. Any claim for remission after that date would require a different legal basis.
Related Legislation
- Consular Conventions Act (Chapter 52) — the authorising statute providing the President with powers to make directions concerning consular conventions privileges and related arrangements.
- Consular Conventions (Remission of Fee for Radio Licence) Direction (Dir 1) — the earlier direction that is revoked by this Direction.
- Consular Conventions Act timeline / legislation versions — relevant for confirming which direction(s) were in force at particular dates.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Consular Conventions (Remission of Fee for Radio Licence) (Revocation) Direction 2005 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.