Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) Act 1999
Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) Act 1999 Section 1





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ACT OF CONSTITUTION OF TONGA
(AMENDMENT) ACT 1999

No. 18 of 1999

AN ACT TO AMEND THE ACT OF CONSTITUTION OF TONGA

I assent,
TAUFA'AHAU TUPOU IV,

3rd November, 1999.

[6th October, 1999]

BE IT ENACTED by the King and Legislative Assembly of Tonga in the Legislature
of the Kingdom as follows: —

1.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Act of Constitution of Tonga

(Amendment) Act 1999.
(2) The Act of Constitution of Tonga (Cap 2), as amended, is in this

Act referred to as the Principal Act.

2. Clause 70 of the Principal Act is amended by deleting the clause and
substituting therefor the following —

Offences against the Assembly

“70
(1) Any person who —

(a) acts disrespectfully in the presence of the Legislative
Assembly;

Section 2 Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) Act 1999





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(b) by any act or omission, interferes with, obstructs or impedes
the Legislative Assembly in the performance of its function;

(c) interferes with, obstructs or impedes any member or officer
of the Legislative Assembly in the discharge of his duty;

(d) defames the Legislative Assembly;
(e) threatens any member or his property; or
(f) rescues a person whose arrest has been ordered by the

Legislative Assembly;
may, by resolution of the Legislative Assembly, be imprisoned for
any period not exceeding thirty days.

(2)
(a) A penalty of imprisonment imposed in accordance with this

clause is not affected by a prorogation, the dissolution or
expiration of the Legislative Assembly.

(b) A resolution of the Legislative Assembly ordering the
imprisonment of a person accordance with this clause may
provide for the discharge of the person from imprisonment.

(c) Notwithstanding the power to imprison under sub-clause (1)
the Legislative Assembly may impose a fine:
(i) not exceeding $5,000, in the case of a natural

person; or
(ii) not exceeding $50,000, in the case of a corporation;
for an offence against the Legislative Assembly determined
by the Assembly to have been committed by that person
under this clause.

(d) It shall not be lawful to both imprison and fine a person for
an offence under this clause.

(e) The Legislative Assembly may give such directions and
authorise the issue of such warrants as are necessary or
convenient for carrying this clause into effect.”

Passed by the Legislative Assembly this 6th day of October 1999.