The word “document” denotes any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means, intended to be used, or which may be used, as evidence of that matter.
Section history
Section 29 — “Document”
Consolidated view is experimental and may be broken for certain provisions.
Amendments
Section 29 — Original text to 1 February 2008superseded
Explanation 1.—It is immaterial by what means, or upon what substance, the letters, figures or marks are formed, or whether the evidence is intended for, or may be used in, a court of justice, or not.
Illustrations
A writing expressing the terms of a contract, which may be used as evidence of the contract, is a document.
A cheque upon a banker is a document.
A power of attorney is a document.
A map or plan which is intended to be used, or which may be used as evidence, is a document.
A writing containing directions or instructions is a document.
Explanation 2.—Whatever is expressed by means of letters, figures or marks, as explained by mercantile or other usage, shall be deemed to be expressed by such letters, figures or marks within the meaning of this section, although the same may not be actually expressed.
Illustrations
A writes his name on the back of a bill of exchange payable to his order. The meaning of the endorsement, as explained by mercantile usage, is that the bill is to be paid to the holder. The endorsement is a document, and must be construed in the same manner as if the words “pay to the holder”, or words to that effect, had been written over the signature.
Section 29 — From 1 February 2008 (current)rewritten by Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007
The word “document” includes, in addition to a document in writing —
(a)any map, plan, graph or drawing;
(b)any photograph;
(c)any label, marking or other writing which identifies or describes anything of which it forms a part, or to which it is attached by any means whatsoever;
(d)any disc, tape, sound-track2021soundtrack2021 or other device in which sounds or other data (not being visual images) are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced therefrom;
(e)any film (including microfilm), negative, tape, disc or other device in which one or more visual images are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced therefrom; and
(f)any paper or other material on which there are marks, impressions, figures, letters, symbols or perforations having a meaning for persons qualified to interpret them.
[CPC 1985 Ed., s. 378(3)]