"external central securities depository"

means a foreign  person  who  is authorised by a supervisory authority to perform a function or functions similar to one or more of the functions of a central securities depository as set out in this Act and who is subject to the laws of a country other than the Republic, which laws—

(a)establish a regulatory framework  equivalent to that established by this Act;  and
(b)are supervised by a supervisory authority;