Statute Details
- Title: Commission
- Act Code: CIA1941-N30
- Type: SL (Subsidiary Legislation / Commission instrument)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Authorising Act: Inquiry Commissions Ordinance (Chapter 55, 1955 Ed)
- Original/Relevant Instrument Date: 17 July 1968 (commission appointment instrument)
- Revised Edition: 25 March 1992 (1990 RevEd; 25th March 1992)
- Commission Type: Presidential commission of inquiry (appointment of Commissioners)
- Key Instrument Provisions (from extract): Chairman appointment; venue and adjournment; in camera inquiry; Secretary powers and staffing; police assistance; reporting deadline
What Is This Legislation About?
The document titled “Commission” is not a standalone statute that creates a general legal regime. Instead, it is a formal commission of inquiry instrument issued by the President of Singapore under the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance. In practical terms, it appoints a panel of Commissioners and sets out the terms of reference and procedural directions for a specific inquiry.
From the extract, the inquiry’s subject matter is the collection, compilation, and use of statistics in Singapore. The Commissioners are tasked with reviewing government statistical machinery, examining the use of administrative records, assessing the need for censuses and surveys, reviewing statistical publications, and considering organisational and staffing improvements. The instrument also asks the Commissioners to consider whether a Permanent Statistical Commission should be established.
Although the instrument is anchored in the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance, its legal effect is immediate and operational: it authorises named Commissioners to conduct an inquiry, empowers their Secretary to administer the inquiry, provides for police assistance, directs the inquiry to be held in camera, and imposes a reporting deadline. For practitioners, the key point is that this document demonstrates how Singapore’s inquiry framework is used to compel structured fact-finding and recommendations on matters of public welfare.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Terms of reference (scope of the inquiry). The instrument begins by setting out the rationale and the detailed terms of reference. The Commissioners are directed, inter alia, to: (a) review existing government machinery for collecting and compiling statistics and recommend improvements; (b) examine statistical data extractable from administrative records and recommend improvements for maximum utilisation; (c) review legislation governing collection of statistical information and recommend amendments; (d) assess the need and scope for censuses and surveys and recommend organisation and resources; (e) examine government statistical publications and recommend ways to expand and expedite publication; (f) review the organisation of the Department of Statistics and other statistical units, including staffing, training, and service terms; (g) estimate additional staff and requirements to implement recommendations and suggest sources of technical assistance; and (h) consider the desirability of setting up a Permanent Statistical Commission and, if desirable, suggest its terms of reference.
These terms of reference are crucial because they define the boundaries of what evidence the Commission may seek and what recommendations it may make. In a legal setting, they also help determine whether a particular line of inquiry, witness, or document is “connected with its duties” under the instrument’s procedural directions.
2. Appointment of Commissioners and the Chairman. The President appoints named individuals as Commissioners: Dr. You Poh Seng (Chairman), Mr. Wu Ta-Yeh, Mr. Ngiam Tong Dow, Mr. Richard Lau, Prof. Harry Oshima, Mr. Tye Cho Yook, and Mr. Lee Wai Mun. The instrument specifically directs that Dr. You Poh Seng shall be Chairman. This matters because the Chairman is given discretion over certain procedural matters (notably, venue and adjournment).
3. Venue and adjournment powers. The instrument directs that the Commission shall normally hold sittings at a specified location: the office of the Economic Development Division (Economics), 2nd Floor, Fullerton Building, Singapore 1. However, it also provides that the Commission has power, in the discretion of the Chairman, to adjourn to any suitable place to hear evidence or for any other purpose connected with its duties. For practitioners, this is a practical procedural power: it allows the inquiry to respond to logistical needs, witness availability, or the relevance of particular locations.
4. Confidentiality: inquiry to be held “in camera”. The instrument directs that the inquiry shall be held in camera. In legal practice, “in camera” generally means that proceedings are conducted privately, with restricted attendance and confidentiality protections. While the extract does not elaborate on the mechanics (for example, whether parties may be present, how evidence is handled, or whether transcripts are restricted), the direction is a strong signal that the inquiry is intended to proceed with confidentiality—likely to encourage candid evidence and protect sensitive information.
5. Secretary to the Commission: statutory powers and staffing. The President appoints Mr. Goh Chok Tong as Secretary to the Commission. The instrument authorises the Secretary to exercise powers and carry out duties referred to in section 6 of the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance. It also authorises the Secretary to employ clerical or other assistance as required by the Commission. Additionally, in case of necessity, the Commission may appoint a suitable person temporarily to act as Secretary. This provision is important because the Secretary typically plays a central administrative role—organising hearings, managing documents, and facilitating the Commission’s operations.
6. Police assistance: preservation of order and service of summonses. The instrument directs the Commissioner of Police to detail police constables to attend upon the Commission. Their functions include: (i) preserving order during proceedings; (ii) serving summonses on witnesses; and (iii) performing such duties as the Commission shall direct. This provision underscores that the inquiry is intended to have formal coercive capacity (at least in relation to summoning witnesses), and it ensures that the Commission can maintain order and enforce attendance.
7. Reporting obligation and deadline. Finally, the instrument directs that the Commissioners shall submit their report and recommendations to the President not later than 31 December 1968. This creates a clear temporal obligation and indicates that the inquiry is designed to culminate in a policy-relevant output within a defined timeframe.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a commission appointment document rather than a multi-part statute. In the extract, the structure is essentially: (1) heading and status; (2) enacting/appointment formula; (3) legislative history and revision information; (4) the President’s recitals explaining the public welfare rationale and the basis under the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance; (5) detailed terms of reference (a) to (h); (6) appointment of named Commissioners; and (7) procedural directions numbered 1 to 6.
For practitioners, the “numbered directions” are the operative provisions. They specify: who chairs; where sittings occur and how they may be moved; confidentiality (in camera); the Secretary’s role and staffing; police support; and the reporting deadline. The instrument also cross-references the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance for the Secretary’s powers (section 6), meaning that the broader legal framework for inquiry powers and procedures is found in the authorising ordinance rather than in this instrument alone.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The instrument applies primarily to the named Commissioners and the Secretary appointed for this particular inquiry, as well as to the Commission of Police for the purpose of detailing constables. It also indirectly affects witnesses who may be summoned to give evidence, because the instrument authorises police involvement in serving summonses.
In terms of substantive reach, the inquiry’s scope is directed at the government statistical system—including government departments, administrative records, and the legal framework governing collection of statistical information. While the instrument does not itself impose duties on private persons in the extract, it is designed to enable the Commissioners to review legislation, administrative practices, and organisational arrangements, which may require access to government records and testimony from relevant officials.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although this “Commission” instrument is time-bound and inquiry-specific, it is legally significant because it illustrates how Singapore’s inquiry mechanism operates in practice. It shows the President’s power to appoint Commissioners when it is in the public welfare to conduct an inquiry, and it demonstrates how the inquiry’s mandate is operationalised through procedural directions.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the instrument’s provisions on police assistance and summons service are particularly important. They indicate that the inquiry is not merely consultative; it is structured to obtain evidence effectively and maintain order. The in camera direction is also significant: it affects how information is disclosed and how proceedings are managed, which can be critical when sensitive administrative data or policy deliberations are involved.
Finally, the reporting deadline and detailed terms of reference highlight the policy purpose of the inquiry. The Commissioners are tasked not only with reviewing existing arrangements but also with recommending legislative amendments, organisational changes, staffing and training requirements, and the possible creation of a permanent statistical body. For practitioners advising government agencies or stakeholders, understanding the scope and procedural constraints of such commissions is essential—particularly when preparing evidence, managing confidentiality, or anticipating how recommendations may translate into future legislative or administrative reforms.
Related Legislation
- Inquiry Commissions Ordinance (Chapter 55, 1955 Ed) — authorising framework; referenced for Secretary’s powers (section 6) and the general basis for presidential commissions of inquiry.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Commission for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.