Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17 (5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-N7
- Type: Subsidiary legislation notice (sl)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), section 17(5)
- Commencement / Effective date stated in the notice: 15 May 1996
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Legislative history (as shown): Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), Section 17(5); Notice under Section 17(5) N 7; G.N. No. S 211/1996
- Document date / publication reference: [15th May 1996] (as indicated in the extract)
What Is This Legislation About?
This “Notice under Section 17(5)” is not a substantive regulatory statute that creates new rights or obligations for the public. Instead, it is an administrative legal instrument issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) to give formal effect to a particular revised edition of subsidiary legislation.
In plain language, the notice explains that the Law Revision Commissioners have published a 1996 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation in loose-leaf form. It then formally “notifies for general information” the date on which that revised edition comes into force. The purpose is to ensure that lawyers, agencies, and the public can rely on an authoritative consolidated version of subsidiary legislation, rather than having to track numerous earlier instruments and amendments.
Accordingly, the scope of the notice is limited to the commencement of the revised edition of subsidiary legislation covering instruments published during a specified period. The extract indicates that the revised edition contains “loose-leaf form of all new and extensively amended subsidiary legislation” published between 1 January 1995 and 4 April 1996. The notice therefore functions as a gateway for the legal community to use the revised compilation as the operative reference point from the stated commencement date.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Statutory authority and purpose (preamble / “Whereas” clause). The notice is expressly made “pursuant to section 17(5)” of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The preamble states that the Law Revision Commissioners have published the 1996 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation in loose-leaf form. It also identifies the coverage: subsidiary legislation that was new or extensively amended and that was published during the period 1 January 1995 to 4 April 1996.
2. Formal commencement date for the revised edition. The operative part begins with “Now, therefore, it is hereby notified for general information…” The key legal effect is that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 15 May 1996 as the date when the 1996 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation “shall come into force.” This is the central provision practitioners need: it tells you when the revised compilation becomes the authoritative reference.
3. General information notice (public notice function). The notice is framed as a notification “for general information.” While it is grounded in statutory authority, its practical function is to provide certainty and transparency. In legal practice, such notices matter because they affect how counsel should cite subsidiary legislation and which version should be treated as current for the relevant time period.
4. Relationship to the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The notice’s legal significance is best understood in context: section 17(5) of Cap. 275 empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to publish revised editions of subsidiary legislation, and the notice mechanism ensures that the legal community is informed of the effective date. While the extract does not reproduce the text of section 17(5), the notice makes clear that the revised edition’s coming into force depends on the Commissioners’ appointed date, which is then publicly notified.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short notice rather than a multi-part statute. Based on the extract, it contains:
(a) Title and status information. It is labelled “Notice under Section 17(5)” and indicates that it is the current version as at 27 March 2026.
(b) Enacting formula / legal basis. The notice references the enabling provision: section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275).
(c) Legislative history and versioning metadata. The extract shows a timeline entry indicating a revised edition (1997 RevEd) and a version date. This is important for practitioners because the “current version” view may include consolidation or re-publication of the notice text, even though the effective date of the revised subsidiary legislation is 15 May 1996.
(d) Operative notification. The “Whereas” clause explains what has been published and the coverage period; the “Now, therefore” clause states the appointed commencement date for the revised edition.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Strictly speaking, the notice applies to users of subsidiary legislation—including government departments, regulators, legal practitioners, courts, and members of the public who rely on official legal texts. It does not impose regulatory duties on a particular class of persons (such as employers, licensees, or regulated entities). Instead, it determines the effective date and authoritative status of a revised compilation of subsidiary legislation.
In practice, the notice affects anyone who must identify the correct subsidiary legislation provisions for a given time period. For example, when advising on compliance, enforcement, or interpretation, counsel must know whether the relevant subsidiary legislation was in force under the earlier instruments or whether the revised edition should be treated as the operative reference from the commencement date.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the notice is brief, it is important because it supports the integrity and usability of Singapore’s legal framework. Subsidiary legislation is often amended frequently. Without periodic revised editions, practitioners would face difficulties locating the correct text and determining which amendments have been incorporated. The revised edition mechanism helps ensure that the legal community can work from a consolidated, authoritative version.
From a litigation and advisory perspective, the notice can be crucial for citation and temporal accuracy. When drafting pleadings, preparing submissions, or advising clients, lawyers must cite the correct version of subsidiary legislation. The notice provides a clear marker: from 15 May 1996, the 1996 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation comes into force. This can influence how counsel frames arguments about what the law “was” at a particular time, especially where amendments were extensive and were incorporated into the revised edition.
Finally, the notice demonstrates how Singapore’s law revision system operates: it is not limited to statutes (Acts) but extends to subsidiary legislation as well. The Law Revision Commissioners’ role, and the public notification of commencement, help maintain legal certainty. For practitioners, this reduces the risk of relying on outdated or superseded text and improves the reliability of legal research.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275) — particularly section 17(5)
- G.N. No. S 211/1996 (as referenced in the notice)
- Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation (1996 Revised Edition; loose-leaf form) — as the subject matter of the notice
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Notice under Section 17 (5) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.