Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-N15
- Type: Subsidiary legislation notice (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), Section 17(5)
- Legislative Instrument: G.N. No. S 476/1998
- Commencement / Effective Date (as stated): 15 September 1998
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Legislative History (key versions):
- 15 Sep 1998: SL 476/1998
- 31 Jan 2000: Revised Edition 2000 (2000 RevEd)
- Key Sections: Section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (authorises the notice mechanism)
- Parts / Schedules: The notice is set out as a short instrument with a “THE SCHEDULE” heading; the operative content is the appointment of the commencement date for the revised subsidiary legislation edition.
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a Gazette notice made under Section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In plain language, it does not create new substantive legal rules. Instead, it performs an administrative and publication function: it tells the public when a particular revised edition of subsidiary legislation (made under specified Acts) is to come into force.
The notice states that the Law Revision Commissioners had published, in loose-leaf form, the 1998 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule. The notice then appoints 15 September 1998 as the date on which that revised edition is to take effect. This is essentially a “commencement date for the revised compilation” notice.
For practitioners, the practical significance is that revised editions can incorporate amendments up to a stated cut-off date (here, up to 31 August 1998). The notice therefore helps lawyers confirm that they are reading the correct consolidated text and that the amended provisions are legally effective from the appointed date.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Authority under Section 17(5) of Cap. 275
The notice is expressly made “pursuant to section 17(5)” of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Section 17(5) is the statutory gateway that allows the Law Revision Commissioners to publish revised editions of subsidiary legislation and then have a formal notice issued to specify when the revised edition comes into force. The legal effect is not that the notice itself amends substantive law; rather, it activates the revised compilation as the operative version.
2. Publication of the 1998 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation
The notice recites that the Law Revision Commissioners have published in loose-leaf form the 1998 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation made under the Acts set out in the Schedule. The notice further states that this revised edition incorporates all amendments up to 31 August 1998. This is crucial for legal research: it signals the “as-at” date for the incorporated amendments.
3. Appointment of the commencement date
The operative part of the notice is the appointment of 15 September 1998 as the date the 1998 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall come into force. In effect, from that date, the revised edition becomes the legally authoritative text for the subsidiary legislation covered by the Schedule (subject to any later amendments not included in the cut-off date).
4. Gazette notification for general information
The notice is framed as being “hereby notified for general information.” This reflects its function as a public legal instrument. For practitioners, it is a reminder that legal effectiveness is tied to the formal commencement date stated in the Gazette notice, not merely to the date the revised edition was published or accessed.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short Gazette notice with standard legal publication elements. It includes:
(a) Enacting formula / preamble: It begins with “Whereas” language explaining the background—namely, the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication of the revised edition in loose-leaf form and the incorporation of amendments up to a specified date.
(b) Operative notification: It then states the appointment of the commencement date (15 September 1998) for the revised edition to come into force.
(c) “THE SCHEDULE” heading: While the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the notice indicates that the revised edition covers subsidiary legislation made under the Acts set out in the Schedule. In practice, the Schedule is the key to determining which Acts’ subsidiary legislation are included in the revised compilation.
(d) Legislative history and versions: The document includes a timeline showing the original Gazette publication (15 Sep 1998, SL 476/1998) and later incorporation into the Revised Edition 2000 (31 Jan 2000). This helps users track how the notice appears in later consolidated legal databases.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Because this notice is about the coming into force of a revised edition of subsidiary legislation, it applies broadly to anyone who relies on the subsidiary legislation covered by the Schedule—most notably lawyers, regulators, regulated entities, and members of the public who need to know the operative legal text.
However, the notice does not impose new obligations directly. Instead, it affects legal research and legal certainty by specifying when the revised compilation becomes effective. In that sense, its “application” is indirect: it governs which version of the subsidiary legislation is authoritative from the commencement date, thereby influencing how obligations, offences, procedures, and regulatory requirements are interpreted and applied.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the notice is brief, it is important for legal accuracy. In Singapore’s legislative system, subsidiary legislation can be amended over time. Revised editions are intended to provide a consolidated, updated text. The Gazette notice ensures that the revised edition is not merely a reference publication but becomes the effective legal text from the specified date.
For practitioners, the key value lies in confirming the cut-off date for amendments and the commencement date for the revised edition. Here, the notice indicates that amendments up to 31 August 1998 are incorporated, and that the revised edition comes into force on 15 September 1998. This combination helps lawyers determine whether a particular amendment would have been in force at a relevant time, which is often central to disputes about compliance, liability, and procedural steps.
In enforcement and compliance contexts, using the correct version of subsidiary legislation can affect outcomes. For example, regulatory requirements may be amended, penalties may change, or procedural rules may be updated. If a lawyer cites the wrong version—e.g., an earlier edition or a later consolidated text that includes amendments not yet effective at the material time—this can lead to incorrect legal advice or flawed submissions.
Finally, the notice illustrates the governance mechanism of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act: it shows how the Law Revision Commissioners’ work is translated into legal effect through a formal commencement notice. Understanding this mechanism helps practitioners navigate legislative history and version control in Singapore’s legal information systems.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), Section 17(5)
- Subsidiary legislation instruments made under the Acts listed in the Schedule to this notice (not reproduced in the extract)
- Gazette publication: G.N. No. S 476/1998 (SL 476/1998)
- Revised Edition 2000 (2000 RevEd), incorporating the notice as at 31 January 2000
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.