Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-N17
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation notice (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), section 17(5)
- Commencement / Effective Date (as stated): 1 April 1999
- Current Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Document Identifier (as per extract): G.N. No. S 127/1999
- Revised Edition Reference: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275, Section 17(5))
- Legislative History (key dates):
- 1 Apr 1999: SL 127/1999
- 31 Jan 2001: 2001 RevEd (Revised Edition of the Laws)
What Is This Legislation About?
This “Notice under Section 17(5)” is not a substantive regulatory statute that creates new rights or duties for the public. Instead, it is an administrative/legal publication notice issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). Its function is to inform the public—“for general information”—about when a particular revised edition of subsidiary legislation comes into force.
In plain terms, the notice addresses the mechanics of law revision and consolidation. Under Singapore’s legislative revision framework, the Law Revision Commissioners prepare revised editions of laws (including subsidiary legislation) in a consolidated form, incorporating amendments up to a specified cut-off date. This notice then sets the date on which that revised edition becomes legally effective.
Accordingly, the notice is best understood as a “versioning and commencement” instrument. For practitioners, it matters because it affects which consolidated text is authoritative at a given time, and therefore which amendments are reflected in the version of subsidiary legislation that lawyers, courts, and agencies rely on.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Authority under section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The notice is expressly grounded in section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). That provision empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to publish revised subsidiary legislation in a loose-leaf form, and it provides the legal basis for determining when the revised edition comes into force.
2. Publication of the 1999 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation. The notice’s recitals state that, under section 17(5), the Law Revision Commissioners have published in loose-leaf form the “1999 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation” made under the Acts set out in the Schedule. The notice further indicates that this revised edition incorporates all amendments up to 1 March 1999. This is an important practitioner point: the cut-off date tells you what changes are included in the consolidated text.
3. Appointment of the commencement date for the revised edition. The operative part of the notice provides that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 1 April 1999 as the date the 1999 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation “shall come into force.” In effect, from that date, the revised edition becomes the authoritative consolidated version for the subsidiary legislation covered by the Schedule.
4. “For general information” and the legal effect of consolidation. The notice is framed as a public information instrument. However, its legal significance lies in the commencement of the revised edition. Practically, this affects how lawyers should cite and interpret subsidiary legislation: citations and references should align with the version that is in force at the relevant time, and the revised edition will reflect amendments up to the stated cut-off date.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The structure of this notice is minimal and administrative. Based on the extract, it contains:
(a) Enacting formula / preamble: It sets out the “whereas” statements explaining the legal basis and the fact of publication by the Law Revision Commissioners.
(b) The Schedule: The extract indicates a “THE SCHEDULE” heading, which typically lists the Acts under which the subsidiary legislation is made and included in the revised edition. While the provided text does not reproduce the schedule contents, the schedule is central to identifying the scope of subsidiary legislation covered.
(c) Legislative history: The document includes a legislative history section showing the relevant gazette/SL number and the revised edition timeline (including the 2001 Revised Edition). This is important for version control.
(d) Short operative statement: The core legal effect is the appointment of 1 April 1999 as the commencement date for the 1999 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Because this is a notice about the coming into force of a revised edition of subsidiary legislation, it does not “apply” to a class of persons in the way regulatory rules do (e.g., employers, licensees, or consumers). Instead, it applies to the legal system’s use of the revised text: it determines when the consolidated subsidiary legislation becomes the operative reference version.
In practice, the notice affects all persons and institutions who rely on subsidiary legislation—courts, tribunals, government agencies, regulated entities, and legal practitioners—because the authoritative consolidated text changes on the appointed commencement date. The scope is limited to the subsidiary legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule (as referenced in the notice).
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the notice is brief, it is important for legal accuracy and citation. Singapore’s legal practice depends heavily on knowing which version of legislation is in force at the relevant time. When amendments occur, the consolidated text may change, and the revised edition may incorporate amendments up to a particular cut-off date. This notice provides the legal anchor for when that consolidated version becomes effective.
1. Version control for practitioners. For litigation and advisory work, practitioners often need to determine the exact legal position at a past date. If a lawyer cites a provision from a revised edition without confirming its commencement date, there is a risk of misalignment—particularly where amendments were made between the cut-off date and the commencement date, or where later revisions supersede earlier consolidated texts.
2. Ensuring correct interpretation of subsidiary legislation. Subsidiary legislation can be amended frequently. The revised edition consolidates amendments up to 1 March 1999, but it only becomes legally effective from 1 April 1999. That distinction matters when interpreting obligations, offences, licensing conditions, procedural requirements, or enforcement powers that may have changed around that period.
3. Administrative clarity and public accessibility. The notice’s “for general information” framing supports transparency: it tells the public and legal community that a revised edition has been prepared and that it is now in force. This reduces uncertainty and supports consistent legal referencing.
4. Interaction with later revised editions. The document’s legislative history indicates a 2001 Revised Edition (31 January 2001). That means the 1999 revised edition is part of a sequence of revisions. Practitioners should therefore treat this notice as one step in the broader revision timeline: later revised editions may supersede the earlier consolidated text, but the 1999 commencement date remains relevant for events occurring between 1 April 1999 and the effective date of the subsequent revised edition.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), in particular section 17(5)
- Revised Edition of the Laws (2001 RevEd) — referenced in the legislative history of the notice
- Subsidiary legislation made under the Acts listed in the Schedule to the notice (not reproduced in the extract)
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.