Statute Details
- Title: Order Bringing the 1990 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation Into Force
- Act Code: RELA1983-OR6
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (Order)
- Enacting authority: President of the Republic of Singapore
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275, Section 17)
- Gazette / Notification: G.N. No. S 100/1992
- Revised Edition referenced: 1990 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation
- Commencement / Effective date: 25 March 1992
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Legislative history (as shown in extract): 25 Mar 1992 (SL 6/1993); Revised Edition 1993
What Is This Legislation About?
The Order Bringing the 1990 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation Into Force is a procedural instrument that gives legal effect to a consolidated “revised edition” of Singapore’s subsidiary legislation. In plain terms, it is not creating new regulatory policies or substantive offences. Instead, it brings into operation an officially prepared compilation of existing subsidiary rules—organised, updated, and republished as a revised edition—so that lawyers, agencies, and the public can rely on a single authoritative text.
Singapore’s legislative framework distinguishes between “Acts” (primary legislation passed by Parliament) and “subsidiary legislation” (regulations, orders, rules, and other instruments made under the authority of Acts). Over time, subsidiary legislation can be amended, consolidated, and renumbered. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a mechanism for producing an official revised edition of the laws, including subsidiary legislation, after which the revised text is brought into force by an order.
This Order therefore functions as the “switch” that turns the revised compilation on. It relies on the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, which contemplates that the Law Revision Commissioners prepare the revised edition and then transmit it to the President. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify the date on which the revised edition comes into force. Here, that date is 25 March 1992.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Statutory basis and purpose (preamble): The Order begins with “Whereas” clauses explaining the background. It states that a Revised Edition of the Subsidiary Legislation in force on 31 August 1991 has been prepared pursuant to the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. It further notes the statutory power: section 17 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act allows the Law Revision Commissioners to transmit the revised edition to the President, and the President may then issue an order (published in the Gazette) to bring the revised edition into force on a date the President thinks fit.
2. Bringing the revised edition into force (operative clause): The operative effect is contained in the final “Now therefore” clause. It provides that the Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation shall come into force on 25 March 1992. This is the core legal consequence of the Order: from that date, the revised edition becomes the authoritative version for purposes of citation, interpretation, and enforcement.
3. No substantive regulatory changes in the extract: Based on the text provided, the Order does not itself amend substantive rules, create offences, impose duties, or set out regulatory requirements. Its function is to activate the revised compilation. Practitioners should therefore treat it as a “legibility and consolidation” measure rather than a policy instrument—though the revised edition may incorporate amendments and editorial changes made during the revision process.
4. Relationship to the “Revised Edition 1993” timeline: The extract shows a timeline indicating “1993 RevEd” and “SL 6/1993.” This suggests that the legal system continued to update and republish revised editions after 1992. For practitioners, this highlights an important practical point: when researching subsidiary legislation, one must ensure the correct revised edition version is being consulted, because numbering, formatting, and cross-references may differ across revised editions.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short presidential order with a standard legislative form: a title, status information, an enacting formula, and a brief set of clauses. The substantive content is essentially limited to (i) the recital of the statutory process under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act and (ii) the commencement date for the revised edition.
Unlike many subsidiary regulations, it does not contain “Parts” or “sections” with detailed substantive provisions. Instead, it operates as a single-purpose legal act. In practice, the “structure” that matters to lawyers is not internal sectioning, but the linkage to the Revised Edition of the Laws Act—particularly section 17—which supplies the President’s power to bring the revised edition into force.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies broadly to all persons who rely on, are affected by, or enforce Singapore’s subsidiary legislation. While the Order itself does not regulate conduct directly, it determines which version of subsidiary legislation is authoritative from its commencement date. That means courts, government agencies, regulated entities, and members of the public all benefit from (and are bound by) the revised edition’s legal status.
In terms of practical applicability, the Order is particularly relevant to legal practitioners conducting research and drafting submissions. If a lawyer cites subsidiary legislation, the citation should correspond to the authoritative revised edition in force at the relevant time. The Order’s commencement date (25 March 1992) is therefore a key reference point for determining which consolidated text governs.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is brief, it is important for the integrity and usability of the legal system. Consolidation and revision reduce uncertainty caused by scattered amendments across time. By bringing the revised edition into force, the President ensures that subsidiary legislation is available in a coherent, official form. This supports consistent interpretation by the judiciary and consistent application by regulators.
For practitioners, the Order is also significant because it affects legal research and citation. Singapore’s legislative materials are updated through revised editions, and the authoritative text may change in numbering, formatting, and cross-references. Even where the underlying substantive rules remain the same, the revised edition can alter how provisions are located and cited. Lawyers must therefore pay attention to the revision timeline—especially where older matters span multiple legislative eras.
Finally, the Order illustrates the constitutional and statutory mechanics of law revision in Singapore. It demonstrates how the Law Revision Commissioners’ work is translated into binding law through presidential action under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Understanding this mechanism helps practitioners appreciate that “revised editions” are not merely editorial publications; they are legally activated instruments with real consequences for how subsidiary legislation is treated.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275), in particular section 17 (authorising the President to bring the revised edition into force by Gazette order)
- Subsidiary legislation instruments included within the 1990 Revised Edition (as subsequently republished in later revised editions, e.g., 1993 RevEd as reflected in the timeline)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Order Bringing the 1990 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation Into Force for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.