Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S392-2007
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275)
- Legislation Number: S 392/2007
- Enacting Formula: Presidential order made pursuant to section 11(3)
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 July 2007 (as stated in the order)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Instrument Text: “the loose-leaf edition of these Acts shall, in all courts and for all purposes, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts”
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a Presidential order made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). In practical terms, it is part of Singapore’s legal revision and consolidation process: it determines which version of certain Acts is to be treated as the authoritative “proper law” for use in courts and for all legal purposes.
The order is linked to the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication of Acts in a loose-leaf form. The Commissioners publish these Acts “as in force” on a specified date (here, 1 July 2007). The President then issues an order specifying that the loose-leaf editions of those Acts shall become the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts.
Although the text provided is short and largely procedural, the legal effect is significant. It removes ambiguity about which consolidated or revised text should govern. For practitioners, the order is a “version control” mechanism: it ensures that when lawyers cite legislation, and when courts apply the law, they are using the legally authoritative edition.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory trigger: section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
The order is made “pursuant to section 11(3)” of Cap. 275. The enacting formula explains the preconditions: the Law Revision Commissioners have published certain Acts in loose-leaf form, reflecting the Acts “as in force on 1st July 2007.” The Commissioners must transmit copies of these loose-leaf editions to the President.
2. The President’s specification of “sole and only proper law”
The operative effect is contained in the core sentence: the President orders that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule “shall, with effect from 31st July 2007, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.”
This phrase is crucial. It means that, for the Acts covered by the Schedule, the loose-leaf edition is not merely an official compilation—it is the exclusive authoritative legal text for “all courts and for all purposes.”
3. Temporal effect: commencement on 31 July 2007
The order specifies a clear effective date: 31 July 2007. This matters for legal practice because it determines when the loose-leaf edition becomes the controlling text. For matters spanning dates around the transition, counsel may need to consider which version applied at the relevant time, although the order’s “sole and only proper law” language is designed to standardise the authoritative text going forward from the specified effective date.
4. Formalities and authentication
The order is dated “this 9th day of July 2007” and signed “By Command” by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore (LAU WAH MING). The instrument also includes a reference to the file number “[AG/LRRD/5/2007].” While these details may appear administrative, they confirm the order’s validity and its place within the Gazette publication framework.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Structurally, this instrument is straightforward. It consists of:
(a) Title and status information (including “Order under Section 11(3)” and the “current version” note);
(b) Enacting formula setting out the legal basis and the factual background (publication by the Law Revision Commissioners and transmission to the President);
(c) The operative order (the key clause declaring the loose-leaf editions to be the sole and only proper law); and
(d) The Schedule (not reproduced in the extract you provided) which would list the specific Acts covered by the order.
For practitioners, the Schedule is the practical “scope” document. Even if the order text is short, the Schedule determines which Acts are affected. Without the Schedule, one cannot identify the exact Acts covered; however, the legal mechanism is consistent across such orders: it is the President’s formal designation of the loose-leaf edition as the authoritative text.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This order applies to the Acts listed in its Schedule. Its effect is not directed at a particular class of persons (such as regulated entities or individuals). Instead, it governs legal authority and citation: it determines what constitutes the “proper law” of Singapore for the specified Acts.
Accordingly, its practical reach extends to all courts and all legal purposes. That includes litigation, statutory interpretation, regulatory enforcement, and legal advice. Lawyers must ensure that when they rely on the Acts covered by the order, they use the authoritative loose-leaf edition as the sole proper law from the effective date.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although this is a procedural order, it plays a foundational role in maintaining the integrity of Singapore’s legislative framework. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate, authoritative texts. Over time, Acts are amended, revised, and republished. Without a clear mechanism to designate which edition is legally authoritative, disputes could arise about whether a court should apply an earlier consolidated version, a later amendment, or a revised compilation.
This order resolves that problem by declaring that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law for the Acts in question. For practitioners, this reduces citation risk and supports consistent judicial application. When counsel cites legislation, the citation must correspond to the proper authoritative text; otherwise, there is a risk of misquotation or reliance on an outdated version.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the order also supports certainty. Regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies rely on statutory provisions as they exist in the authoritative text. By tying the proper law to a specific edition and effective date, the order helps ensure that enforcement actions are grounded in the correct legislative wording.
Finally, the order illustrates how Singapore’s law revision architecture works in practice. The Law Revision Commissioners publish loose-leaf editions reflecting the law “as in force” at a particular date. The President’s order then gives those editions legal force as the proper law. This is a key part of how Singapore keeps its statute books reliable and court-ready.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 11(3) (the authorising provision for this Presidential order)
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — section 10 (referenced in the enacting formula as the basis for the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication of Acts in loose-leaf form)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Order under Section 11(3) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.