Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S567-2007
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Legislation Number: S 567/2007
- Enacting Formula: Presidential order made pursuant to section 11(3)
- Commencement / Effective Date: 31 October 2007 (for the specified Acts)
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Key Instrument Text: “the loose-leaf edition of these Acts shall… be the sole and only proper law of Singapore”
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a Presidential order made under section 11(3) of Singapore’s Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). In practical terms, it deals with legal publication and the authoritative status of revised law materials, rather than creating new substantive rights or offences.
The Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a mechanism for the Law Revision Commissioners to publish Acts in a loose-leaf format (a form of continuously updated legal publication). The order then allows the President to designate that these loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law of Singapore for the specified Acts, so that courts and legal practitioners can rely on a single authoritative source.
The key point is that the order is about which version of the law counts. It resolves potential uncertainty that could arise if multiple published formats exist (for example, earlier printed editions versus later loose-leaf revisions). By making the loose-leaf edition the sole and only proper law, the order supports consistency in legal interpretation and enforcement.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The “Whereas” clauses set the legal foundation. The order begins by recording that, pursuant to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners have published in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 October 2007. It then records the statutory pathway under section 11(3): the Commissioners must transmit copies of the loose-leaf editions to the President, and the President may then issue an order published in the Gazette specifying that the loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law.
2. The operative clause confers authoritative status. The central legal effect is contained in the order’s concluding paragraph: the President orders that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 October 2007, be “the sole and only proper law of Singapore” in respect of those Acts. This language is significant: it is not merely “a” proper law source; it is the only proper law source for courts and for all purposes.
3. Publication in the Gazette and the “all courts and for all purposes” standard. The order reflects the statutory requirement that the President’s specification be published in the Gazette. The Revised Edition of the Laws Act (as referenced in the order) uses the phrase that the loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law “in all courts and for all purposes”. For practitioners, this matters because it removes doubt about whether a court may treat another publication (such as an earlier edition, or a non-loose-leaf compilation) as authoritative for legal proceedings.
4. The Schedule determines the scope of Acts covered. The order refers to “the Acts set out in the Schedule”. Although the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule contents, the Schedule is the instrument’s scope-defining element. The practical implication is that only the Acts listed in the Schedule receive the “sole and only proper law” designation from the effective date. Lawyers should therefore confirm the Schedule entries to determine which Acts are covered by this particular order.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a conventional legislative format for orders made under an enabling statute. It contains:
(a) Enacting formula (the formal legal basis for the order);
(b) Recitals / “Whereas” clauses (explaining the statutory steps taken by the Law Revision Commissioners and the President’s power under section 11(3));
(c) The operative order (the key designation that the loose-leaf editions are the sole and only proper law, effective from 31 October 2007); and
(d) The Schedule (listing the Acts to which the order applies).
Notably, the extract shows “THE SCHEDULE” as a separate component. In practice, the Schedule is where the legal practitioner will focus to identify the specific Acts affected. The remainder of the order is largely procedural and declaratory, reflecting the instrument’s role in legal publication rather than substantive regulation.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the order is directed at the legal system (courts and legal purposes), its effect is felt by everyone who relies on Singapore legislation. That includes lawyers, judges, government agencies, and members of the public who may encounter the Acts in legal proceedings.
More precisely, the order applies to the Acts listed in the Schedule. For those Acts, the loose-leaf editions published as at 1 October 2007 become the sole and only proper law from 31 October 2007. The order does not create obligations directly on individuals; instead, it governs the authoritative legal text that courts must treat as proper law.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
For practitioners, the importance of this order lies in certainty and uniformity. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate and authoritative legislative texts. If multiple versions of an Act were treated as proper law, disputes could arise over which text governs—particularly where amendments have been incorporated into revised editions but not reflected in older printed materials.
This order eliminates that risk by designating the loose-leaf editions as the sole and only proper law for the specified Acts. That designation supports consistent judicial interpretation and reduces procedural arguments about the “correct” version of legislation. In litigation, where parties may cite statutory provisions, the ability to point to a single authoritative source is crucial.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the order also supports administrative and regulatory consistency. Agencies drafting subsidiary legislation, circulars, or guidance documents typically rely on the authoritative text of the parent Acts. By clarifying which edition is proper law, the order helps ensure that compliance advice and enforcement actions align with the legally operative provisions.
Finally, the order illustrates a broader institutional function of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act: it provides a structured approach to law revision and publication. Lawyers should therefore view this instrument as part of the legal infrastructure that maintains the integrity of Singapore’s legislative corpus over time.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular sections 10 (publication of Acts in loose-leaf form) and 11(3) (President’s power to designate the loose-leaf editions as sole and only proper law)
- Acts set out in the Schedule — the substantive Acts whose authoritative texts are affected by this order (to be confirmed by consulting the Schedule in the official instrument)
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.