Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S392-2007
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Instrument Number: S 392
- Publication / Enactment Date: 20 Jul 2007
- Commencement (effective date): 31 Jul 2007
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Enabling Provision: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Document Type / Content: Presidential order giving legal effect to “loose-leaf” editions of Acts
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 plain terms, it addresses a technical but highly important question: when the Law Revision Commissioners publish Acts in a “loose-leaf” format, what is the legal status of that revised loose-leaf edition in courts and for all legal purposes?
The order provides that, with effect from 31 July 2007, the loose-leaf edition of the Acts set out in the Schedule becomes the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This means that, for those specified Acts, courts and practitioners should treat the loose-leaf revised text as the authoritative legal text—rather than earlier printings or other versions.
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule itself, the structure and the enacting formula make the purpose clear. The order is part of the legal infrastructure that ensures consistency, certainty, and accessibility of the law. It is not a substantive regulatory regime (such as licensing, offences, or enforcement powers). Instead, it is a legal validity and publication mechanism that determines which version of the law is “proper” for legal proceedings.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory trigger: loose-leaf publication by the Law Revision Commissioners
The order begins by referencing section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Under that provision, the Law Revision Commissioners publish in loose-leaf form the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 July 2007. This establishes that a revision exercise has occurred and that a particular snapshot of the law (as at 1 July 2007) has been compiled into the loose-leaf format.
2. Transmission to the President and the President’s power to designate the proper law
The order then cites section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The mechanism is: the Commissioners transmit to the President a copy of each loose-leaf edition of the Acts. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore for those Acts.
3. The operative designation: “sole and only proper law”
The core operative statement is that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 July 2007, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This phrase is legally significant. It is designed to eliminate ambiguity about which text governs. In practice, it supports arguments that the revised loose-leaf text is the authoritative source for interpretation, citation, and application in court.
4. Gazette publication and effective date
The order is made by the President and dated 9 July 2007, with the instrument published as S 392 on 20 July 2007. The effective date is 31 July 2007. For practitioners, the effective date matters because it determines when the revised loose-leaf edition becomes the sole and only proper law. If a dispute arises around the transition period, counsel must consider which version was proper at the relevant time.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured in a way typical of orders made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act:
(a) Enacting formula and recitals
The enacting formula and “Whereas” clauses set out the legal background: (i) the Law Revision Commissioners’ loose-leaf publication under section 10; and (ii) the President’s power under section 11(3) to designate the loose-leaf edition as the proper law.
(b) The Schedule
The order refers to “the Acts set out in the Schedule”. The Schedule is where the specific Acts covered by the order are listed. Even though the extract does not show the Schedule contents, the Schedule is essential because it defines the scope of the “sole and only proper law” designation.
(c) Operative clause
The operative clause is concise: it designates the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law, effective from 31 July 2007, for the Acts listed in the Schedule.
(d) Formalities
The order includes the date, the signature/authority line (including the Secretary to the Cabinet), and the reference bracket “[AG/LRRD/5/2007]”. These formalities are important for the instrument’s validity and for citation in legal research.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This order applies indirectly to everyone who uses or relies on the specified Acts in legal proceedings. It does not impose obligations on the public in the way a regulatory statute would. Instead, it determines the authoritative legal text of certain Acts.
Accordingly, the practical “audience” includes:
- Courts determining the applicable law and interpreting statutory provisions;
- Legal practitioners citing the correct version of legislation;
- Government agencies applying statutory powers and duties; and
- Members of the public whose rights and obligations flow from the Acts listed in the Schedule.
Because the order is limited to the Acts in the Schedule, its effect is not universal across all Singapore legislation. For Acts not listed, other instruments (or later revisions) may govern which version is the proper law.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the text is short, the order plays a crucial role in maintaining legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system relies on accurate, consistent, and up-to-date legislative text. When laws are revised and republished in a new format, there can be confusion about which version is authoritative. This order resolves that by declaring the loose-leaf edition to be the sole and only proper law for the specified Acts.
For practitioners, the importance is practical and litigation-focused:
- Citation accuracy: When drafting pleadings, submissions, or legal opinions, counsel must cite the correct statutory text. The “sole and only proper law” designation supports the argument that the loose-leaf revised edition is the correct reference point.
- Interpretation and amendments: Revised editions may incorporate amendments up to a particular date (here, “as in force on 1 July 2007”). This affects how courts interpret provisions, especially where amendments have changed wording, numbering, or scope.
- Transition issues: The effective date (31 July 2007) helps determine which version applies at different times. This can matter in disputes involving events occurring before and after the effective date.
From an enforcement perspective, the order also strengthens administrative and judicial consistency. Agencies applying statutory powers need confidence that they are using the authoritative text. Courts, in turn, benefit from reduced disputes about textual provenance.
Finally, the instrument illustrates how Singapore manages legislative consolidation and revision. It shows that “law revision” is not merely editorial; it is backed by a formal legal mechanism that confers definitive status on the revised compilation.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular:
- Section 10 (publication of Acts in loose-leaf form as in force on a specified date)
- Section 11(3) (President’s power to designate the loose-leaf edition as the sole and only proper law)
- Acts listed in the Schedule to this Order — these are the specific Acts whose authoritative text is designated by the order (the Schedule contents are not included in the extract provided).
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.