Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S539-1996
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Instrument Number: S 539/1996
- Publication / Date (as shown in extract): 27 Dec 1996 (timeline entry)
- Key Effective Change (from extract): 18 February 1997
- Dated: 22 April 1997
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 267)
- Key Provision Referenced: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Status (as shown): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The instrument titled “Order under Section 11(3)” is a Singapore subsidiary legal instrument made under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 267). In practical terms, it is not a “regulatory” law that creates new substantive rights or obligations for the public. Instead, it is an administrative/legal-technical order dealing with the appointment and cessation of a specific official role connected to the operation of the Revised Edition of the Laws framework.
From the extract, the order is concerned with the status of the Medical Director, Changi Hospital as a Deputy Registrar “for the purposes of the Act”. The order notifies that the Medical Director has ceased to be a Deputy Registrar with effect from 18 February 1997. It also deletes an item in a prior notification (Notification No. N 3, Item 2). These are typical features of legal instruments that maintain the accuracy of official appointments and the validity of earlier notifications.
Accordingly, the scope of this legislation is narrow: it updates the official record of who holds a designated statutory function under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. For practitioners, the key value lies in understanding how the instrument affects the chain of authority for actions taken “for the purposes of the Act” and ensuring that any reliance on earlier appointments is corrected.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Cessation of appointment as Deputy Registrar (effective 18 February 1997)
The core operative statement provides that it is “hereby notified for general information” that the Medical Director, Changi Hospital has ceased to be a Deputy Registrar for the purposes of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The cessation is stated to take effect from 18th February 1997.
This matters because, in statutory schemes, “registrar” and “deputy registrar” roles often relate to administrative processes—such as certifications, filings, or other formal steps required by the Act. Even if the extract does not describe the underlying administrative workflow, the legal effect is clear: after the effective date, the Medical Director (as such) no longer holds the deputy role, and any purported acts by the former Deputy Registrar after that date could be challenged as lacking authority (depending on the Act’s requirements and the nature of the act).
2. Deletion of a prior notification provision (Notification No. N 3, Item 2)
The order further states that Item 2 of Notification No. N 3 is deleted. This is a classic “consequential amendment” technique used in subsidiary legislation: rather than leaving an earlier notification intact (which might continue to suggest that the Medical Director held the deputy role), the order removes the specific item that would otherwise be inconsistent with the new cessation.
For practitioners, this deletion is important for two reasons. First, it helps prevent confusion in the official record. Second, it signals that the earlier notification should no longer be relied upon for the proposition that the Medical Director was a Deputy Registrar. When conducting due diligence or preparing legal submissions, counsel should check both the current order and the relevant earlier notification to confirm what is still valid.
3. Formalities: notification for general information and dating
The instrument is framed as a notification “for general information” and is dated 22nd day of April 1997. It is signed “By Command” by ONG KOK MIN, Acting Secretary to the Cabinet. These formalities are not merely ceremonial: they confirm that the instrument has been properly made and published in accordance with the enabling framework.
In legal practice, the date of making and the effective date of the change can differ. Here, the cessation is effective from 18 February 1997, while the order is dated 22 April 1997. That temporal distinction can be critical when assessing whether any administrative acts occurred between those dates and whether they were performed by an authorised Deputy Registrar.
4. Relationship to the enabling provision: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
Although the extract does not reproduce Section 11(3), the title and enacting formula indicate that the order is made under that specific subsection. The practical implication is that Section 11(3) empowers the competent authority to appoint (or, as here, to discontinue) Deputy Registrars for the purposes of the Act. The instrument therefore functions as the legal mechanism by which the statutory administrative structure is updated.
For a practitioner, the key is to treat the order as an authoritative legal update to the statutory administrative roster. If you are advising on the validity of an act that depends on the Deputy Registrar’s authority, you should locate Section 11(3) in the Revised Edition of the Laws Act and read it alongside this order and the deleted notification item.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short order/notification rather than a multi-part statute. Based on the extract, it contains:
- Title and status (including “Current version as at 27 Mar 2026” and a timeline reference);
- Enacting formula (indicating it is made under Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act);
- Operative paragraphs (two numbered items: cessation of appointment and deletion of a prior notification item); and
- Signature and date (including the date of the order and the signatory authority).
There are no “Parts” or “sections” in the extract because the instrument is brief and functions as an administrative update. The legal effect is delivered through the operative statements and the deletion of the earlier notification provision.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The immediate addressee is not the general public. Instead, the instrument applies to the administrative function under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act—specifically, the role of a Deputy Registrar and the authority of the person holding that role.
In terms of practical applicability, the order affects:
- The Medical Director, Changi Hospital (as the office-holder whose deputy status ceased); and
- Any persons or bodies relying on the Deputy Registrar’s authority for actions “for the purposes of the Act” after 18 February 1997.
Because the order is framed as “for general information,” it also serves as a public record so that lawyers, government departments, and other stakeholders can verify who is authorised at a given time.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though this instrument is short, it can be legally significant. In statutory systems, authority to perform certain functions is often tied to specific office-holders. When an appointment ceases, the legal validity of acts performed after the cessation date may be questioned. This is particularly relevant in administrative law and in matters involving formal documentation, certifications, or filings that must be made by a designated officer.
Second, the order demonstrates the importance of maintaining an accurate legal record. The deletion of Item 2 of Notification No. N 3 prevents inconsistency between earlier appointment notifications and later updates. For practitioners, this reduces the risk of relying on outdated information when advising clients or preparing submissions.
Third, the instrument highlights a common legal drafting pattern in Singapore subsidiary legislation: a “notification” format used to update official roles under an enabling Act. Lawyers should therefore treat such instruments as authoritative legal updates, not as mere administrative notices. When researching, always check the timeline and the current version status, because the extract indicates that the instrument is part of a revised edition framework and may be presented within a broader legislative consolidation.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 267) — in particular Section 11(3) (as the enabling provision referenced by the order)
- Notification No. N 3 — specifically Item 2, which is deleted by this order
- Timeline / Revised Edition references — as indicated by the instrument’s placement in the legislative timeline (SL 539/1996)
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.