Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2017
- Act Code: RRA1985-S415-2017
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Defence
- Made on: 18 July 2017
- Commencement / Operational Date: 25 July 2017 (for Part III of the Act)
- Current status (as indicated in the extract): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Legislative Instrument Number: SL 415/2017
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1–2
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2017 is a short but legally significant instrument. In substance, it activates a specific portion of Singapore’s Requisition of Resources Act—namely, Part III—for a defined period. The Order does not itself set out detailed requisition procedures; instead, it “turns on” the operational machinery already contained in the parent Act.
Requisition legislation is typically designed for national preparedness. When circumstances require it—such as emergencies, defence-related needs, or other situations contemplated by the Requisition of Resources Act—the State must be able to secure access to resources (for example, property, services, or other assets) in a timely manner. The Order is therefore best understood as an activation order that brings Part III of the Act into force and keeps it in operation from a specified date.
Practically, the Order is a legal trigger. Lawyers and compliance teams should treat it as a “switch” that changes the legal landscape for affected parties from the commencement date. Once Part III is in operation, the powers, obligations, and consequences set out in that Part of the Act become applicable. The Order’s brevity reflects that the detailed substantive framework is already in the Act; the Order’s role is to determine when those provisions apply.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2017.” While this may appear administrative, citation provisions are important for legal certainty. They allow practitioners to reference the instrument accurately in submissions, notices, and compliance documentation.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the operative provision. It states that “the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 25 July 2017.” This language does two things at once:
- Commencement: Part III is brought into operation on 25 July 2017.
- Continuing effect: Part III is to “remain in operation” from that date (the extract does not specify an end date, implying that the continuation is governed by the Act’s own framework or by subsequent orders/amendments).
The Order is made under section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act. The extract’s enacting formula—“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act, the Minister for Defence makes the following Order”—indicates that the Act grants the Minister a power to activate Part III. For practitioners, this matters because it anchors the legality of the activation in the parent Act’s statutory authority. In other words, the Order is not an independent source of requisition powers; it is the lawful mechanism by which those powers become active.
Signature and making date: The instrument is “Made on 18 July 2017” and signed by NEO KIAN HONG, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), Ministry of Defence. The making date is distinct from the operational date (25 July 2017). This gap is common in subsidiary legislation: it provides time for publication and internal readiness, while still ensuring that the activation date is clear and predictable for affected persons.
Legal effect of “Part III” activation: Although the extract does not reproduce Part III itself, the key point for lawyers is that once Part III is in operation, the rights and duties in that Part become enforceable. That typically includes (depending on the structure of the parent Act) the State’s requisition powers, the process for requisitioning resources, and the legal consequences for non-compliance. The Order’s function is therefore to establish the temporal scope of those Part III provisions.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
As a subsidiary instrument, the Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2017 is structured in a minimal form. The extract shows only two sections:
- Section 1: Citation (title of the Order).
- Section 2: Date of requisition (activation of Part III of the Act on 25 July 2017).
In terms of legislative architecture, the Order is best read together with the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273). The Act contains the substantive framework, including Part III. The Order’s structure reflects a common legislative technique: rather than repeating detailed provisions in each activation order, the subsidiary instrument simply specifies the date(s) on which the relevant Part of the Act becomes operative.
For practitioners, this means that legal analysis cannot stop at the Order itself. The Order must be read alongside Part III of the Act to determine:
- what resources may be requisitioned;
- who may exercise requisition powers;
- what procedural steps are required (notices, assessments, timelines);
- what compensation or remedies exist (if any); and
- what offences, penalties, or enforcement mechanisms apply.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to persons and entities whose resources fall within the scope of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act once that Part is in operation. While the extract does not specify categories of persons, requisition legislation generally targets resource holders—for example, owners, operators, suppliers, or providers of relevant assets or services.
Because the Order activates Part III, its practical reach is broad: it can affect private businesses, public bodies, and individuals who control or supply resources that the State may need for defence or other contingencies contemplated by the Act. The key legal point is that the Order changes the status quo from 25 July 2017: from that date, the legal regime in Part III becomes applicable, and affected parties should assume that requisition-related obligations and processes may be invoked.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2017 is brief, it is important because it determines when the State’s requisition powers under Part III of the Act can be exercised. In legal practice, timing is often decisive: rights, duties, and potential liabilities may depend on whether the relevant statutory provisions were in force at the material time.
For compliance and risk management, the Order signals that from 25 July 2017, the legal environment for relevant resources changes. Businesses that may be approached for requisition—such as those involved in logistics, utilities, transport, or other resource-intensive sectors—should ensure they understand:
- how requisition notices are served and what information must be provided;
- what internal approvals and documentation are needed to respond quickly;
- whether compensation mechanisms apply and how claims should be handled; and
- what penalties or enforcement consequences follow from non-compliance.
From an enforcement perspective, the Order provides a clear statutory basis for invoking Part III. It also supports administrative legality: the Minister’s power is exercised under the Act, and the activation date is expressly stated. This reduces ambiguity and supports defensibility if affected parties challenge the timing or validity of requisition actions.
Finally, for legal research and litigation, the Order is a crucial reference point for determining the applicable legal regime at a given time. If a dispute arises about actions taken around July 2017, counsel will need to establish whether Part III was operative and whether the requisition authority relied on the correct legal basis.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) (including Part III)
- Requisition of Resources Act (authorising provision: section 2, as referenced in the enacting formula)
- Legislation Timeline (for version control and determining the operative instrument at relevant dates)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 3) Order 2017 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.