Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2016
- Act Code: RRA1985-S515-2016
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Enacting formula / power: Made in exercise of powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Order number: (No. 4) Order 2016
- SL citation: SL 515/2016
- Date made: 17 October 2016
- Commencement / requisition date: Part III of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 22 October 2016
- Current status (as provided): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key provisions in the extract: Sections 1 (Citation) and 2 (Date of requisition)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2016 is a short but legally significant instrument. It does not itself list specific resources to be requisitioned. Instead, it activates a particular part of the parent statute—the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)—by bringing Part III of that Act into operation on a specified date.
In practical terms, the Order is part of Singapore’s legal framework for ensuring that, when required (for example, during emergencies or periods of national need), the Government can secure access to resources. The mechanism works by authorising the activation of the Act’s operational provisions. Once Part III is in force, the relevant powers and procedures in that Part become available to the authorities.
Because this Order is “(No. 4)”, it indicates that there are multiple similar orders that can be made at different times. Each order typically corresponds to a decision to bring the relevant provisions of the Act into operation. The legal effect is therefore time-based and conditional on the Order’s commencement date.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) is a standard provision. It confirms the formal name of the instrument: “Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2016”. While it may appear administrative, citation provisions matter for legal certainty—practitioners rely on them to identify the exact instrument being considered, especially where multiple orders exist.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the core operative clause in the extract. It states that the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 22 October 2016. This wording is important. It does not merely indicate a temporary activation; it specifies that Part III is to remain in operation from that date, subject to any later legislative action (for example, a subsequent order that may bring the provisions to an end or otherwise modify their operation, depending on how the parent Act is structured).
From a lawyer’s perspective, the key point is that the Order functions as a trigger for the operational regime in Part III. The Order itself does not describe the requisitioning process, the scope of resources, or the rights and obligations of affected parties. Those details are contained in the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273), particularly Part III. Accordingly, legal advice or compliance analysis must read this Order together with the parent Act.
The extract also includes the making date and the signature block: the Order was made on 17 October 2016 by the Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), Ministry of Defence, Singapore, on behalf of the Minister for Defence. This is consistent with the enacting formula: the Minister for Defence is empowered under section 2 of the Act to make such orders. Practitioners should note that the validity of the Order depends on the statutory authority being properly exercised—here, the authorising power is expressly stated in the enacting formula.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a two-section subsidiary legislation order.
Section 1 provides the citation. Section 2 provides the date on which Part III of the parent Act comes into force and remains operational. There are no schedules or detailed operational provisions in the extract, which is typical for orders that are designed to activate or commence provisions of a parent statute rather than to create substantive rules on their own.
In terms of legal architecture, the Order should be treated as a commencement/activation instrument within a broader statutory scheme. The substantive requisitioning powers, procedural steps, and consequences are located in the Requisition of Resources Act itself. Therefore, the “structure” for practitioners is not just the two sections in the Order, but the relationship between:
- the Order (which activates Part III on a specified date), and
- the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) (which contains the operative requisitioning regime in Part III).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Order is brief, its effect is directed at the operation of Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. Accordingly, it applies to persons and entities who may be subject to requisitioning under Part III once it is in force. In general terms, such provisions typically affect owners, occupiers, operators, suppliers, or other stakeholders who control relevant resources that the Government may need to requisition.
Because the extract does not reproduce Part III, the precise categories of affected persons and the exact scope of “resources” must be determined by consulting the parent Act. However, the legal implication is clear: once Part III is operational from 22 October 2016, the authorities may exercise the powers conferred by that Part, and affected parties may have corresponding duties, procedural rights, and potential entitlements (such as compensation mechanisms, depending on how the Act is drafted).
Practitioners advising clients should therefore treat the Order as a time marker for when the Part III regime becomes available. For matters involving events, notices, or compliance actions occurring around or after 22 October 2016, the Order is likely to be relevant to determining which legal powers were in effect at the time.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2016 is only two sections long, it is important because it determines when a potentially far-reaching legal framework becomes operative. Requisitioning legislation typically intersects with property rights, contractual arrangements, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance. The activation of Part III can therefore have immediate practical consequences for businesses and individuals who control resources that may be requisitioned.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, the Order provides legal certainty about the commencement of Part III. If an authority purports to exercise powers under Part III, affected parties may need to verify whether Part III was indeed in operation at the relevant time. The Order’s date—22 October 2016—is therefore a critical fact for disputes about legality, timing, and procedural fairness.
For practitioners, the Order also illustrates a common legislative technique: rather than amending the parent Act each time conditions require action, the Government can activate specific parts through subsidiary orders. This can make the legal regime more responsive, but it also means that lawyers must monitor subsidiary instruments and not rely solely on the text of the parent Act.
Finally, the “No. 4” numbering suggests that the activation may occur multiple times. This raises practical legal questions that counsel may need to address, such as whether later orders modify the operation of Part III, whether Part III remains continuously in force until expressly ended, and how any transitional or overlapping periods are handled. Those issues are resolved by reading the parent Act alongside the sequence of relevant orders.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) — in particular, Part III (the provisions activated by this Order)
- Requisition of Resources (Timeline / related orders) — to determine the sequence of activation and any subsequent orders affecting Part III
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources (No. 4) Order 2016 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.