Statute Details
- Title: Requisition of Resources Order 2017
- Act Code: RRA1985-S176-2017
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273)
- Authorising Provision: Powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act
- Enacting Date (Made): 19 April 2017
- Commencement / Operational Date: Part III of the Act to come into and remain in operation on 25 April 2017
- Current Status (as indicated in the extract): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Legislative Instrument Number: No. S 176
- SL Citation: SL 176/2017
- Key Provisions (from extract): Sections 1 (Citation) and 2 (Date of requisition)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2017 is a short but legally significant instrument made under Singapore’s Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273). In plain terms, it activates a specific part of the parent Act—Part III—for a defined period starting on a particular date.
Unlike a typical “regulatory” statute that sets out detailed operational rules, this Order primarily performs a triggering function. It tells the legal system when the government’s statutory powers under Part III of the Act are to “come into and remain in operation”. This is consistent with the logic of emergency or defence-related legislation: the underlying powers exist in the Act, but the Order determines when those powers are actually engaged.
Practitioners should therefore read this Order together with the Requisition of Resources Act. The Order itself contains only two operative provisions in the extract, but its legal effect is to bring Part III of the Act into force on 25 April 2017 and keep it in operation thereafter (as stated in the Order). The practical consequences for affected persons depend on what Part III provides—typically, such provisions relate to the government’s ability to requisition resources (for example, property, services, or other resources) for defence or national security purposes.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) is a standard provision confirming the name of the instrument: the “Requisition of Resources Order 2017”. While it may appear purely formal, citation provisions matter for legal certainty, especially when multiple orders may exist over time and when practitioners need to identify the exact instrument relied upon in correspondence, notices, or enforcement actions.
Section 2 (Date of requisition) is the core operative clause. It provides that “the provisions of Part III of the Act are to come into and remain in operation on 25 April 2017.” This language does two things at once:
- Commencement: Part III is activated starting on 25 April 2017.
- Continuing operation: Part III is not merely temporary for a short window; it is stated to “remain in operation” (i.e., it continues to apply unless and until later legislative action changes the position).
From a practitioner’s perspective, the legal significance lies in the activation of Part III. The Order does not itself describe the requisition process, the scope of resources, compensation mechanisms, procedural safeguards, or enforcement powers. Those details are contained in the parent Act—Part III specifically. Accordingly, any legal advice or compliance assessment must be anchored in the text of Part III, using this Order as the “date trigger”.
It is also important to note the making date and the operational date. The Order was made on 19 April 2017 but Part III comes into operation on 25 April 2017. This gap is typical: it allows administrative preparation and ensures that the legal regime is clearly established before it becomes effective. For affected parties, it means that notices or actions taken after 25 April 2017 may rely on Part III being in force, whereas actions taken before that date would not have the same statutory footing under Part III (unless another legal basis exists).
Finally, the enacting formula indicates that the Minister for Defence makes the Order in exercise of powers conferred by section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act. This matters for validity and for any challenge: if the Minister lacked authority, or if the statutory conditions for making the Order were not met, that could be relevant in judicial review or other legal proceedings. However, the extract does not show any additional conditions; it only shows the statutory power and the resulting activation of Part III.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Requisition of Resources Order 2017 is structured as a very short subsidiary instrument with the following features:
- Enacting formula: Identifies the enabling power (section 2 of the Requisition of Resources Act) and the Minister for Defence as the maker.
- Section 1 (Citation): Names the Order.
- Section 2 (Date of requisition): Provides the operative commencement/activation instruction for Part III of the Act.
Because the Order is brief, it should be treated as a gateway instrument rather than a standalone regulatory code. The “real” substantive legal framework is in the parent Act, particularly Part III. In practice, lawyers will typically read:
- the Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273), and
- specifically Part III,
- together with this Order to confirm that Part III is in operation from 25 April 2017.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Although the Order itself does not list categories of persons, its effect is to activate the requisition powers contained in Part III of the Requisition of Resources Act. Those powers typically operate against persons who control or provide “resources” relevant to defence or national security needs—such as owners, occupiers, service providers, or other parties whose resources may be requisitioned.
Accordingly, the practical scope is best understood by reference to Part III. In advising clients, practitioners should identify whether the client is within the class of persons who may be subject to requisition measures (for example, whether the client owns relevant property, operates relevant services, or otherwise holds resources that could be requisitioned). The Order’s role is to confirm that the legal mechanism in Part III is available to the government from the specified date.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it demonstrates how Singapore’s requisition regime is designed to be activated when needed. The parent Act provides the statutory machinery, but the Order determines when that machinery becomes operational. For practitioners, this means that the legal analysis often turns on timing: whether Part III was in operation at the relevant time when a requisition notice was issued, when obligations were imposed, or when enforcement steps were taken.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order reduces ambiguity. Once Part III is in operation, affected parties should assume that the government can exercise the requisition powers provided in Part III, subject to any procedural requirements and safeguards in the Act. This has direct implications for:
- Operational planning (e.g., whether a business might be required to provide resources or services);
- Contracting and risk management (e.g., how requisition obligations interact with private contractual duties);
- Compensation and dispute handling (depending on what Part III provides, including any rights to compensation or review).
For legal practitioners, the Order is also a reminder that subsidiary legislation can have substantial real-world effects even when it is short. A two-section instrument can still materially change the legal landscape by activating an entire Part of an Act. When advising clients, lawyers should therefore not treat such orders as “administrative” or “procedural” only; instead, they should treat them as jurisdictional and temporal triggers for substantive powers.
Related Legislation
- Requisition of Resources Act (Chapter 273) — in particular Part III
- Timeline (as referenced in the legislation interface) — for version control and confirmation of the applicable instrument date
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Requisition of Resources Order 2017 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.