Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Cap. 185, N 1) (Rectification) Order 2019
- Act Code: RELA1983-S502-2019
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- SL Number: S 502/2019
- Enacting Formula / Authorising Act: Made under section 23(1) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Date Made: 16 July 2019
- Commencement: The Order effects rectification to the “date of commencement” stated in the relevant revised editions (see section 2)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provision: Section 2 (Rectification of errors)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Cap. 185, N 1) (Rectification) Order 2019 is a short, technical instrument whose purpose is to correct specific errors in the published “revised edition” text of a Singapore statute. In practical terms, it is not a reform of substantive law; rather, it is a legal housekeeping measure to ensure that the official compilation of laws reflects the correct dates for the commencement of a particular provision.
The Order targets the “date of commencement” for the Proceeds of Forfeited Articles to be Paid into the Consolidated Fund. This is a reference to how and when a statutory mechanism for the payment of certain forfeiture proceeds into the Consolidated Fund is deemed to start operating. The rectification corrects the dates stated in two different revised editions: the 1990 Edition and the 1999 Edition of the relevant compilation (Cap. 185, N 1).
For lawyers, the significance of such rectification orders lies in their effect on legal certainty. Even where the underlying policy or administrative practice is unchanged, an incorrect commencement date can create confusion about when obligations, entitlements, or accounting treatment became effective. The Order therefore ensures that the official “revised edition” record is accurate for interpretation, citation, and compliance purposes.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the short title of the instrument: “Revised Edition of the Laws (Cap. 185, N 1) (Rectification) Order 2019”. This is standard drafting and does not itself change legal rights or duties.
Section 2 (Rectification of errors) is the operative provision. It contains two targeted corrections, each tied to a specific revised edition of Cap. 185, N 1. The structure is important: the Order does not broadly rewrite the statute; it identifies a particular phrase—“In the date of commencement of the Proceeds of Forfeited Articles to be Paid into Consolidated Fund”—and then substitutes the correct date values.
Section 2(1) addresses the 1990 Edition. It instructs that, in the date of commencement of the relevant provision in Cap. 185, N 1 (1990 Ed.), the text “22nd” must be deleted and replaced with “10th”. In other words, the day component of the commencement date is corrected from the 22nd to the 10th.
Section 2(2) addresses the 1999 Edition. It instructs that, in the date of commencement of the relevant provision in Cap. 185, N 1 (1999 Ed.), the text “22.5.74” must be deleted and replaced with “10.5.74”. This correction is more explicit: it corrects the full date format (day.month.year). The corrected commencement date becomes 10 May 1974 rather than 22 May 1974.
Practical legal effect. Although the Order is brief, it matters because commencement dates can affect (i) the interpretation of transitional arrangements, (ii) the determination of when a statutory payment obligation or entitlement took effect, and (iii) the accuracy of legal citations in pleadings, submissions, and compliance documentation. A rectification order ensures that the official legislative record aligns with the intended commencement date.
Authority and scope. The Order is made under section 23(1) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. That authorising provision empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to issue rectification orders to correct errors in the revised editions. This context is relevant for practitioners: it signals that the instrument is intended to correct mistakes in the publication of the revised text, not to enact new substantive rules.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The instrument is structured in a conventional format for rectification orders:
(1) Enacting formula — states that the Law Revision Commissioners make the Order under the relevant enabling power.
(2) Section 1 (Citation) — provides the short title.
(3) Section 2 (Rectification of errors) — sets out the specific textual corrections. It is divided into two subsections to correspond to two revised editions (1990 Ed. and 1999 Ed.).
There are no schedules, parts, or complex procedural provisions. The Order is essentially a targeted amendment to the “date of commencement” wording in the revised editions of Cap. 185, N 1.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
Rectification orders of this kind generally apply indirectly. They do not impose duties on a class of private persons; instead, they correct the official text of the law as published in the revised editions. As a result, the “audience” is broad in the sense that anyone relying on the revised edition text—courts, government agencies, legal practitioners, and regulated entities—benefits from the corrected commencement date.
In practical terms, the corrected commencement date may be relevant to government accounting, fiscal administration, and any legal analysis involving the timing of payments of forfeiture proceeds into the Consolidated Fund. However, the Order itself does not create new payment obligations; it corrects the record of when the relevant provision is deemed to have commenced.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
First, commencement dates are foundational to legal interpretation. When a statutory provision begins to operate, it can determine whether actions taken before that date were authorised, required, or prohibited. Even a seemingly small error—such as substituting “22nd” for “10th” or changing “22.5.74” to “10.5.74”—can have downstream effects in legal arguments, audit trails, and historical compliance assessments.
Second, this Order promotes legal certainty and consistency. Singapore’s legal system relies on the official revised editions of statutes for authoritative citation. If the revised edition contains an error, practitioners may inadvertently cite or rely on incorrect information. Rectification orders ensure that the published text reflects the correct legislative history and intended commencement dates.
Third, the Order illustrates the function of the Law Revision Commissioners and the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. Practitioners should recognise that such instruments are part of the legislative maintenance framework. They are not “policy changes” but corrections to the legal record. That distinction can matter when advising clients: the rectification is aimed at accuracy, not at altering substantive rights or obligations.
Enforcement and compliance impact. Because the Order corrects a commencement date, it may affect how agencies and counsel interpret the timing of the relevant fiscal mechanism. For example, if there were disputes about whether proceeds were properly treated as payable into the Consolidated Fund from a particular date, the corrected commencement date could be central. Similarly, in drafting legal opinions or preparing submissions, counsel must ensure that references to commencement dates are accurate to avoid reliance on erroneous text.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (authorising power: section 23(1))
- Cap. 185, N 1 (1990 Ed. and 1999 Ed.) — the revised edition containing the “Proceeds of Forfeited Articles to be Paid into Consolidated Fund” commencement date being rectified
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Cap. 185, N 1) (Rectification) Order 2019 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.