State Lands (Amendment) Bill

Bill No. 12/1998

Read the first time on 19th February 1998.
An Act to amend the State Lands Act (Chapter 314 of the 1996 Revised Edition).
Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:
Short title and commencement
1.  This Act may be cited as the State Lands (Amendment) Act 1998 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.
New sections 2A, 2B and 2C
2.  The State Lands Act is amended by inserting, immediately after section 2, the following sections:
Appointment of Chief Valuer
2A.—(1)  The President may appoint a Chief Valuer in accordance with the advice of the Public Service Commission unless the President, acting in his discretion, does not concur with that advice.
(2)  The remuneration and other terms of service of the Chief Valuer shall not be altered to his disadvantage during his continuance in office.
Functions of Chief Valuer
2B.—(1)  The functions of the Chief Valuer shall be —
(a)to carry out the valuation of all State lands, lands managed for or on behalf of the Government or buildings on any such land for their disposal; and
(b)to carry out valuation of any lands and buildings required for feasibility studies, court proceedings, arbitration or other purposes.
(2)  The Chief Valuer shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be prescribed by or under any written law.
Access to lands, buildings, etc.
2C.—(1)  The Chief Valuer or any officer authorised by him may —
(a)where reasonably necessary for the purposes of any work undertaken by the Chief Valuer in the performance of his functions, enter at all reasonable hours into and upon and inspect any land, building or premises without liability for trespass;
(b)request in writing the owner or person in occupation of any land, building or premises to furnish information to enable the Chief Valuer to carry out that work; and
(c)inspect any books, documents or papers in the charge of any public officer for the purposes of such work and take extracts from those books, documents or papers without any charge.”.