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Commission

Status:

Revised Edition
published on 02 Apr 1959

Inquiry Commissions Ordinance

Chapter 52, 1955 Revised Edition

Commission

N 16

G.N. No. S 697/1959

REVISED EDITION 1990

( )

[2 April 1959]

ELIZABETH II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her Other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

By His Excellency WILLIAM ALLMOND CODRINGTON GOODE, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Singapore.

Whereas it is provided by the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance that it shall be lawful for the Governor, whenever he shall deem it advisable, to issue a Commission appointing one or more Commissioners to enquire, inter alia into any matter in which an inquiry would, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, be for the public welfare:

And whereas the Governor in Council is of the opinion that an inquiry should forthwith be made by a Commissioner so appointed in accordance with the following terms of reference:

To inquire into the working of the City Council and the relationship between the Mayor and Councillors and the City Council Administration since the present Council took office and report whether there have been any irregularities or improprieties both generally and with particular reference to the following matters:

(a)	the appointment, dismissal and discipline of staff;

(b)	the assumption and exercise by the Mayor or individual Councillors of executive functions;

(c)	interference by the Mayor or individual Councillors with the exercise by City Council employees of their statutory and other functions;

(d)	the use of Municipal property and monies;

(e)	the acceptance or rejection of tenders;

(f)	the conduct of meetings of the Council and Committees and Sub-committees thereof; and

2.	To make recommendations for the improvement of such working and relationship:

Now, therefore, I, WILLIAM ALLMOND CODRINGTON GOODE, hereby appoint Simon Haigh David Elias, Esquire, to be a Commissioner and hereby authorize the said Commissioner to conduct such inquiry in the manner hereinafter directed:

1.	I direct that the first sitting of the Commission shall take place in the Supreme Court, Singapore, on such date and at such hour as the Commissioner may designate.

2.	I direct that the Commission shall normally hold its sittings in the Supreme Court, Singapore, but shall have power in the discretion of the Commissioner to adjourn to any suitable place to hear evidence or for any other purpose connected with its duties.

3.	I direct that the Inquiry shall be held in public: Provided that the Commissioner may in his discretion direct that any evidence shall be heard in camera or otherwise recorded without being made available to the public.

I appoint Mr. Chan Sik Kwan to be Secretary to the Commission and to attend the sittings thereof and generally to exercise the powers conferred and to carry out the duties imposed upon such Secretary as are referred to in section 6 of the said Inquiry Commissions Ordinance, and I authorize the said Secretary to employ such clerical or other assistance for the purposes of the Inquiry as the Commissioner may require. In case of necessity I also authorise the Commissioner to appoint any suitable person temporarily to act as Secretary to the Commission.

5.	I direct the Commissioner of Police to detail police constables to attend upon the Commission for the purpose of preserving order during the proceedings, to serve summonses on witnesses or to perform such ministerial duties as the Commission shall direct.

6.	Finally, I direct that the Commissioner after completing the Inquiry render to me his report and recommendations thereon.

Given at Singapore this 2nd day of April 1959.

By His Excellency’s Command,

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