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Inquiry Commissions Ordinance

Chapter 52, 1955 Revised Edition

Commission

N 19

G.N. No. S 1285/1959

REVISED EDITION 1990

( )

[21 November 1959]

ELIZABETH THE SECOND, 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 Sir WILLIAM ALLMOND CODRINGTON GOODE, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Yang di-Pertuan Negara of the State of Singapore.

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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 it is provided by paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 121 of the Singapore (Constitution) Order in Council 1958 that any reference to the Governor or to the Governor in Council shall in relation to any period beginning on or after the appointed day, be construed as a reference to the Yang di-Pertuan Negara:

And whereas I am of the opinion that an inquiry should forthwith be made by the Commissioners so appointed in accordance with the following terms of reference:

1	To inquire into the total constructional capacity of Singapore having regard to —

(a)	the present availability of construction material from local and overseas sources,

(b)	the present availability of architects, engineers, surveyors and other professional or technical personnel both in Government and semi-government agencies as well as in private business,

(c)	the organisation and methods of contracting firms in Singapore engaged in building, piling, structural engineering, or earth works,

(d)	the strength of the labour force, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled;

2.	To suggest methods by which such constructional capacity may be quickly expanded, whether by training or recruitment or by permitting immigration of the professional and technical persons and of skilled workmen, or by improvement in methods of construction, or otherwise;

3.	In the event of inadequate capacity to meet the needs of both the public and private sectors, to examine what measures should be adopted for control of the limited resources available and for determination of priorities between different projects;

4.	To examine methods by which the Government can be constantly appraised of the level of current and prospective construction activity in relation to capacity.

Now, therefore, I, WILLIAM ALLMOND CODRINGTON GOODE, hereby appoint the following persons, namely:

1.	Dr. Lim Tay Boh;

2.	J. J. Puthucheary;

3.	Tan Teck Chwee;

4.	Ng Cheong Ling;

5.	Alfred H. K. Wong;

6.	Goh Chew Chua; and

7.	Low Por Tuck,

to be Commissioners and hereby authorise the Commissioners to conduct such inquiry in the manner hereinafter directed:

1. I direct that Dr. Lim Tay Boh shall be Chairman of this Commission of Inquiry.

2. I direct that the sittings of the Commission shall be held at such places, on such dates and at such hours as the Commissioners may from time to time appoint.

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

4. I appoint Wong Keng Sam 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 Inquiry Commissions Ordinance, and I authorise the said Secretary to employ such clerical or other assistance for the purposes of the Inquiry as the Commissioners may require. In case of necessity I also authorise the Chairman 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 and to perform such ministerial duties as the Commission shall direct.

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

Given at Singapore this 19th day of November 1959.

By His Excellency’s Command,