Inquiry Commissions Ordinance
Chapter 52, 1955 Revised Edition
Commission
N 24
G.N. No. S 810/1962

REVISED EDITION 1990
( )
[9 April 1962]
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 Enche YUSOF BIN ISHAK, Yang di-Pertuan Negara of the State of Singapore.
Whereas it is provided by the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance that it shall be lawful for the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, 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 Yang di-Pertuan Negara, be for the public welfare:
And whereas I am of the opinion that an inquiry should forthwith be made by a Commission so appointed in accordance with the following terms of reference:
“To inquire into the November-December 1961 Secondary Four Examination Boycott by certain Chinese Middle Schools’ student groups against the background of the history of political agitation in Chinese Middle Schools, and to what extent it was brought about by exploitation of Chinese educational issues by and through Communists and their front organisations.”.
”.
Now, therefore, I, YUSOF BIN ISHAK, hereby appoint the Honourable Mr. Justice Wee Chong Jin to be a Commissioner and hereby authorise 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.
4.  I appoint Mr. Gerald Francis Pillay 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 authorise 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 findings thereon.
Given at Singapore this 7th day of April 1962.
By His Excellency’s Command,