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Inquiry Commissions Ordinance

(Chapter 52, 1955 Ed.)

Commission

N 14

G.N. No. S 2230/1957

REVISED EDITION 1990

(25th March 1992)

[3rd September 1957]

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 ROBERT BROWN BLACK, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 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 Commissioners so appointed in accordance with the following terms of reference:

1.	To call for representations regarding allegations of corrupt, illegal or undesirable practices at the Legislative Assembly By-Elections held in June 1957;

2.	To inquire into these representations;

3.	To examine all legislation relating to elections in Singapore and to consider whether and, if so, how such legislation can be altered to provide more effectually for the prevention, detection and punishment of such practices;

4.	To report and make recommendations thereon.

Now, therefore, I, ROBERT BROWN BLACK, hereby appoint the following persons, namely:

Mr. S. H. D. Elias;

Mr. G. H. Kiat, O.B.E.; and

Mr. C. R. Dasaratha Raj,

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

1.	I direct that Mr. S. H. D. Elias shall be Chairman of this Commission of Inquiry.

I direct that the first sitting of the Commission shall take place in the Conference Room at the Office of the Director of Information Services in the Assembly House on such date and at such hour as the Chairman may designate and that at any sitting of the Commission two members shall form a quorum.

I direct that the Commission shall normally hold its sittings in the Conference Room at the Office of the Director of Information Services in the Assembly House but shall have power in its discretion to adjourn to any other suitable place to hear evidence or for any other purpose connected with its duties.

I direct that the Commission may hold its sittings either privately or in public session as the Commission shall decide but any witness who states that he desires to give his evidence in camera shall be at liberty to do so and in such case the Commission shall direct that any such evidence shall be heard in camera or otherwise recorded without being made available to the public.

5.	I appoint Mr. Tan Chok Kian 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.

6.	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 summons on witnesses or to perform such ministerial duties as the Commissioners shall direct.

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

[G.N. No. 2230/57]

Given at Singapore this 2nd day of September 1957.

By His Excellency’s Command,
W. A. C. GOODE,

Chief Secretary,
Singapore.

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