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inquiry commissions ordinance

(CHAPTER 55, 1955 ED)

Commission

N 18

G.N. No. S 1146/1959

REVISED EDITION 1990

(25th March 1992)

[11th November 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 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.

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 Commissioners so appointed in accordance with the following terms of reference:

1.	To review the whole system and operation of the Singapore Prisons Department; the recruitment, training and duties of Prisons staff; the organisation of Prisons industries; and any other matter pertaining to the Prisons Service;

2.	To review the problems of classification, training, discipline and the rehabilitation of prisoners; and the organisation of aftercare; and

3.	To make recommendations, having due regard to the limitations of present conditions, circumstances and resources:

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

1.	C. V. Devan Nair;

2.	Thomas Harold Elliot;

3.	Jek Yuen Thong;

4.	Osman bin Abdul Ghani;

5.	Jean MacDonald Robertson;

6.	Cheam Kim Seang;

7.	Tan Kay Hai;

8.	Sandrasegaran Woodhull; and

9.	Francis Thomas,

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

1. I direct that C. V. Devan Nair shall be Chairman of this Commission of Inquiry.

2. I direct that the first sitting of the Commission shall take place in the Civil District Court on such date and at such hour as the Chairman may designate.

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

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

5. I appoint 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 Inquiry Commissions Ordinance, and I authorize the Secretary to employ such clerical or other assistance for the purposes of the Inquiry as the Commission may require. In case of necessity I also authorize the Commission to appoint any suitable person temporarily to act as Secretary.

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 summonses on witnesses and to perform such ministerial duties as the Commission shall direct.

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

Given at Singapore this 11th day of November 1959.

By His Excellency’s Command,

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