Inquiry Commissions Ordinance
(CHAPTER 55, 1955 ED)
Commission
N 30
G.N. No. S 2132/1968

REVISED EDITION 1990
(25th March 1992)
[17th July 1968]
By Enche YUSOF BIN ISHAK, AL-HAJ, President of the Republic of Singapore.
Whereas it is provided by the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance that it shall be lawful for the President of the Republic of Singapore whenever he shall deem it advisable to issue a Commission appointing one or more Commissioners to inquire inter alia into any matter in which an inquiry would, in the opinion of the President of the Republic of Singapore, be for the public welfare:
And whereas I am of the opinion that it is in the public welfare that an inquiry should forthwith be made by Commissioners so appointed in accordance with the following terms of reference:
(a)to review the existing Government machinery for the collection and compilation of statistics, and to consider and recommend improvements required to meet the needs of the expanding and industrialising economy of Singapore;
(b)to examine the types of statistical data which can be extracted from the administrative records of Government and to make recommendations for their improvement and for their maximum utilisation;
(c)to review the existing legislation for the collection of statistical information and to recommend amendments, where necessary;
(d)to assess the need and scope for conducting censuses and surveys and to make recommendations regarding the organisation and resources needed to carry them out;
(e)to examine the statistical publications issued by the Government and to recommend ways and means for expanding and expediting the publication of statistical data and studies by Government departments;
(f)to review the existing organisation of the Department of Statistics and other statistical units of the Government and to make recommendations on their staffing, training requirements and terms and conditions of service to enable them to cope with the increase and development of statistical services;
(g)to estimate what additional staff and requirements will be needed to implement the recommendations made and to suggest sources for technical assistance in particular fields of specialisation; and
(h)to consider the desirability of setting up a Permanent Statistical Commission and, if so, to suggest its terms of reference.
Now, therefore, I, YUSOF BIN ISHAK, appoint the following persons, namely:
Dr. You Poh Seng,
Mr. Wu Ta-Yeh,
Mr. Ngiam Tong Dow,
Mr. Richard Lau,
Prof. Harry Oshima,
Mr. Tye Cho Yook, and
Mr. Lee Wai Mun,
to be Commissioners and hereby authorise the Commissioners to conduct such inquiry in the manner hereinafter directed:
1.  I direct the Dr. You Poh Seng shall be Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry.
2.  I direct that the Commission shall normally hold its sittings at the office of the Economic Development Division (Economics), 2nd Floor, Fullerton Building, Singapore 1, 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.
3.  I direct that the Inquiry shall be held in camera.
4.  I appoint Mr. Goh Chok Tong to be Secretary to the Commission and 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 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 authorise the Commission to appoint any suitable person temporarily to act as Secretary.
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 duties as the Commission shall direct.
6.  Finally, I direct that the Commissioners shall after completing the Inquiry submit to me their report and recommendations not later than 31st December 1968.
Given at Singapore this 23rd day of May 1968.
By the President’s Command,