| GEORGE VI, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith. |
| By His Excellency Sir FRANKLIN CHARLES GIMSON, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Singapore. |
| | Governor and Commander-in-Chief. |
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| Whereas it is provided by the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance 1941 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 enquiry would, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, be for the public welfare: |
| And whereas by virtue of the provision of section 10 of the Transfer of Powers and Interpretation Ordinance, 1946, the powers conferred upon the Governor in Council for the Colony of Singapore may be exercised by the Governor: |
| And whereas the Governor has deemed it expedient and in the interests of public welfare that a diligent and full enquiry should forthwith be made into the following matters, namely: |
| 1. | The system of Prison Administration in the Colony of Singapore; | | 2. | The reformative influence of Prison Administration in regard to the treatment of prisoners of different classes and ages; | | 3. | The aiding of prisoners both before and after release to regain their position in the community; | | 4. | The desirability of revising prison industries with a view to —| (a) | making prisons self-supporting, and | | (b) | teaching prisoners trades which are likely to be of use to them on release; |
| | 5. | Alternatives to imprisonment as a punishment; | | 6. | The recruitment, salaries and conditions of service of the members of the Prisons’ Staff. |
| Now, therefore, I, Sir Franklin Charles Gimson, hereby appoint the following persons, namely: |
| Commander George Edward Walter Wentworth Bayly, V.D., M.R.N.V.R., Commissioner of Prisons, Singapore, | | Dato Wong Siew Qui, J.P., | | Dr. Gopal Haridas, J.P., M.M.S., | | Brigadier Frederick William Harvey, M.B.E., Salvation Army, | | Mr. Robert Henry Green, Advocate and Solicitor, |
| to be Commissioners and hereby authorise the Commissioners to inquire into the matters aforesaid as hereinafter directed: |
| (i) | I direct that George Edward Walter Wentworth Bayly shall be Chairman of this Commission of Inquiry: Provided that in the absence of the George Edward Walter Wentworth Bayly from any sitting of the Commission an Acting Chairman shall be elected by the Commissioners present at such sitting. | | (ii) | I direct that the first sitting of the Commission shall take place on such date and at such hour as the Chairman may designate and that at any sitting of the Commission three members shall form a quorum. | | (iii) | I direct that the Commission shall normally hold its sittings 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. | | (iv) | I direct that the Inquiry shall be held in public: Provided that the Chairman or Acting Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry may in his discretion direct that any evidence may be heard in camera or otherwise recorded without being made available to the Public. | | (v) | I appoint Mr. Charles Edward MacCormack 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 1941 and I authorise the 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 of the Commission to appoint any suitable person temporarily to act as Secretary to the Commission. | | (vi) | 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. | | (vii) | Finally I direct that the Commissioners after completing their enquiry render to me their report thereon and make such recommendations as they may think necessary. |
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