Inquiry Commissions Ordinance 1941
No. 5 of 1941
Commission
N 9
G.N. No. S 383/1951

REVISED EDITION 1990
( )
[9 February 1951]
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.
C:\Users\nurulatiqah\Documents\1951-SLREVED-48-N-10-F1.gif
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 inquire 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 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:
The disorders in Singapore on the 11th December 1950 and on subsequent days, with special reference to the causes of those disorders and to the measures taken to protect life and property and to restore law and order.
Now, therefore, I, Sir FRANKLIN CHARLES GIMSON, hereby appoint the following persons, namely:
The Right Honourable Sir Alfred Henry Lionel Leach, P.C., K.C.,
Captain Henry Studdy, C.B.E., and
John Henry Wenham, Esquire, J.P.,
to be Commissioners and hereby authorise the said Commissioners to inquire into the matters aforesaid as hereinafter directed:
1.I direct that the Right Honourable Sir Alfred Henry Lionel Leach, P.C., K.C., shall be Chairman of this Commission of Inquiry.
2.I direct that the first sitting of the Commission shall take place in the Council Chamber of the Legislative Council 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.
3.I direct that the Commission shall normally hold its sittings in the Council Chamber of the Legislative Council 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.
4.I direct that the Inquiry shall be held in public: Provided that the Chairman of the Commission may in his discretion direct that any evidence may be heard in camera or otherwise recorded without being made available to the public.
5.I appoint Mr. John Robert Williams 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 1941 and I authorise the said 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.
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 thereon and make such recommendations as they may think necessary.
Given at Singapore this 5th day of February 1951.
By His Excellency’s Command,
Singapore Statutes Online
© 2024 Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore,
Last updated 18 Nov 2024
Singapore Statutes Online is provided by the Legislation Division of the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore.