National Parks Board Act (Chapter 198A)

NATIONAL PARKS BOARD ACT (CHAPTER 198A) (Original Enactment: Act 22 of 1996) REVISED EDITION 2012 (31st July 2012) An Act to reconstitute the National Parks Board and to provide for the transfer of the property, rights and liabilities of the Parks and Recreation Department to the National Parks Board, and for matters connected therewith. [1st July 1996] PART I PRELIMINARY Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the National Parks Board Act. [4/2005] Interpretation 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “animal” has the same meaning as in the Parks and Trees Act (Cap. 216); “Board” means the National Parks Board established under the repealed National Parks Act (Cap. 198A, 1991 Ed.) in force before 1st July 1996 and continued by section 3; “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board and includes any acting Chairman of the Board; “Chief Executive” means the Chief Executive of the Board and includes any person acting in that capacity; “member” means a member of the Board; “national park” has the same meaning as in the Parks and Trees Act; “nature reserve” has the same meaning as in the Parks and Trees Act; “organism” has the same meaning as in the Parks and Trees Act; “Parks and Recreation Department” means the Parks and Recreation Department of the Ministry of National Development; “plant” has the same meaning as in the Parks and Trees Act; “public park” has the same meaning as in the Parks and Trees Act. [4/2005] PART II RECONSTITUTION OF BOARD Reconstitution of National Parks Board 3. As from 1st July 1996, the Board shall continue in existence and shall continue to be a body corporate with perpetual succession and capable of — (a) suing and being sued; (b) acquiring, owning, holding, developing and disposing of property, movable and immovable; and (c) doing and suffering such other acts or things as bodies corporate may lawfully do and suffer. Common seal 4. —(1) As from 1st July 1996, the Board shall continue to have a common seal and the seal may, from time to time, be broken, changed, altered and made anew as the Board thinks fit. (2) All deeds and other documents requiring the seal of the Board shall be sealed with the common seal of the Board and every document to which the common seal is affixed shall be signed by any 2 members generally or specially authorised by the Board for the purpose or by one member so authorised and the Chief Executive. (3) Any document purporting to be a document duly executed under the seal of the Board shall be received in evidence and shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be a document so executed. (4) The Board may, by resolution or otherwise in writing, appoint an officer of the Board or any other agent either generally or in a particular case to execute or sign on behalf of the Board any agreement or other instrument not under seal in relation to any matter coming within the powers of the Board. Constitution of Board 5. The First Schedule shall have effect as respects the Board and its members. PART III FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF BOARD Functions of Board 6. —(1) The functions of the Board shall be — (a) to control, administer and manage the national parks and nature reserves; (b) to plan, design, develop, manage and maintain public parks; (ba) to provide, manage and maintain park and recreational infrastructure and facilities in the national parks, nature reserves and public parks; (c) to propagate, protect and preserve the animals, plants and other organisms of Singapore and, within the national parks, nature reserves and public parks, to preserve objects and places of aesthetic, historical or scientific interest; (d) to provide and control facilities for the study of and research into matters relating to animals, plants and other organisms in Singapore and the physical conditions in which they live; (e) to exhibit objects illustrative of the life sciences, applied sciences, history, technology and industry; (f) to promote the study, research and dissemination of knowledge in botany, horticulture, biotechnology, arboriculture, landscape architecture, parks and recreation management and natural and local history; (g) to provide, manage and promote recreational, cultural, historical, research and educational facilities and resources in national parks, nature reserves and public parks and encourage their full and proper use by members of the public; (h) to advise the Government on all matters relating to nature conservation and the planning, development and management of public parks; and (i) to carry out such other functions and duties as are imposed upon the Board by or under this Act or any other written law. [4/2005] (2) In addition to the functions of the Board under subsection (1), the Board may undertake such other functions as the Minister may assign to the Board and in so doing the Board shall be deemed to be fulfilling the purposes of this Act and the provisions of this Act shall apply to the Board in respect of such functions. Powers of Board 7. —(1) The Board may, for the purposes of this Act, carry on such activities as appear to the Board to be advantageous, necessary or convenient for it to carry on for or in connection with the discharge of its duties and functions under this Act and, in particular, may exercise any of the powers specified in the Second Schedule. (2) This section shall not be construed as limiting any power of the Board conferred by or under any other written law. Directions of Minister 8. —(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Board, give to the Board such directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as he thinks fit, as to the exercise of the functions of the Board under this Act, and the Board shall give effect to all such directions. (2) The Board shall furnish the Minister with such information or facilities for obtaining information with respect to its property and activities in such manner and at such times as the Minister may require. Appointment of committees 9. The Board may, in its discretion, appoint from among its own members or other persons who are not members such number of committees consisting of members or other persons or members and other persons for purposes which, in the opinion of the Board, would be better regulated and managed by means of such committees. Delegation of powers 10. —(1) The Board may, subject to such conditions or restrictions as it may impose, delegate to the Chief Executive, the Chairman or a committee appointed under section 9 all or any of the functions, duties and powers vested in the Board by or under this Act or any other written law, except the power to borrow money. (2) Any power, function or duty delegated under subsection (1), may be exercised or performed by the Chief Executive, the Chairman or such committee, as the case may be, in the name and on behalf of the Board. (3) The Board may, subject to such conditions or restrictions as it thinks fit, delegate to any member or employee of the Board or any person all or any of its functions, duties and powers vested in the Board by or under this Act or any other written law, except the power to borrow money or to raise or grant loans or advances to or subscribe to stocks, shares, bonds or debentures of a company or corporation. (4) Any power, function or duty delegated under subsection (3) may be exercised or performed by such member, employee or person in the name and on behalf of the Board. (5) The Board may continue to exercise a power conferred upon it, or perform a function or duty under this Act or any other written law, notwithstanding the delegation of such power, function or duty under this section. Protection from personal liability 11. No suit or other proceedings shall lie personally against any member or employee of the Board or any other person acting under the direction of the Board in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in the execution or purported execution of this Act. Annual report 12. —(1) The Board shall, as soon as practicable after the close of each financial year, submit to the Minister an annual report on the activities of the Board during the preceding financial year. (2) The Minister shall as soon as practicable cause a copy of every such report to be presented to Parliament. PART IV PROVISIONS RELATING TO STAFF Appointment of Chief Executive and other employees 13. —(1) The Board shall, after consultation with the Public Service Commission and with the approval of the Minister, appoint a Chief Executive on such terms and conditions as the Board may determine. (2) The Chief Executive shall — (a) be known by such designation as the Board may determine; (b) be responsible to the Board for the proper administration and management of the functions and affairs of the Board in accordance with the policy laid down by the Board; and (c) not be removed from office without the consent of the Minister. (3) If the Chief Executive is temporarily absent from Singapore, or is temporarily unable to perform his duties by reason of illness or otherwise, another person may be appointed by the Board to act in the place of the Chief Executive during any such period of absence from duty. (4) The Board may, from time to time, appoint such other employees and agents as it thinks fit for the effective performance of its functions on such terms and conditions as the Board may determine and may terminate the appointment of such employees and agents. Public servants for purposes of Penal Code 14. All members, employees and agents of the Board shall be deemed to be public servants for the purposes of the Penal Code (Cap. 224). PART V FINANCIAL PROVISIONS Grants 15. For the purpose of enabling the Board to carry out its functions under this Act, the Minister may, from time to time, make grants to the Board of such sums of money as the Minister may determine out of moneys to be provided by Parliament. Issue of shares, etc. 15A. As a consequence of the vesting of any property, rights or liabilities of the Government in the Board under this Act, or of any capital injection or other investment by the Government in the Board in accordance with any written law, the Board shall issue such shares or other securities to the Minister for Finance as that Minister may from time to time direct. [5/2002] Bank accounts and payments 16. —(1) The Board may open and maintain an account or accounts with such bank or banks as the Board thinks fit and every such account shall be operated upon as far as practicable by cheque signed by such person or persons as may, from time to time, be authorised in that behalf by the Board. (2) The moneys of the Board shall be applied only in payment or discharge of the expenses, obligations and liabilities of the Board and in making any payment that the Board is authorised or required to make. Power of investment 17. The Board may invest its moneys in accordance with the standard investment power of statutory bodies as defined in section 33A of the Interpretation Act (Cap. 1). [45/2004] Annual estimates 18. —(1) The Board shall in every year prepare and adopt annual estimates of income and expenditure of the Board for the ensuing year. (2) Supplementary estimates may be adopted by the Board at any of its meetings. (3) A copy of all annual and supplementary estimates shall, upon their adoption by the Board, be sent forthwith to the Minister who may approve or disallow any item or portion of any item shown in the estimates, and shall return the estimates as amended by him to the Board, and the Board shall be bound thereby. Financial provisions 19. The financial provisions set out in the Third Schedule shall have effect with respect to the Board. PART VI TRANSFER OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND EMPLOYEES TO BOARD Transfer to Board of property, assets and liabilities 20. —(1) As from 1st July 1996, all movable property vested in the Government immediately before that date for the purposes of the Parks and Recreation Department, and all assets, rights or interests vested in, and all outstanding debts, liabilities and obligations incurred by, the Government in connection therewith shall be transferred to and shall vest in the Board without further assurance. (2) If any question arises as to whether any particular movable property vested in the Government, or whether any particular asset, right, interest, liability or obligation of the Government has been transferred to or vested in the Board under subsection (1), a certificate under the hand of the Minister for Finance shall be conclusive evidence that the property, asset, right, interest, liability or obligation was or was not so transferred or vested. Transfer of employees 21. —(1) As from 1st July 1996, such persons employed immediately before that date in the Parks and Recreation Department as the Minister may determine shall be transferred to the service of the Board on terms no less favourable than those enjoyed by them immediately prior to their transfer. (2) The provisions relating to the transfer of employees set out in the Fourth Schedule shall have effect. Existing agreements and pending proceedings 22. —(1) All deeds, bonds, agreements, instruments and arrangements subsisting immediately before 1st July 1996 affecting any movable property transferred under section 20 or any person transferred to the service of the Board under section 21 shall continue in full force and effect on and after that date and shall be enforceable by or against the Board instead of the Government or any person acting on its behalf as if the Board had been named therein or had been a party thereto. (2) Any proceedings or cause of action relating to any movable property transferred under section 20 or any person transferred to the service of the Board under section 21 pending or existing immediately before 1st July 1996 by or against the Government may be continued and shall be enforced by or against the Board. PART VII NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURE RESERVES 23. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 24. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 25. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 26. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] PART VIII GENERAL Symbol of Board 27. —(1) The Board shall have the exclusive right to the use of such symbols or representations as it may select or devise (referred to in this section as the Board’s symbols) and thereafter display or exhibit in connection with its activities or affairs. (2) Any person who, without the permission of the Board, uses a symbol or representation identical with any of the Board’s symbols, or which so resembles any of the Board’s symbols as to or be likely to deceive or cause confusion, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. Exclusion of liability for information supplied by Board 28. Where the Board provides a service to the public whereby information is supplied to the public on payment of a prescribed fee, neither the Board nor any of its employees involved in the supply of such information shall be liable for any loss or damage suffered by members of the public by reason of any error or omission of whatever nature appearing therein or however caused if made in good faith and in the ordinary course of the discharge of the duties of such employees. All moneys recovered to be paid to Board 29. All moneys recovered or sums collected under this Act or any regulations made thereunder shall be paid into and form part of the general funds of the Board. 30. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 31. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 32. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 33. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 34. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 35. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 36. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 37. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 38. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] 39. [Repealed by Act 4 of 2005] Power to make regulations 40. —(1) The Board may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act. [4/2005] (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Board may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations for or with respect to all or any of the following matters: (a) regulating the proceedings of the Board or of the committees of the Board; (b) the manner of appointment, conduct and discipline and the terms and conditions of service of the employees of the Board; (c) the establishment of funds for the payment of gratuities and other benefits to employees of the Board; (d) any other matter which by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to any provision of this Act. [4/2005] Transitional provisions 41. —(1) Any scheme, contract, document, licence, permission or resolution prepared, made, granted or approved by the Parks and Recreation Department or under the repealed National Parks Act (Cap. 198A, 1991 Ed.) shall, so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act or in any other written law, continue and be deemed to have been prepared, made, granted or approved by the Board under the corresponding provisions of this Act or any other written law, as the case may be. (2) Any subsidiary legislation made under the repealed National Parks Act in force immediately before 1st July 1996 shall, so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, continue in force as if made under this Act until it is revoked or repealed by subsidiary legislation made under this Act. FIRST SCHEDULE Section 5 CONSTITUTION AND PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD 1. The Board shall consist of — (a) a Chairman; and (b) not less than 6 nor more than 10 other members as the Minister may, from time to time, determine. 2.—(1) The Chairman and members of the Board shall be appointed by the Minister. (2) The Minister may appoint one member to be the Deputy Chairman who may, subject to such directions as may be given by the Chairman, exercise all or any of the powers exercisable by the Chairman under this Act. (3) The Minister may appoint the Chief Executive to be a member of the Board. 3. A member shall hold office on such conditions and for such term as the Minister may determine and shall be eligible for reappointment. 3A. The Minister may appoint any member of the Board to be a temporary Chairman or temporary Deputy Chairman during the incapacity from illness or otherwise of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman, as the case may be. 4. The Minister may, at any time, revoke the appointment of the Chairman or any member without assigning any reason. 5. Any member may resign from his appointment at any time by giving notice in writing to the Minister. 5A. The Minister may appoint a person to be a temporary member of the Board during the incapacity from illness or otherwise of any member. 6. The Chairman may, in writing, authorise any member to exercise any power or perform any function conferred on the Chairman by or under this Act. 7. The office of a member shall be vacated if the member — (a) has been absent, without leave of the Board, from 3 consecutive meetings of the Board; or (b) becomes in any manner disqualified from membership of the Board under paragraph 9. 8. If a member resigns, dies or has his appointment revoked or otherwise vacates his office before the expiry of the term for which he has been appointed, the Minister may appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the residue of the term of which the vacating member was appointed. 9. No person shall be appointed or shall continue to hold office as a member if he — (a) is an undischarged bankrupt or has made any arrangement with his creditors; (b) has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than 6 months and has not received a free pardon; or (c) is mentally disordered and incapable of managing himself or his affairs. 10.—(1) A member who is in any way, directly or indirectly, interested in a transaction or project of the Board shall disclose the nature of his interest at a meeting of the Board and the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board and the member shall not take part in any deliberation of the Board with respect to that transaction or project. (2) For the purpose of determining whether there is a quorum, a member shall be treated as being present at a meeting notwithstanding that under sub-paragraph (1) he cannot vote or has withdrawn from the meeting. 11. There shall be paid to the Chairman and other members, out of the funds of the Board, such salaries, fees and allowances as the Minister may, from time to time, determine. 12.—(1) The Board shall meet for the despatch of business at such times and places as the Chairman may, from time to time, appoint. (2) At every meeting of the Board, 5 members shall form a quorum. (3) A decision at a meeting of the Board shall be adopted by a simple majority of the members present and voting except that in the case of an equality of votes the Chairman or member presiding shall have a casting vote in addition to his original vote. (4) The Chairman or, in his absence, the Deputy Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Board. (5) Where both the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman are absent at a meeting of the Board, such member as the members present may elect shall preside at the meeting of the Board. (6) Where not less than 4 members of the Board request the Chairman by notice in writing signed by them to convene a meeting of the Board for any purpose specified in the notice, the Chairman shall, within 7 days from the receipt of the notice, convene a meeting for that purpose. 13. The Board may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership. 14. Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Board may make rules to regulate its own procedure generally, and in particular, regarding the holding and proceedings of meetings, the notice to be given of such meetings, the keeping of minutes and the custody, production and inspection of such minutes. 15. The validity of any proceedings of the Board shall not be affected by any defect in the appointment of any member or by any contravention of paragraph 10 by any member. [4/2005; 21/2008] SECOND SCHEDULE Section 7 POWERS OF BOARD 1. To manage the national parks, nature reserves and public parks. 2. To regulate the planting and maintenance of plants in public parks by prescribing guidelines and requirements for the design and maintenance thereof. 2A. To lay out, construct, plant, improve, equip, maintain, supervise and control the national parks, nature reserves and public parks and carry out the following activities: (a) erect any pavilion, recreation room, outhouse or other building; (b) provide entertainment or any amenity; (c) set apart any part thereof for the purpose of any game or recreation and exclude the public from such part while it is in actual use for that purpose; (d) provide any apparatus for games and recreation and facilities for boating and charge for the use thereof; (e) place or authorise any person to place chairs or seats and charge or authorise any person to charge for the use thereof; (f) provide and maintain refreshment stalls, food-stalls and restaurants and manage them or let them to any person on such conditions as the Board may determine; (g) authorise any person to erect, maintain and operate any facility and charge or authorise any person to charge for the use thereof. 2B. To plant trees, plants and vegetation in public parks. 3. To enter into contracts for the supply of goods, services or materials or for the execution of works or other contracts as may be necessary for the discharge of the duties and functions of the Board under this Act. 4. To receive fees, donations, grants, gifts of movable or immovable property from any source or raise funds by any lawful means. 5. To regulate and control public access to the national parks, nature reserves and public parks. 6. To promote or undertake publicity in any form. 7. To make provision for the specialised training of any employee of the Board and in that connection offer scholarships for such training and expenditure incidental thereto. 8. To make awards of recognition, grants, scholarships or contributions as the Board considers fit for the purposes of this Act. 9. To offer consultancy services, inform, advise and make recommendations or proposals to the Government or any person on any matter relating to the designation, conservation, development and management of parks and other areas reserved for the propagation of plants and animals, or any other function of the Board. 10. To act in combination or association with any person engaged, concerned or interested in the promotion of the functions of the Board, and pay for or contribute to the cost and expenses involved in such combination or association. 11. With the approval of the Minister, to form or participate in the formation of companies or to enter into a partnership or an arrangement for the sharing of profits. 12. With the approval of the Minister, to raise loans for the purposes of this Act. 12A. To collect, analyse, compile, publish or disseminate information relating to such subject matter as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions, objects or duties of the Board. 12B. To provide technical, consultancy or advisory services to any Government agency or to any other person or body in Singapore or elsewhere on any matter related to or connected with the functions, objects or duties of the Board. 12C. To charge fees or commissions for services rendered by the Board or for any use of any of its facilities. 12D. To carry out promotional activities or publicity in any form. 12E. To organise such courses and other programmes as the Board thinks necessary or desirable for the discharge of its functions, objects or duties. 13. To do anything incidental to any of its functions. [4/2005] THIRD SCHEDULE Section 19 FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 1. The financial year of the Board shall begin on 1st April of each year and end on 31st March of the following year. 2. The Board shall keep proper accounts and records of its transactions and affairs and shall do all things necessary to ensure that all payments out of its moneys are correctly made and properly authorised and that adequate control is maintained over the assets of, or in the custody of, the Board and over the expenditure incurred by the Board. 3. The Board shall, as soon as practicable after the close of each financial year, prepare and submit financial statements in respect of that year to the auditor of the Board. 4.—(1) The accounts of the Board shall be audited by the Auditor-General or such other auditor as may be appointed annually by the Minister in consultation with the Auditor-General. (2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as an auditor under sub-paragraph (1) unless he is a public accountant who is registered or deemed to be registered under the Accountants Act (Cap. 2). (3) The remuneration of the auditor shall be paid out of the funds of the Board. 5. The auditor or any person authorised by him is entitled at all reasonable times to full and free access to all accounting and other records relating, directly or indirectly, to the financial transactions of the Board and may make copies of, or extracts from, any such accounting and other records. 6.—(1) The auditor shall in his report state — (a) whether the financial statements show fairly the financial transactions and the state of affairs of the Board; (b) whether proper accounting and other records have been kept, including records of all assets of the Board whether purchased, donated or otherwise; (c) whether receipts, expenditure, and investment of moneys and the acquisition and disposal of assets by the Board during the financial year were in accordance with this Act; and (d) such other matters arising from the audit as he considers necessary. (2) The auditor shall, as soon as practicable after the accounts have been submitted for audit, send a report of his audit to the Board and shall also submit such periodical and special reports to the Minister and to the Board as may appear to him to be necessary or as the Minister or the Board may require. 7.—(1) The auditor or any person authorised by him may require any person to furnish him with such information in the possession of that person or to which that person has access as the auditor considers necessary for the purposes of his functions under this Act. (2) Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement of the auditor under sub-paragraph (1) or who otherwise hinders, obstructs or delays the auditor in the performance of his duties or the exercise of his powers shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $250 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction. 8.—(1) The Board shall, as soon as the financial statements have been audited in accordance with the provisions of this Act, send to the Minister a copy of the audited financial statements, signed by the Chairman, together with a copy of the auditor’s report. (2) Where the Auditor-General is not the auditor of the Board, a copy of the audited financial statements and any report made by the auditor shall be forwarded to the Auditor-General when they are submitted to the Board. (3) The Minister shall as soon as practicable cause a copy of the audited financial statements and of the auditor’s report to be presented to Parliament. FOURTH SCHEDULE Section 21 PROVISIONS RELATING TO TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEES 1. Until such time as terms and conditions of service are drawn up by the Board, the scheme and terms and conditions of service in the Government shall continue to apply to every person transferred to the service of the Board under section 21 as if he were still in the service of the Government. 2. The terms and conditions to be drawn up by the Board shall take into account the salaries and terms and conditions of service, including any accrued rights to leave, enjoyed by the persons transferred to the service of the Board under section 21 while in the employment of the Government and any term or condition relating to the length of service with the Board shall provide for the recognition of service under the Government by the persons so transferred to be service by them under the Board. 3. Nothing in the terms and conditions to be drawn up by the Board shall adversely affect the conditions that would have been applicable to persons transferred to the service of the Board as regards any pension, gratuity or allowance payable under the Pensions Act (Cap. 225). 4. In every case where a person has been transferred to the service of the Board under section 21, the Government shall be liable to pay to the Board such portion of any gratuity, pension or allowance payable to that person on his retirement as the same shall bear to the proportion which the aggregate amount of his pensionable emoluments during his service with the Government bears to the aggregate amount of his pensionable emoluments during his service under both the Government and the Board. 5. Where any person in the service of the Board whose case does not come within the scope of any pension or other schemes established under this Schedule retires or dies in the service of the Board or is discharged from such service, the Board may grant to him or to such other person or persons wholly or partly dependent on him, as the Board thinks fit, such allowance or gratuity as the Board may determine. 6. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Pensions Act, no person who is transferred to the service of the Board under section 21 shall be entitled to claim any benefit under that Act on the ground that he has been retired from the service of the Government on account of abolition or re-organisation of office in consequence of his transfer to the service of the Board. 7. Where on 1st July 1996, any disciplinary proceedings were pending against any employee of the Government transferred to the service of the Board under section 21, the proceedings shall be carried on and completed by the Board; but where on that date any matter was in the course of being heard or investigated or had been heard or investigated by a committee acting under due authority but no order or decision had been rendered thereon, the committee shall complete the hearing or investigation and make such order, ruling or direction as it could have made under the authority vested in it before that date. 8. Any order, ruling or direction made or given by a committee pursuant to paragraph 7 shall be treated as an order, a ruling or a direction of the Board and have the same force or effect as if it had been made or given by the Board pursuant to the authority vested in the Board under this Act. 9. The Board may reprimand, reduce in rank, retire, dismiss or punish in some other manner a person who had, whilst he was in the employment of the Parks and Recreation Department, been guilty of any misconduct or neglect of duty which would have rendered him liable to be so reprimanded, reduced in rank, retired, dismissed or punished if he had continued to be in the employment of the Government, and as if this Act had not been enacted. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY NATIONAL PARKS BOARD ACT (CHAPTER 198A) (Formerly known as the National Parks Act (Cap. 198A, 1997 Ed.)) This Legislative History is provided for the convenience of users of the National Parks Board Act. It is not part of the Act. 1. Act 10 of 1990—National Parks Act 1990 Date of First Reading : 13 March 1990 (Bill No. 12/90 published on 14 March 1990) Date of Second and Third Readings : 29 March 1990 Date of commencement : 6 June 1990 2. 1991 Revised Edition—National Parks Act (Chapter 198A) Date of operation : 1 March 1991 3. G. N. No. S 263/1995—National Parks Act (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 1995 Date of commencement : 16 June 1995 4. Act 22 of 1996—National Parks Act 1996 Date of First Reading : 2 May 1996 (Bill No. 13/96 published on 3 May 1996) Date of Second and Third Readings : 21 May 1996 Date of commencement : 1 July 1996 5. 1997 Revised Edition—National Parks Act (Chapter 198A) Date of operation : 30 May 1997 6. G.N. No. S 669/2001—National Parks Act (Amendment of Fifth Schedule) Order 2001 Date of commencement : 1 January 2002 7. Act 5 of 2002—Statutory Corporations (Capital Contribution) Act 2002 (Consequential amendments made to Act by) Date of First Reading : 3 May 2002 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%220db73b76-ed4e-45e8-a63f-de23dbfe1128%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%220db73b76-ed4e-45e8-a63f-de23dbfe1128%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%222d3bc212-eb6b-4112-bb77-fda96a036824%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%222d3bc212-eb6b-4112-bb77-fda96a036824%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0 (Bill No. 7/2002 published on 4 May 2002) Date of Second and Third Readings : 24 May 2002 Dates of commencement : 15 July 2002 (except item (18) of the Schedule) 8. G.N. No. S 534/2003—National Parks Act (Amendment of Fifth Schedule) Order 2003 Date of commencement : 26 November 2003 9. Act 45 of 2004—Trustees (Amendment) Act 2004 (Consequential amendments made to Act by) Date of First Reading : 21 September 2004 (Bill No. 43/2004 published on 22 September 2004) Date of Second and Third Readings : 19 October 2004 Date of commencement : 15 December 2004 10. Act 4 of 2005—Parks and Trees Act 2005 (Consequential amendments made to Act by) Date of First Reading : 19 October 2004 (Bill No. 55/2004 published on 20 October 2004) Date of Second and Third Readings : 25 January 2005 Date of commencement : 1 August 2005 11. Act 21 of 2008—Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008 (Consequential amendments made to Act by) Date of First Reading : 21 July 2008 (Bill No. 11/2008 published on 22 July 2008) Date of Second and Third Readings : 16 September 2008 Date of commencement : 1 March 2010 (item 1(34) of the Second Schedule — Amendment of National Parks Board Act) 12. 2012 Revised Edition—National Parks Board Act (Chapter 198A) Date of operation : 31 July 2012 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22ce7893f1-85e9-4582-be41-b673315c039d%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22ce7893f1-85e9-4582-be41-b673315c039d%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22c6871e24-cb16-417e-8dd5-81bdd6c1ff3c%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22c6871e24-cb16-417e-8dd5-81bdd6c1ff3c%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22c87cd999-f137-422a-a0c2-72545208f1bb%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0 http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A%22c87cd999-f137-422a-a0c2-72545208f1bb%22%20Status%3Apublished%20Depth%3A0%20TransactionTime%3A20150128000000;rec=0