{"id":65644,"date":"2026-07-03T00:21:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T16:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=65644"},"modified":"2026-07-03T00:21:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T16:21:52","slug":"marking-200-years-of-singapores-modern-legal-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=65644","title":{"rendered":"Marking 200 years of Singapore\u2019s modern legal system"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE\u00a0\u2013 <!-- -->Singapore\u2019s newest heritage trail, covering areas rich in colonial-era legal history, is the first of its kind to explore how the rule of law has shaped not only national development, but also the everyday lives of Singaporeans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This year marks SGLaw200, the bicentennial of Singapore\u2019s modern judicial system, which was established through the Second Charter of Justice in 1826.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">To commemorate the milestone, the heritage trail, titled In Place and Progress: Tracing the Rule of Law Through Singapore\u2019s Legal Landmarks, will be open to the public from July 11 until the end of the year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The trail, developed in collaboration between the Ministry of Law and HeritageSG, features 20 landmarks that are integral to Singapore\u2019s legal evolution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The free guided walking tour covers nine of these sites, while all 20 landmarks can be explored through an interactive virtual guide at <a href=\"https:\/\/sglaw200explore.sg\/?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_self\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">https:\/\/sglaw200explore.sg<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The tour begins at the National Gallery Singapore, which housed the Supreme Court for more than 60 years and witnessed significant legal reforms, including the abolition of jury trials in 1969.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/fc9c490228e26eee3c4774876df2a86d6fbbcb35e135d8e69f4524a57e2ec96b?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/fc9c490228e26eee3c4774876df2a86d6fbbcb35e135d8e69f4524a57e2ec96b?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/fc9c490228e26eee3c4774876df2a86d6fbbcb35e135d8e69f4524a57e2ec96b?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/fc9c490228e26eee3c4774876df2a86d6fbbcb35e135d8e69f4524a57e2ec96b\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/fc9c490228e26eee3c4774876df2a86d6fbbcb35e135d8e69f4524a57e2ec96b\" alt=\"The tour begins at the National Gallery Singapore, which housed the Supreme Court for more than 60 years.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">The tour begins at the National Gallery Singapore, which housed the Supreme Court for more than 60 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> <!-- -->ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Visitors can also learn about a time capsule that is placed under the foundation stone of the former Supreme Court building and that contains historical newspapers dating back to 1937 and Straits Settlements currency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Another highlight of the trail is The Arts House at the Old Parliament, arguably Singapore\u2019s oldest surviving government building.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">While sitting in the original seats of the former Cabinet, visitors can learn how the building has housed all three branches of government at different times in its history \u2013 the legislature, which makes the law; the executive, which administers the law; and the judiciary, which interprets the law through the courts.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/44ba768e5efe390c008ed1a8617c92f3013fa1295fe7269c2472c780915e2346?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/44ba768e5efe390c008ed1a8617c92f3013fa1295fe7269c2472c780915e2346?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/44ba768e5efe390c008ed1a8617c92f3013fa1295fe7269c2472c780915e2346?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/44ba768e5efe390c008ed1a8617c92f3013fa1295fe7269c2472c780915e2346\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/44ba768e5efe390c008ed1a8617c92f3013fa1295fe7269c2472c780915e2346\" alt=\"Participants of the heritage trail exploring The Arts House, formerly the Old Parliament House, on July 2.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">Heritage trail tour participants exploring The Arts House, formerly the Old Parliament House, on July 2.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> <!-- -->ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The tour takes a scenic turn at Hong Lim Park, which sits within an area that once housed key law enforcement institutions until 1975.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Visitors can see the only remnant of the colonial-era structures in the area, the functioning Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post, where anyone can file a police report or call the police if necessary. The police post marks the site of the former North Canal Road Post Office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A group of Singapore Management University students were invited for a preview of the heritage trail to share their thoughts. Declan Saw, a 24-year-old politics, law and economics student, called the trail a \u201cstep into the past\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Fidelia Chan, a 25-year-old law student, said: \u201cI never knew there were so many (legal) landmarks and how (the law) has evolved.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/9082a73e797def8820ed9bc8a1d9bc6a428474b48c63d7d041792a2738e0aebb?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/9082a73e797def8820ed9bc8a1d9bc6a428474b48c63d7d041792a2738e0aebb?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/9082a73e797def8820ed9bc8a1d9bc6a428474b48c63d7d041792a2738e0aebb?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/9082a73e797def8820ed9bc8a1d9bc6a428474b48c63d7d041792a2738e0aebb\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/9082a73e797def8820ed9bc8a1d9bc6a428474b48c63d7d041792a2738e0aebb\" alt=\"Participants on the heritage trail walking into Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post on July 2.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">Heritage trail tour participants walking into Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post on July 2.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> <!-- -->ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">At the launch of the SGLaw200 initiatives, Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Social and Family Development, highlighted the importance of the rule of law. \u201cWhen the rule of law works well, it gives us the confidence to live, study, work, dream and build our future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added: \u201c(The Charter of Justice) helped lay the foundations for our modern judicial and legal system&#8230; (shaping) a system where disputes are settled not by force, status or connections, but through rules, evidence and justice&#8230; They are part of why Singapore has been able to grow from a small port city into a trusted, stable and successful nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Alongside the heritage trail, the Ministry of Law and the Singapore Post have launched a special commemorative four-stamp set titled Justice for All: Upholding the Rule of Law In Singapore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Illustrated by local designer Andy Koh, the stamps depict the country\u2019s robust legal institutions and people-centred avenues for justice, which combine innovation with heart.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"default inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8204a97850b9f98ae542c473bcba040c4d6351927215ca7d2d7035a87d869932?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8204a97850b9f98ae542c473bcba040c4d6351927215ca7d2d7035a87d869932?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8204a97850b9f98ae542c473bcba040c4d6351927215ca7d2d7035a87d869932?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8204a97850b9f98ae542c473bcba040c4d6351927215ca7d2d7035a87d869932\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8204a97850b9f98ae542c473bcba040c4d6351927215ca7d2d7035a87d869932\" alt=\"The special commemorative four-stamp set designed by Andy Koh for SGLaw200.\" class=\"aspect-default flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover default article-default mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">The special commemorative four-stamp set designed by Andy Koh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular inline text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> <!-- -->ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The first stamp, titled Pillars of Justice, centres on Singapore\u2019s three courts \u2013 the Supreme Court, the State Courts and the Family Justice Courts \u2013 highlighting their shared commitment to ensuring equality and safeguarding the rights of all.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The final $2 stamp of the collection, titled Future of Justice, looks ahead, depicting the intersection of technology and the law, a development that promises both accessible and meaningful justice for future generations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The stamps are available for purchase at the Philatelic Counter at the General Post Office, the Philatelic Store @ Tampines and online at shop.singpost.com.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The SGLaw200 celebration also includes a roving exhibition, titled In Practice: The Rule of Law in Our Singapore Story. Through curated panels and multimedia displays, visitors can delve into the progression of Singapore\u2019s legal system and its role in supporting economic growth, social harmony and national policies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The exhibition will be available free to the public, beginning at Harbourfront Library in August.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:960 \/ 696\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8e237cd2270cb5fdc6aa1ea9c84fa1f909b9f69656e984d13723e093c50b5e57?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8e237cd2270cb5fdc6aa1ea9c84fa1f909b9f69656e984d13723e093c50b5e57?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8e237cd2270cb5fdc6aa1ea9c84fa1f909b9f69656e984d13723e093c50b5e57?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8e237cd2270cb5fdc6aa1ea9c84fa1f909b9f69656e984d13723e093c50b5e57\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8e237cd2270cb5fdc6aa1ea9c84fa1f909b9f69656e984d13723e093c50b5e57\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\"><b>Correction note:<\/b> In an earlier version of the story, we said that the old newspapers were recovered from the time capsule. This is incorrect. The newspapers were preserved and the time capsule has not been opened.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/new-heritage-trail-stamps-mark-200-years-of-singapores-modern-legal-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE\u00a0\u2013 Singapore\u2019s newest heritage trail, covering areas rich in colonial-era legal history, is the first of its kind to explore how the rule of law&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=65644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/65645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=65644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=65644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=65644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}