• The Mandarin term “太平绅士” is a paraphrase of the English term “Justice of the Peace”.
• The term was derived from an Act by Edward III of England in 1361, which called for the appointment of local nobles to maintain law and order. Many former British colonies, including Singapore, have inherited the British common law traditions and continued the use of this system.
• In 1846, the British colonial government appointed Dr Tan Tock Seng as Singapore’s first Justice of the Peace. Many notable figures in Singapore’s history have also served as Justices of the Peace, including Cheang Hong Lim, Wee Kim Wee and Lim Boon Keng.
• Justices of the Peace are usually outstanding Singaporeans who have made significant contributions in their professions, public service or social services. They are generally active members of clan associations, charity organisations or grassroots organisations.
• Justices of the Peace derive their power from statutory law and generally do not require legal training. They are responsible for hearing minor criminal cases and handling administrative responsibilities such as registering dentists, solemnising marriages, and approving the search of illegal organisations.
• From Singapore’s independence until 1 October 1988, there were a total of 88 Justices of the Peace. As of 1 September 2020, there were 173 Justices of the Peace. The latest list of Justices of the Peace is publicly available on the Prime Minister’s Office website.

At a ceremony held at the Istana yesterday, 86 outstanding Singaporeans were appointed Justices of the Peace by President Halimah Yacob. (Lianhe Zaobao, 25/4/2018)

非官守治安委员 (Hong Kong)