Opening Remarks by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Law Eric Chua at Launch Event for SGLaw200 Heritage Trail, Roving Exhibition and Commemorative Stamps

2 July 2026 Posted in Speeches

Distinguished guests,

Students,

Ladies and gentlemen,

1.              A very good afternoon to everyone.

2.              First of all, it is so wonderful to see all of you this afternoon, especially the young ones in the house. Thank you for spending your afternoon with us.

3.              Now I know that for many of us when we hear the word “law”, especially non-law students, the first thing that comes to mind may not be excitement or joy. Some of you may think of thick textbooks, courtrooms, maybe Crimewatch, or maybe even Harvey Specter and dramatic scenes from the TV series, Suits.

4.              But one thing I have come to appreciate deeply in my past year at the Ministry of Law is this: that law is not just for lawyers. The Rule of Law is in fact a part of our everyday lives.

5.              When you take the MRT safely, buy something online and expect the seller to honour the deal, cross the road and trust that motorists will follow the rules, or resolve a disagreement or dispute peacefully, for all these instances, the Rule of Law is quietly at work.

6.              Most of the time, we do not even notice it. And perhaps that is the point. When the Rule of Law works well, it gives us confidence to live, study, work, dream, and build our future.

7.              And this year, we commemorate SGLaw200: the bicentennial anniversary of Singapore’s modern judicial and legal system.

8.              Two hundred years ago, in 1826, the Second Charter of Justice was enacted. This document helped lay the foundations for our modern judicial and legal system. Over time, it helped shape a system where disputes are settled not by force, status, or connections, but through rules, evidence, justice.

9.              Now, these ideas may sound simple today. But they are powerful. They are part of why Singapore has been able to grow from a small port city into a trusted, stable, and a successful nation.

10.           As our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew put it in 1962, the true test of any legal system is whether it can produce order and justice between people, and between people and the State.

11.           Simply put, the real test is whether the law works for people, whether it helps people live safely, settle disagreements fairly, protect the vulnerable, and hold everyone to the law.

12.           SGLaw200 is therefore more than just a commemoration of something that happened 200 years ago. It is a chance for all of us to ask ourselves: how did Singapore become a place where people can trust the system, settle disputes peacefully, and build lives with confidence?

13.           And perhaps even more importantly, how do we keep this trust strong for the next generation?

14.           That is why the Ministry of Law is launching three community initiatives to bring Singapore’s Rule of Law story into the everyday spaces where we work, live, play and study.

SGLaw200 Heritage Trail

15.           The first is the SGLaw200 Heritage Trail.

16.           The Heritage Trail we are launching today is titled “In Place and Progress: Tracing the Rule of Law through Singapore’s Legal Landmarks”. It showcases twenty locations across Singapore and is the first heritage trail dedicated to our legal history and the Rule of Law.

17.           What is special about this trail is that it tells our legal story through real places: buildings, institutions, streets, parks, and community spaces that many of us may have walked past before, without realising the stories that they carry.

18.           For a more immersive experience, there will be a free walking tour covering nine specially curated locations, including the National Gallery Singapore, Hong Lim Park where we are today, the Family Justice Courts and State Courts.

19.           As you walk through these spaces, I hope you will see them not just as buildings, but as places where Singapore’s story of fairness, justice, order, and progress has taken shape.

20.           Along the trail, you will also encounter institutions such as the Supreme Court, Parliament House, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and other government offices. These places help us understand how different parts of our system work together to uphold the Rule of Law.

21.           Singapore’s system of government comprises three distinct branches: the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. The Legislature makes the laws of the land. The Executive administers and implements these laws. And the Judiciary interprets and applies the laws through the Courts.

22.           Together, these roles provide important checks and balances. They help guard against the abuse of power, ensure that laws are made and applied fairly, and remind us of a very fundamental and important principle: that no one is above the law.

23.           But the Rule of Law is not only found in grand institutions. It is also experienced in our communities.

24.           Here in Hong Lim Park, we have the Kreta Ayer Neighbourhood Police Post, and this reminds us of the importance of an effective and trusted police force in keeping Singapore safe and secure.

25.           Hong Lim Park is also home to the Speakers’ Corner. In Singapore, we value the ability to speak and discuss issues that matter to us. At the same time, in a society as diverse as ours, the law helps ensure that disagreements do not tear at the trust between communities.

26.           This too, is part of the Rule of Law: allowing voices to be heard, while helping society hold together even when views sometimes differ.

27.           The trail also features places such as Maxwell Chambers, which supports Singapore’s standing as a trusted hub for international dispute resolution, and the MinLaw Services Centre, where members of the public can seek help with legal aid, public defence, and community mediation.

28.           These examples show that the Rule of Law is not just about courts and enforcement. It is also about trust, fairness, access to justice, and confidence in everyday life.

29.           The walking tours will begin from 11 July and run until the end of this year, led by experienced docents and organised by our partner, HeritageSG. Members of the public can sign up through the SGLaw200 microsite. Schools and community groups can also reach out to HeritageSG to arrange for tours. For those who prefer exploring at their own pace, you can also find help in an interactive virtual guide on the microsite.

SGLaw200 Roving Exhibition

30.           The second initiative is the SGLaw200 roving exhibition.

31.           Titled “In Practice: The Rule of Law in Our Singapore Story”, the exhibition will begin at HarbourFront Library next month, before travelling to more locations over the year.

32.           We chose to bring this exhibition into community spaces because the Rule of Law should not feel distant or intimidating. You should not have to enter a courtroom or study law to understand why it matters.

33.           Through the exhibition, visitors can learn how the Rule of Law has shaped everyday life in Singapore: by promoting justice, and fairness, powering economic progress, supporting key social policies, and providing a platform for future innovation and sustainability.

SGLaw200 Commemorative Stamps

34.           The third initiative is a set of SGLaw200 commemorative stamps which many of you already have in your hands now.

35.           We are celebrating SGLaw200 with a set of four commemorative stamps, issued in collaboration with SingPost, and the theme for this set of stamps is “Justice for All: Upholding the Rule of Law in Singapore”.

36.           Most, if not all of you younger ones in the crowd may wonder: in the age of instant messages and emails, why stamps? That is a fair question. But stamps are small pieces of national memory; reminders of what we choose to remember.

37.           These four stamps trace the arc of our justice system: from our courts and legal institutions to legal aid, public defence, peaceful dispute resolution, and the future of justice through innovation and technology.

Closing

38.           Taken together, these three community initiatives remind us that the Rule of Law is not just about the past. It is also about the future: how we continue to make justice more accessible, more understandable, and more relevant to society.

39.           Before I close, I really want to say a special thank you to the students who are here with us today.

40.           Thank you for showing up. And more importantly, thank you for being curious, especially at different points along the trail.

41.           As I mentioned earlier to some of you, I am not a legal professional by training. But perhaps that is exactly why I believe this story matters to all of us. You do not need to be a lawyer to understand why fairness matters. You do not need to be a judge to understand why rules should apply equally. You do not need to work in government to understand why trust is important in society.

42.           Some of you may go on to study law, or are already studying law. Some of you may not. But all of you will live in a society shaped by the law.

43.           So as we look back at what we have seen through the trail, I hope you do not just ask, “What happened here?” and I hope you ask, “Why does this still matter to me?”

44.           Two hundred years is a long time. But the principles set in motion in 1826: that laws should apply fairly, that no one is above the law, and that justice must be within reach — remain deeply relevant today.

45.           So our task is not only to remember this legacy, but to keep it alive for the next generation.

46.           Thank you, and I hope you have a meaningful and enjoyable rest of the afternoon. Thank you very much.

Last updated on 2 July 2026