TERRITORY OF CHRISTMAS ISLAND
Administration Ordinance 1968
Ordinance No. 1, 1968
made under the
Christmas Island Act 1958
Compilation No. 3
Compilation date: 19 November 2025
Includes amendments: F2025L01386
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Administration Ordinance 1968 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 19 November 2025 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).
Application, saving and transitional provisions
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Presentational changes
The Legislation Act 2003 provides for First Parliamentary Counsel to make presentational changes to a compilation. Presentational changes are applied to give a more consistent look and feel to legislation published on the Register, and enable the user to more easily navigate those documents.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.
Self‑repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
1 Short title
4 Existing employees
5 Definitions
6 Office of Administrator
7 Acting Administrator
8 Deputy Administrator
10 Oath to be taken by Administrator etc
11 Employment of other officers
12 Delegation of powers of Governor‑General or Minister
13 Amendments of certain laws
14 Transitional
The Schedules
First Schedule
Second Schedule
Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Endnote 5—Editorial changes
An Ordinance to provide for the Appointment of an Administrator of the Territory of Christmas Island and for the Employment of other Persons for the purposes of the Government of the Territory
1 Short title
This Ordinance may be cited as the Administration Ordinance 1968.
4 Existing employees
(1) A person employed for the purposes of the Government of the Territory under section 9 of the Administration Ordinance 1958‑1961 immediately before the date of commencement of this Ordinance continues to be employed in the Government of the Territory after that date, notwithstanding the repeal of that Ordinance by this Ordinance, until his employment is terminated:
(a) in accordance with the terms and conditions under which he is employed;
(b) by the Minister under this Ordinance; or
(c) by his death;
as the case may be.
(2) A person who is continued in employment by the last preceding subsection shall be deemed to be employed upon the terms and conditions applicable in respect of the person immediately before the date of commencement of this Ordinance or, if those terms and conditions are altered by the Minister under the next succeeding subsection, upon those terms and conditions as so altered.
(3) The Minister may:
(a) terminate the employment of a person continued in employment by virtue of subsection (1) of this section; or
(b) alter the terms and conditions upon which such a person is employed;
in like circumstances and manner as he is authorized to terminate the employment, or alter the terms and conditions of employment, of a person employed under section 11 of this Ordinance.
5 Definitions
In this Ordinance:
Acting Administrator means a person appointed under section 7 of this Ordinance to act in the office of Administrator.
the Administrator means the Administrator of the Territory appointed under the next succeeding section.
6 Office of Administrator
(1) There shall be an Administrator of the Territory, who shall be appointed by the Governor‑General by commission, to administer the Territory on behalf of the Commonwealth.
(2) The Administrator holds office during the Governor‑General’s pleasure.
(3) The Administrator must exercise the powers and perform the functions of the office of Administrator in accordance with any instructions given by the Minister.
7 Acting Administrator
(1) The Minister may appoint a person to act as Administrator during a vacancy in the office of Administrator or during any period, or during all periods, when the Administrator is absent from duty or is unable, for any reason, to exercise and perform the powers and functions of the office.
(2) A person acting in the office of Administrator has and may exercise all the powers and perform all the functions of the Administrator.
(3) The appointment of a person to act in the office of Administrator, and any act done by an Acting Administrator as such, must not, in any proceedings, be questioned on the ground that the occasion for the appointment, or for the exercise of powers or performance of functions of the office, had not arisen or had ceased.
(4) The Minister may at any time terminate the appointment of a person to act as Administrator under this section.
8 Deputy Administrator
(1) The Minister may appoint a person to be the Deputy of the Administrator.
(2) The Deputy of the Administrator has, and may exercise and perform, all the powers and functions of the Administrator, including powers and functions delegated to the Administrator under section 12 of this Ordinance, where:
(a) there is a vacancy in the office of Administrator or during any period, or during all periods, when the Administrator is absent from duty or is unable, for any reason, to perform the duties of the office; and
(b) either:
(i) there is no Acting Administrator;
(ii) the Acting Administrator is also absent from duty or is unable, for any reason, to exercise and perform the powers and functions of the office.
(3) The Minister may at any time terminate the appointment of a person as the Deputy of the Administrator.
10 Oath to be taken by Administrator etc
(1) The Administrator, an Acting Administrator and a Deputy of the Administrator must, before entering on the duties of the office, make and subscribe an oath or affirmation in the form in the First Schedule to this Ordinance.
(2) An oath or affirmation under this section shall be made and subscribed before the Governor‑General or a person authorized for the purpose by the Minister.
11 Employment of other officers
(1) The Minister may employ such other persons as the Minister considers necessary for the purposes of the government of the Territory and may determine the terms and conditions on which those persons hold office.
(2) The Minister may require a person employed under this section to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation of allegiance or office, or both, in a form approved by the Minister and before such person as the Minister directs.
12 Delegation of powers of Governor‑General or Minister
(1) Subject to this section, the Governor‑General or the Minister (each a delegator) may, by instrument in writing, delegate to a person or authority, either generally or otherwise as provided in the instrument of delegation, all or any of the delegator’s powers and functions (except this power of delegation) under an Ordinance, whether the powers or functions are conferred:
(a) directly on the delegator; or
(b) by virtue of the provisions of Part III of the Interpretation Ordinance 1958.
(2) A power or function so delegated may be exercised or performed by the delegate in accordance with the instrument of delegation.
(3) A delegation under this section is revocable at will and does not prevent the exercise of a power or the performance of a function by the delegator.
(4) This section does not authorize a delegator to delegate a power to make regulations, rules or rules of court conferred by an Ordinance.
Saving provision
(5) Despite the repeal and substitution of subsection (1) by the Christmas Island Legislation Amendment (Local Government, Interpretation and Other Matters) Ordinance 2025 (the amending Ordinance), a delegation made under subsection (1) and in force immediately before the commencement of Schedule 1 to the amending Ordinance continues in effect, on and after that commencement, as if it had been made under that subsection as in force immediately after that commencement.
13 Amendments of certain laws
The Ordinances of the Colony of Singapore specified in the Second Schedule to this Ordinance, in their application in the Territory, are amended as set out in that Schedule.
14 Transitional
(1) The Governor‑General may exercise the power conferred by section 6 of this Ordinance to appoint a person to be the Administrator of the Territory before the date fixed under subsection (2) of section 2 of this Ordinance and, if he does so, the person appointed to be the Administrator may make and subscribe the oath or affirmation required by section 10 of this Ordinance before the date so fixed.
(2) A person appointed to be the Administrator of the Territory in accordance with the last preceding subsection does not hold office until the date fixed under subsection (2) of section 2 of this Ordinance.
The Schedules
First Schedule
(section 10)
Oath
I, , do swear by Almighty God (or the person may name a god recognised by the person’s religion) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to (insert name of the Sovereign), (insert applicable pronoun, such as “His” or “Her”) Heirs and Successors according to law, and that I will well and truly serve (insert applicable pronoun, such as “Him” or “Her”) in the office of (insert applicable office, such as Administrator, Acting Administrator or Deputy of the Administrator) of the Territory of Christmas Island.
Affirmation
I, , do solemnly and sincerely promise and declare that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to (insert name of the Sovereign), (insert applicable pronoun, such as “His” or “Her”) Heirs and Successors according to law, and that I will well and truly serve (insert applicable pronoun, such as “Him” or “Her”) in the office of (insert applicable office, such as Administrator, Acting Administrator or Deputy of the Administrator) of the Territory of Christmas Island.
Second Schedule
(section 13)
Provisions amended | omit | insert |
Minor Offences Ordinance | ||
Section 5(2) | Governor | Administrator |
Section 28(1) | Governor | Administrator |
Section 28(3) | Governor | Administrator |
Police Force Ordinance 941 | ||
Section 8(2) | Official Representative | Administrator |
Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance | ||
Section 2 | typhus and any other disease which the Minister | typhus and any other disease which the Administrator |
| yellow fever and any other disease which the Minister | yellow fever and any other disease which the Administrator |
Section 33(1) | approval of the Minister | approval of the Administrator |
| sanction of the Minister | sanction of the Administrator |
Section 33(2) | Minister | Administrator |
Section 42 | Minister | Administrator |
Section 55(3) | Minister | Administrator |
Section 61 | Minister has | Administrator has |
| Minister to | Administrator to |
Section 69(2) | Minister | Administrator |
Section 71 | Minister | Administrator |
Section 72(1)(a)(i) | Minister | Administrator |
Section 81(2) | Minister | Administrator |
Section 88(1) | Minister | Administrator |
Section 89 | Minister | Administrator |
Section 90(1) | Minister | Administrator |
Section 92(2) | Minister | Administrator |
Section 95 | Minister | Administrator |
Schedule A | Minister | Administrator |
Wild Animals and Birds Ordinance | ||
Section 2 | Minister | Administrator |
Section 5 | Minister | Administrator |
Section 8(1) | Minister | Administrator |
Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Abbreviation key—Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
ad = added or inserted | orig = original |
am = amended | p = page(s) |
amdt = amendment | para = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub‑subparagraph(s) |
ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |
cl = clause(s) | prev = previous |
cont. = continued | (prev…) = previously |
def = definition(s) | pt = Part(s) |
Dict = Dictionary | r = regulation(s)/Court rule(s) |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | reloc = relocated |
div = Division(s) | renum = renumbered |
ed = editorial change | rep = repealed |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | rs = repealed and substituted |
effect | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
gaz = gazette | /rule(s)/subrule(s)/order(s)/suborder(s) |
LA = Legislation Act 2003 | sch = Schedule(s) |
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SR = Statutory Rules |
effect | sub ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) |
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | sub div = Subdivision(s) |
cannot be given effect | sub pt = Subpart(s) |
mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |
No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |
Ord = Ordinance |
|
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Name | Registration or gazettal | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
Administration Ordinance 1968 (No. 1, 1968) | 19 Apr 1968 (F2008B00077) | s 3‑13: 1 May 1968 (s 2(2)) |
|
Administration (Amendment) Ordinance 1987 (No. 7, 1987) | 6 Nov 1987 (F2008B00078) | 6 Nov 1987 | — |
Administration Amendment Ordinance 2004 (No. 1) (No. 2, 2004) | 18 June 2004 (F2008B00079) | 18 June 2004 (s 2) | — |
Christmas Island Legislation Amendment (Local Government, Interpretation and Other Matters) Ordinance 2025 (No. 237, 2025) | 18 Nov 2025 (F2025L01386) | sch 1 (items 1‑13): 19 Nov 2025 (s 2(1) item 1) | — |
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Provision affected | How affected |
s 2..................... | rep LA s 48D |
s 3..................... | rep LA s 48C |
s 6..................... | am No 2, 2004; F2025L01386 |
s 7..................... | am No 2, 2004; F2025L01386 |
s 8..................... | am No 2, 2004; F2025L01386 |
s 9..................... | rep No 2, 2004 |
s 10.................... | am F2025L01386 |
s 10A................... | ad No 7, 1987 |
| rep No 2, 2004 |
s 11.................... | am F2025L01386 |
s 12.................... | am No 2, 2004; F2025L01386 |
| ed C3 |
First Schedule |
|
First Schedule............. | am F2025L01386 |
Endnote 5—Editorial changes
In preparing this compilation for registration, the following kinds of editorial change(s) were made under the Legislation Act 2003.
Subsection 12(1)
Kind of editorial change
Correct a typographical error
Details of editorial change
Schedule 1 item 8 of the Christmas Island Legislation Amendment (Local Government, Interpretation and Other Matters) Ordinance 2025 provides as follows:
8 Subsection 12(1)
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
(1) Subject to this section, the Governor General or the Minister (each a delegator) may, by instrument in writing, delegate to a person or authority, either generally or otherwise as provided in the instrument of delegation, all or any of the delegator’s powers and functions (except this power of delegation) under an Ordinance, whether the powers or functions are conferred:
(a) directly on the delegator; or
(b) by virtue of the provisions of Part III of the Interpretation Ordinance 1958.
The newly substituted subsection is missing a hyphen between “Governor” and “General”.
This compilation was editorially changed to insert a hyphen between “Governor” and “General” in subsection 12(1) to correct the typographical error.