MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

8.10 p.m.

The Minister for Labour and Law (Mr K. M. Byrne): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's recommendation in regard to this Bill, and I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The purpose of this Bill, Mr Speaker, Sir, is to provide for the licensing and control of massage establishments which are defined in the Bill as-

"...any premises used or represented as being or intended to be used for the reception or treatment of persons requiring massage, manicure, chiropody, light, electric, vapour or other baths or other similar treatment;".

Sir, there are, as far as the police know at present. 16 massage saloons operating in Singapore. The reason why it is considered necessary to license and control such massage saloons and similar establishments is that it is known that many of these establishments provide cover for undesirable activities including prostitution.

The Bill provides that no person may, after the appointed day, carry on an establishment for massage without a licence from the Licensing Officer authorising him to do so. The issue of the licence is at the discretion of the Licensing Officer, who may impose conditions for securing the proper conduct of the establishment and who may, before issuing a licence, require security to be given that the provisions of the Ordinance and the conditions of the licence shall be duly observed. An appeal from the decision of the Licensing Officer will lie to the Minister, whose decision shall be final. No licence shall be issued to any person who is under the age of 21 years or to any person who, in the opinion of the Licensing Officer, is unsuitable to hold such a licence, or in respect of any premises which the Licensing Officer considers unsuitable or which is being carried on in contravention of the Ordinance or rules made thereunder. Moreover, power is given to review the licence in cases where curative treatment is or may be administered in the establishment. Unless there is a qualified person to administer such treatment, the licence may be revoked by the Licensing Officer who is required to give the grounds of the revocation, and appeal from such revocation lies to the Minister.

Power is given to enter and inspect premises and to make rules to carry out the provisions of the Ordinance. The provisions of the Bill will not be applicable to any hospital, infirmary, institution, nursing home or other establishment maintained by the Government or any local authority, or to other establishments notified to be hospitals by the Minister, or to any hairdresser who gives face or scalp massage or manicure treatment to female customers only or in full view of all customers. Power is given to the Minister to exempt any premises from the provisions of the Ordinance.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

8.13 p.m.

Dr Lee Siew Choh (Queenstown): Mr Speaker, Sir, like most things that will forever look for the line of least resistance, so we see so many massage establishments mushrooming all over Singapore. Those who read Chinese newspapers no doubt will see daily advertisements which show pretty faces and also tell prospective clients where to go for a pleasant massage. But in medical practice, Sir, massage is a form of treatment advocated for the loosening of stiff joints and tired muscles [Laughter] and helping - excuse me, Sir - to promote a free blood flow [Laughter] to the affected parts, thus increasing [Laughter] - sorry, Sir - the outflow of waste products and generally stimulating the activity of the human body. But of course the snag is that there are many parts of the body [Laughter]-

Mr Speaker: Order. I think probably the Member for Queenstown is anticipating a pleasant massage after this sitting!

Dr Lee Siew Choh: I am sorry, Sir,I shall try to control my emotions. I was saying, Sir, the snag is that there are many parts of the body which can be stimulated, and by the wrong people. And with such people closely associated with yellow culture and the practice of yellow arts, the good curative action of massage has been grossly misused.

Because of this, I heartily support this Bill which is consonant with the Government's anti-yellow campaign. Bona fide masseurs should have no reason to fear this Bill and they should thank Government for this action against irregular trespass.

8.16 p.m.

Inche Buang Bin Omar Junid: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, once again I rise to support a Bill moved by the Minister for Labour and Law, this time concerning the licensing of masseurs. When I was assigned by the Minister for Labour to serve in the Labour Ministry, I received complaints from the public who stated that in Singapore there are many unlicensed massage establishments which employ beautiful virgin girls who are without the necessary qualifications. As conditions exist at the present time, the aim and objective of such an establishment is not to apply massage; but the object is sinister, that is, to make it a place of prostitution; because Mr Speaker, as a masseur, one must be qualified - one must know, for instance, enough about blood circulation. If there is a pain in the neck but the massage is applied to the leg, then something must be wrong somewhere.

Sir, the Government is making an effort to eradicate yellow culture, whether it is in the form of dances, cinema shows, etc. And in the case of massage establishments, we should also tighten or impose stronger legislation and investigate this matter so that the malpractices which occur at the present moment will be stopped. That is all I wish to say.

Mr Speaker: Mr Byrne, in reply?

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not have anything to say in reply.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Byrne]

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

8.21 p.m.

Clauses 1 to 4 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 5 -

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I move,

In page 3, lines 4 and 5, to leave out "in which any massage or any" and insert "for massage in which any curative massage or".

This amendment, Mr Speaker, is necessary to make it clear that technical qualifications would only be required where curative treatment is administered or likely to be administered in an establishment for massage.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

In page 3, line 9, to leave out "which is being" and insert "for massage which is being or is likely to be".

This amendment, Mr Speaker, Sir, is to give power to the licensing officer to refuse a licence where the establishment is likely to be carried on in contravention of the Ordinance or the rules stated thereunder.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 5, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 6 to 13 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported with amendments; read the Third time and passed.