PERMITS FOR SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED OUTSIDE SINGAPORE (Government policy)

Mr C. H. Koh asked the Minister for Home Affairs what policy is adopted by the Government in the matter of granting permits for the sale and distribution of newspapers published outside Singapore.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, permits for the publication, sale or distribution in Singapore of newspapers printed or published in the Federation of Malaya are governed by the provisions of section 7A of the Printing Presses Ordinance, whilst the importation, sale or circulation of any publication printed or published abroad, other than in the Federation of Malaya, are controlled by the Undesirable Publications Ordinance.

The issue of such permits under the Printing Presses Ordinance is guided by the same policy which I have enunciated in the answer to the previous question.

The use of the Undesirable Publications Ordinance in respect of non-Federation of Malaya importation is also guided by the same policy, except that consideration of the bona fides and so forth of the printers and publishers, not being Malayan persons, is not necessary.