APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS TO PRINT AND PUBLISH NEWSPAPERS SINCE 1ST JANUARY, 1960

Mr C. H. Koh asked the Minister for Home Affairs how many applications for permits to print and publish newspapers were received since 1st January, 1960, how many were granted, how many were refused, and what are the reasons for refusal in each case.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, since 1st January to October 1960, 204 applications for permits were received. Of these, 134 were approved and permits issued, 56 are still under consideration, six have been withdrawn by the applicants, and seven had been refused. The reasons for refusal are as follows:

(a) three cases in which the publishers, or editors, or both, were found not to be proper persons to be granted permits.

(b) three cases in which the publishers, or editors, or both, were found incompetent to produce newspapers.

(c) one case in which the newspaper is the publication of a society which has been dissolved under section 17 of the Societies Ordinance.

Mr C. H. Koh: Can the Hon. the Minister for Home Affairs inform this House what is the meaning, in his terminology, of "not proper" and "incompetent"?

Mr Speaker: It is a matter of opinion?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Yes.