UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS IN CHINESE NEWSPAPERS

Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs whether and what steps will be taken to eliminate undesirable medical advertisements appearing in Chinese newspapers.

The Minister of State for Culture (Mr Lee Khoon Choy) (for the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, an ad hoc Committee has been set up by the Ministry of Culture to study the problem of undesirable medical advertisements. The Committee held its first meeting on the 23rd of May, 1966. In the course of discussions at the meeting, it was learned that in 1962 a Committee was set up by the Ministry of Health under the chairmanship of Dr Gwee Ah Leng to study this and other related problems. Dr Gwen's Committee made recommendations for effecting certain amendments to the Medicine Advertisement and Sale Ordinance. It is considered that one of the proposed amendments, if made, will deal effectively with the problem under question.

I understand further that the Minister for Health has already requested the Government Senior Physician, Dr Gwee Ah Leng, to resuscitate this Committee and to bring up to date their recommendations: the terms of reference of the Committee being to study the current unethical, dishonest, and undesirable advertisements pertaining to treatment, cure, to the medical skills of unqualified persons and to suggest measures of effective control. Members of the Committee will include representatives from the Attorney-General's Office, Culture, Social Affairs, the C.I.D., and the Controller and Registrar of Imports and Exports.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Mr Speaker, Sir, regarding these medical advertisements in Chinese newspapers, I remember that the Member for Delta asked a similar question last year. I think she has in mind the advertisement concerning abortions. The Government at that time said that it would put a stop to it. But almost a year has lapsed and nothing has been done. May I have an explanation from the Minister why nothing has been done to stop these advertisements?

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: I can assure you, Mr Speaker, that all necessary measures to curb these undesirable activities have been taken by the Government.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture (Mr Fong Sip Chee): Mr Speaker, Sir, the question was first raised by the hon. Member for Delta at a sitting of Parliament on 28th December, 1965. On 19th January, 1966, I obtained copies of the Hansard with the relevant extracts and sent them down to the responsible officers in my Ministry to investigate into the matter. About 10 days after the 19th January, the Ministry of Culture began correspondence with the Ministry of Health on this subject, and discussions went on, and many matters came to light. On 9th March I put up a report to my Minister of State, explaining the circumstances and the various consequences that might result from any proposed amendment to the existing legislation. The question of new legislation was also explored. But it was later discovered that a Committee had been set up in 1962 the details of which had been explained earlier by my Minister of State.

So you will notice, Mr Speaker, Sir, that since the question was brought up in December 1965, there has been no let-up and there has been a chain of continuous action on this problem. I assure the House that the Ministry of Culture will not allow such constructive criticisms to be left unanswered.