"JAMES BOND" TYPE OF FILMS (Unhealthy influence on children)

Mrs Devan Nair asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs whether he is aware that many parents in Singapore are disturbed by the unhealthy influence on their children of the "James Bond" type of film and if he will consider taking steps to prohibit the viewing of such films by children.

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Board of Film Censors responsible for the censoring of films has informed me that, so far, no complaints have been received from any quarter in regard to the exhibition of the "James Bond" type of films.

Whether such a type of films exerts an unhealthy influence is a matter of personal opinion. Therefore, if parents consider that such films do, in fact, have an unhealthy influence on their children, they should play their part in discouraging their children from seeing these films, and not prevent the exhibition of such films for the enjoyment of other sections of the public if the films are unobjectionable. Further, in our multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious society, Government feels that it will not be right for any one section of the community to impose its standard of morality on other sections of the community.

To prevent only children from seeing such films will require films and audience to be officially classified. So far no official film classification has been made in Singapore. Although there have been prolonged discussions with exhibitors and distributors on the subject of official film classification in Singapore, this has not been adopted not only because film exhibitors and distributors are against such classification, but also because there are practical difficulties in implementing a film classification system in Singapore where the bulk of the cinema-going public consists of the younger generation. It is because of the absence of official film classification and the awareness of the fact that the majority of film goers are youths and children that the Board of Film Censors is very careful to ensure that all films passed for public exhibition are suitable for the viewing of both adults and children alike. As a matter of fact, many films which would otherwise be perfectly all right in their entirety for adults only have to be cut, because of the fact that they would be accessible to children on release. The care taken applies to all films, whether they be of the "James Bond" type or any other type.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think I have to crave your indulgence. When the public does not make any complaint, it does not mean that the film is a good one. Apart from the "James Bond" type of films, they allow on T.V. the "Beatles" type of songs ---

Mr Speaker: May I suggest that for the sitting of the 14th of November the Member puts a Question down on censorship of T.V. films?