SINGAPORE PUBLISHED BOOKS (Printing in Hong Kong)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Culture whether he is aware that some books published in Singapore are printed in Hong Kong, a practice which is not conducive to the development of the printing industry in Singapore; and what steps he has taken or proposes to take in the matter.

The Acting Minister for Culture (Mr Wee Toon Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry is aware that some books published in Singapore are printed in Hong Kong and, for that matter, in Malaysia, Japan and elsewhere. Out of a total of 529 books published in Singapore in 1968, 429 were printed in the Republic. Of the 100 books printed outside the country, 87 were printed in West Malaysia, 12 in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines.

In regard to those local publications printed in West Malaysia, most of them are textbooks and are for Malaysian clientele. Many of these publishers have offices in Singapore as well as in Malaya.

In respect of those publications printed in Hong Kong, the percentage is relatively low (about 2.3 per cent only), and the local printing industry may not therefore be badly affected.

Although steps may be taken to introduce legislation to make it compulsory for books published in Singapore to be printed only in the Republic and/or put up tariffs to protect the local printing profession, it is not considered advisable to adopt this type of negative measures. Depending on legislation and tariffs alone is not the right kind of approach to help solve the problems facing the local printing industry or the Republic as a whole. That will not improve the situation. These measures may, on the contrary, increase the burden on our readers and particularly on the parents who buy textbooks and other reference books for their children.

Besides, the percentage of local publications printed in Singapore is comparatively high and does not appear to warrant any protective measures in the form of legislation, tariffs, etc, for our printing industry.

The positive measures should be, I think, to assist the local printers to build an efficient industry so that they can keep abreast with the modern printing world. Although Singapore compares favourably in book printing with other Asian countries, our printers still have to modernise so that they are capable not only of meeting local demands, but also more important, of breaking into the international market. To this end, a Printing Industry Advisory Council was formed towards the end of 1967 to advise and assist in formulating development programmes for the printing industry in Singapore. Steps have also been taken to set up a school of printing in Singapore to help provide a constant and regular supply of trained and skilled workers to the industry.

In fact, the printers themselves can also play an important role in solving some of the problems facing their profession. There are about 220 printing presses in Singapore. The vast majority of these firms are small, under-capitalised family businesses, resulting in too many machines chasing too few jobs and giving rise to cut-throat competition which also affects the business of bigger printers. If the printers themselves will try a new approach by amalgamating on a mutually advantageous basis, perhaps they may be able to achieve a breakthrough to great potentials and will be in a better position to compete with foreign printers.