EDUCATIONAL FILMS FOR CHILDREN

Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister for Culture, in view of the scarcity of "spiritual food" for children, particularly in cinema entertainment in Singapore, whether he will take steps to ensure that film distributors supply a reasonable quantity of educational films to the cinemas so as to provide wholesome entertainment for our children.

The Acting Minister for Culture (Mr Wee Toon Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, film distributors are at liberty to exhibit the types of films that they wish and they will naturally bring in those films which in their view will draw the biggest revenue for them. The control which is exercised is done through the Board of Film Censors which ensures that objectionable films are not shown to the public. It is neither practical nor practicable to lay down any stipulations with regard to the quantity of educational films to be shown. In any case, it is difficult to specify what an educational film is, remembering that films that educate are not necessarily restricted to the documentaries but must include the wider field of film entertainment from which any child can learn something that enhances not only his knowledge but his sense of values. In recent weeks some films of good educational value depicting the broader aspects of nature and wild life study, self-reliance, innovation, have been shown in Singapore. Exhibitors will bring in such films if they find they are appreciated by their customers.

The children's section of the National Library also shows films which are educational in nature, in addition to talks, lectures, etc., for children.

Madam Chan Choy Siong (Delta): (In Mandarin): The Minister said just now that some good educational films have been shown in Singapore in recent weeks. Does he know how many good films were shown over the past two years? There were only seven good films. The rest were all films depicting violence, killing and sex. Has not Government the duty to promote the screening of good films?

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said in my reply, the film distributors will import only films that have a demand in Singapore. Therefore, it is not a question of whether Government wants to stipulate the kind of films to be imported. If there is a great demand for films depicting violence and sword fights, as can be seen nowadays, the film producers will produce more of such films. So it all depends on the taste of the film-going public.