FILMS (Introduction of classification system)

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Culture if he will consider introducing a system of film classification to replace the current system of film censorship.

The Minister for Culture (Mr Jek Yeun Thong): Mr Speaker, Sir, the question of film classification has been under active consideration for quite some time. Film distributors, Government officials and the ordinary cinema-goers have all been involved in the discussion one way or the other on this matter. So far there has been no consensus of opinion among the parties concerned on a system of film classification, and on whether or not the system will definitely be better than the existing film censorship. It is true that systems of film classification have been in operation for quite some time in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and certain other industrially more advanced countries, but there has been no indication that the standard and quality of films have improved because of the introduction of the systems. In fact, it has become more and more apparent that the contrary is the case.

Many big film production companies in Hollywood which have been responsible for the production of some of the finest films we have ever seen are being forced to wind up business because films produced by them at high cost have not been able to compete with low-budget films produced by smaller companies or even individuals who peddle pornography. There is no doubt that there has been a sustained degeneration in the standard of films since the introduction of the system of classification in the western countries. It is these facts that have made us hesitant in taking the plunge, for although we do not want to deny our adult citizens the pleasure of watching some of the films born out of a permissive society, it is certainly not our wish to turn our city into a pornographic jungle like New York or Copenhagen.

Alarmed at the bad state of affairs in the United States, President Nixon recently called for a campaign to clean up the smut that has been generated since the relaxation of censorship there. He was afraid that the warped and brutal portrayal of sex in books, plays and movies, if not halted and reversed, could poison the well-springs of American and western culture and civilisation. But the harm has been done and it is now difficult to undo it. This is a good lesson that we must learn. We must not allow the American disaster in the experiment of culture to be repeated in Singapore.

We are also conscious of the fact, however, that if our present system continues, there will be fewer and fewer films suitable for the general audience. We are therefore trying to find a compromise in devising a simple system of classification. We cannot say as yet when this system can be implemented, because there are many problems which have yet to be settled, problems such as the age limit for the audience for a particular category of films; how the system is going to be enforced; who should be responsible to see that persons of the right age will be admitted to watch the right category of films; whether the system will be acceptable to all cultural groups in Singapore, and so on. Until we can find solutions for these problems, all we can now say is that we are travelling towards that direction, and it is hoped that details can be arrived at later in the year.

I would like to point out at this juncture that film classification will not replace film censorship. It will be a useful complement to film censorship. With film classification, it is likely that the film censors will not need to cut out as extensively as before, at least as far as films for adults are concerned.