VIDEO-FILM CENSORSHIP SYSTEM

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture whether prior comparative studies were made of the video-film censorship systems in other countries in the formulation and setting-up of the video-film censorship system in Singapore; and which countries were used in such studies, stating how our system varies from the systems in those countries.

Encik Othman bin Haron Eusofe (Geylang Serai): Question No. 6, Sir.

The Minister of State for Culture (Maj. Fong Sip Chee) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture): Mr Speaker, Sir, the control of video tapes is a world-wide problem. Before the censorship and licensing system was formulated, the Ministry of Culture wrote to a number of countries to seek information on their control systems. Unfortunately, none of these countries has a system that could serve as a model for us. Western countries either have a very lax censorship or dispense with censorship of video tapes completely. Japan has a voluntary censorship system under which video tapes are censored by a private organization called the Video Tape Ethics Control Council. Other countries, including developing countries, are in the process of updating and reviewing their control systems to deal with the video tape problem.

Without any effective model to emulate, Singapore drew upon its experience in the control of cinematograph films. Our video tape control system has two components:-

(i) Persons in the business of importing, hiring, duplicating, distributing and exhibiting video tapes are required to obtain a licence; and

(ii) All video tapes for hiring, distributing and exhibiting are subject to censorship.

The licensing system brought the activities of importing, hiring, duplicating, distributing and exhibiting video films within the ambit of the law and restored order to the once chaotic video business. The licensees have to adhere to licence conditions. They have to ensure that all tapes are censored before distribution. Their tapes have to bear details such as the name of the company, import permit number, censorship number, etc.

To date, the number of video licences issued are as follows:- Importing : 40 Making/duplicating : 10 Distributing/hiring out : 68

The licensing system is backed up by vigorous enforcement action. Frequent raids are conducted against illegal video operators. Those caught are charged and prosecuted in court. During the last three months (December 1982 - February 1983) 66 raids were conducted on these illegal video outlets. About 7,000 uncensored tapes, including obscene ones, were seized during the raids.