FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW (Import of restricted copies)

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Communications and Information if he will allow distributors other than the one already nominated by the Far Eastern Economic Review to import the restricted 500 copies of the magazine, in view of the FEER's declared refusal to circulate the magazine in Singapore.

The Minister for Communications and Information (Dr Yeo Ning Hong): Sir, the law allows for more than one distributor for gazetted publications. The FEER has nominated its distributor and we have given it approval to distribute out 500 copies per issue. Since the FEER has indicated that it will not distribute the magazine in Singapore, applications from interested parties for importing and distributing the magazine up to a total of 500 copies per issue will be considered.

Mr Yeo Choo Kok (Delta): Sir, I have two questions. First, will the Minister revoke the approval given to the distributor nominated by the FEER which has banned its circulation in Singapore? Second, what is the Minister's response to the FEER's self-imposed ban for the magazine in Singapore?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, yes, if there is a need for revocation of the approval, the Ministry will do it if there are other applicants for approval to circulate the magazine.

Sir, regarding the self-imposed ban of the FEER, the gazetted publications claimed to be champions of the free flow of information in Singapore. For example, the Asian Wall Street Journal, if you recall, offered to distribute its newspaper free of charge. The Government agreed provided it does not carry any advertisement. The Asian Wall Street Journal beat a hasty retreat and withdrew its offer. Now the Feer claims that it wants to serve all its readers in Singapore, yet they have imposed this self-inflicted ban of circulation of the magazine in Singapore.

Sir, the Government has stated categorically that it is not against the free flow of information. I shall be introducing a Bill later to facilitate the free flow of information in Singapore with regard to the gazetted publications. The Bill will make it possible for photocopies to be made more essily available to readers in Singapore. The Bill will put the gazetted publications' claim to the test. We shall see if they will change their tune.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, is it not true that the allegation of the FEER is that the Government has a right to say who the distributor will distribute the magazines to?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, if the Member for Potong Pasir has read the newspapers, he would have got the answer. It is not true. The publication is free to circulate its magazine to any of its subscribers, subject to its providing subscribers from libraries who are already subscribing to the magazine. The objective is to enable the general public to have easy access to the magazine.

Mr Chiam See Tong: What does the Minister say to another allegation that the FEER has been banned in Singapore in fact and it is not really drastically curbed?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: I remember hearing, after the answer given a moment ago, it is a self-imposed ban.