Government Files

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  Film: "Stormy Man"

  • Period: 15/07/1959 - 14/08/1959
  • Microfilm and File Reference: AP 172/ MHA 2004-59

  
  

  This file gives an idea of the type of scenes the authorities banned: sequences of teenagers whistling and clapping after rock and roll numbers; two short sequences of a man slapping a woman; and fight sequences in the Japanese film titled 'Stormy Man' (dubbed in Mandarin). These were banned by the Film Committee of Appeal appointed by the Minister for Home Affairs, for undermining the moral standing ("Seven films banned", The Straits Times, 18 October 1959). The Malayan Board of Film Censors initially allowed the film to be screened in both Singapore and the Federation of Malaya. It was recalled from the Singapore market under the State of Singapore Cinematograph Ordinance by the Ministry of Home Affairs . The decision of an ad hoc committee to allow the film with deletions of the objectionable scenes was overruled by the Film Committee of Appeal.

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  Comics (Chinese)

  • Period: 07/11/1959 - 21/06/1973
  • Microfilm and File Reference: AP 173/ MC(P) 2619-59

  
  

  There was a sudden increase in the sale and circulation of children's chain story (serialised) picture books and comics, especially at stalls along roadsides and near primary schools, which alarmed the government and the public. Some of these comics and picture books contained 'yellow' stories of fairy tales, folklore, love affairs, murders, and gang-fights . Some primary school students spent their daily pocket money on these publications. The file shows the government's concern that students were spending valuable study time reading such materials .
  
  In June 1960, the Minister for Home Affairs prohibited the serialised picture books and comics from 64 Hong Kong publishing houses . In November 1966, the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs prohibited the chain story picture books and comics from another 43 Hong Kong publishing houses . To reduce the financial loss to the importers, the Minister for Home Affairs allowed the publications to be returned or re-exported . The Ministry for Home Affairs also requested that eight bookshops offer concession prices to small-time book traders affected by the ban in 1960 .

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  Obscene Pictures, Etc.

  • Period: 08/08/1961 - 02/04/1968
  • Microfilm and File Reference: AP 176/ MC(P) 601-61

  
  

  The government's efforts against undesirable content included objects decorated with or containing pictures of nude or bare-bosomed women. The government took action against products like lighters, pen-knives, ball pens, miniature plastic telescopes, and playing cards with such decorations or pictures. Despite efforts to stop the importation of nude picture playing cards through detention, importers continued to smuggle such cards into Singapore . The government therefore decided to prohibit the importation, sale or circulation of all playing cards with nude images under the Undesirable Publications Ordinance in January 1966 .

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  "The Twist" - A New Dance Craze

  • Period: 15/01/1962 - 29/01/1963
  • Microfilm and File Reference: AP 176/ MHA 94-62

  
  

  The popular dance, the 'Twist', became the target of media content regulation. In 1962, the Minister for Culture suggested the ban on 'Twist' sequences in films as he deemed the dance movements suggestive . The Ministry of Home Affairs then directed Board of Film Censors to delete film sequences featuring scenes of the 'Twist' as in the case of 'rock and roll' films .
  
  Although the Minister for Home Affairs discouraged the 'Twist' in public performances, the dance was not officially banned . The Minister also took a differentiated approach in dealing with applications for the 'Twist' - allowing it in night clubs and cabarets, because of their predominantly adult crowd; disallowing it in cinemas because of its younger audience. However, the publicity for the 'Twist' was to be toned down . An example in 1963 shows a recommendation for approval from the Deputy Police Commissioner for a public entertainment licence application by Great World Cabaret to hold a 'Twist Dance Competition' on grounds that the dance was largely confined to hotels, cabarets and night clubs .

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  Proscribed Publications - List Of 1949 - 1959

  • Period: 13/05/1964 - 06/10/1967
  • Microfilm and File Reference: AP 180/ MC(P) 258-64

  
  

  The file shows examples of publications disallowed in the 1950s and 1960s under the Emergency Regulations Ordinance and the Undesirable Publications Ordinance. The list of publications prohibited in 1950 included 'Whisper', 'Flirt', 'Titter', 'Beauty Parade', 'Wink', and all '75 cents Magazine' from Utopian Press London ; 'Kama Sutra' was prohibited in 1953 ; 'Playboy' in 1959; and comics such as 'Wonder Woman', 'Rip Hunter', 'G.I. Combat', and American war comic titles in 1960 .
  
  Under the Undesirable Publications Ordinance, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (or Governor in Council during colonial times) could prohibit the importation, sale and circulation of any publication considered to be contrary to public interest. This Ordinance was used mainly to control imported publications.

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  Comics: Appeal Against Detention

  • Period: 28/03/1968 - 21/11/1969
  • Microfilm and File Reference: AP 186/ MC(P) 100-68

  
  

  Media regulators were concerned with the ill-effects that comics exerted on our young. The categories of disallowed 'Western' comics included: undesirable war adventure comics glorifying the American Armed Forces and depicting the inferiority of coloured races; certain types of romance comics that portrayed parental advice and control as being old-fashioned; and comics depicting horror, suspense and the fantastic . Detained popular comics included 'Plastic Man', 'Metamorpho', 'Green Lantern', 'The X-Men', 'Flash', 'Doom Patrol', 'Fantastic Four', 'Showcase', 'Amazing Spiderman', and 'Daredevil' .

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  Song, Gramophone Records And Tapes Policy

  • Period: 14/08/1970 - 01/04/1972
  • Microfilm and File Reference: AP 189/ MC(P) 69-71

  
  

  The file shows the government's concern about the impact of hippy music on our youth. The gramophone record containing all 26 songs of the original cast recording of the Broadway rock musical production, 'Hair', was detained in 1969 because of its 'hippie culture' theme , though instrumental records were released by both the Advisory Committee and the Minister .