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The Government has given notice to the Far
Eastern Economic Review (FEER), a declared foreign newspaper under the
Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (NPPA) that it will have to comply
with the conditions required of offshore newspapers before it can be
circulated in Singapore. |
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These conditions, as stipulated under
Section 23 of the NPPA, will also be re-instated for some offshore
newspapers which were previously exempted from them. |
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Background |
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Since 1990, offshore newspapers (within the
meaning of Section 23 of the NPPA), unless exempted, have to have a
permit to circulate in Singapore . This permit can be issued subject to
conditions under Section 23 (3) of the NPPA. |
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Under Section 24 of the NPPA, the Minister
may allow declared foreign newspapers (defined as those engaging in the
domestic politics of Singapore ) to continue circulation in Singapore
and this approval may also be granted subject to conditions. |
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The NPPA serves to reinforce the
Government's consistent position that it is a privilege, and not a
right, for foreign newspapers to circulate in Singapore . They do so as
foreign observers of the local scene and should not interfere in the
domestic politics of Singapore . Hence, foreign newspapers seeking to
circulate in Singapore need to comply with the provisions in the NPPA. |
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Far Eastern Economic Review |
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On 26 December 1987 , FEER was
gazetted as a declared foreign newspaper for interfering in the
domestic politics of Singapore. |
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Subsequently, FEER was also classified
as an offshore newspaper following the amendment to the NPPA on 30
August 1990 , and was subjected to the conditions in Section 23 of
the NPPA. |
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In December 2004, FEER changed from a
weekly to a monthly publication. As a result of this change, FEER
ceased to be an offshore newspaper. Hence, it was allowed to
circulate in Singapore without having to comply with the
conditions for offshore newspapers. |
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However, FEER remains a declared
foreign newspaper. It is an anomaly for FEER, which is a declared
foreign newspaper, not to be subjected to the conditions that
apply to the other declared foreign newspaper, namely Wall Street
Journal Asia, (which is still an offshore newspaper) and other
offshore newspapers. |
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Hence, the Government has given FEER
notice that, with effect from 11 September 2006, it will have to
comply with the requirements of an offshore newspaper circulating
in Singapore, which means: |
a) appointing a person within
Singapore authorised to accept service of any notice or legal
process on behalf of the publisher; and
b) submitting a security deposit
of S$200,000.
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There will be no change to FEER's
current circulation cap of 10,000 copies. |
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Offshore Newspapers |
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Since 1990, offshore newspapers have
to comply with the permit requirements under Section 23 of the
NPPA. But some of these offshore newspapers have been granted
exemption from the provisions previously. Since then, there have
been changes in the media scene. |
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In view of these developments, MICA
has reviewed the exempt status of offshore newspapers circulating
in Singapore. |
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On review, MICA has given notice to
lift the exemption granted to the International Herald Tribune,
Financial Times, Newsweek and TIME. These newspapers now regularly
report on political issues in the region and Singapore, and have
significant circulations in Singapore. |
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Their exempt status should cease upon
the expiry of their current permits given under Section 21 of the
NPPA. They will thereafter be required to comply with conditions
for the circulation of an offshore newspaper under Section 23 of
the NPPA. |
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND
THE ARTS
3 AUGUST 2006
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Comments From Ms K
Bhavani, Press Secretary To The Minister For Information,
Communications And The Arts |
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Source:
www.mica.gov.sg Press Release
3 Aug 2006 |
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Related Article: |
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Singapore withdraws circulation approval for Far Eastern Economic Review |
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FrontPage Edition: Wed 16 August 2006
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