Sir,
- 2 -
The advertisement
in
question was
displayed
without the Film Censorship Authority's approval
as
required under Section 5 of the Places of Public
Entertainment Ordinance (Chapter 172).
The
film
distributor
submitted
this
advertisement the Authority for approval on Saturday, 24 May 1986 and arranged for its display at MTR stations without authority.
On the following Monday, 26 May 1986, the censor disapproved the advertising material on the ground that it
was in bad taste and unnecessarily alarmist. The film
distributor was informed of this ruling and was required
to remove the advertisement immediately from public
display. Enquiries have since been initiated with a view
to taking out prosecution against the party or parties
concerned for breach of Section 5 of Chapter 172.
The existing guidelines for censoring films and related advertising materials are contained in a guidance
note published by the Film Censorship Authority. The
present guidelines are based on three basic principles, namely