ZCZC
HMLNAN 5599
CONFIDENTIAL
TT FCOLD
TT PEKI
FM HOKON TO FCOLN
030945Z DEC
GRS 130
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO TELETTER FCO
TELETTER SCR 192/65 PT4
OF 030945Z DECEMBER 86
INFO TELETTER PEKING
JJKK 3021, RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
-3 DEC 1986
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
FROM: MS ANNE SHEPHERD, APA 11, POLITICAL ADVISER'S OFFICE FOLLOWING FOR: CLINTON LEEKS HKD, FCO
COPIED TO : D G BLUNT ESQ, PEKING
FILM CENSORSHIP : ''TWILIGHT IN GENEVA''
YOU MAY LIKE TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE ADVISED THE COMMISSIONER FOR
TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICESNING TO BAN THE ABOVE FILM ON POLITICAL GROUNDS. THERE WAS NO POINT IN PROPOSING CUTS SINCE THE WHOLE THEME OF THE FILM WOULD BE DEEPLY OFFENSIVE TO PEKING.
2. THE FILM IS DIRECTED BY BAI JINGRUI WHO ALSO DIRECTED ''THE COLDEST WINTER IN PEKING. IT IS A BITING CRITIQUE OF THE CHINESE OFFICIAL MACHINE, ENDING WITH A TAIWAN SPONSORED DEFECTION.
3. CTEL IS INFORMING THE DISTRIBUTOR OF HIS DECISION TO BAN THE FILM ON 3 DECEMBER. WE ARE EXPECTING THE DISTRIBUTOR TO APPEAL. ALTHOUGH IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE BOARD OF REVIEW WILL OVERTURN CTEL'S DECISION, THERE COULD BE PUBLICITY AND CRITICISM. INDEED WE CANNOT RULE OUT A CHALLENGE IN COURT.
SIGNED.......A SHEPHERD
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HMLNAN 5599
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