(iv) Scenes in which pleasure is taken in the infliction of pain
or humiliation upon others
(Children should know that bullies are a fact of life, but great care must be taken to see that they despise them and are not induced to admire them. When such scenes reach the level of deliberate torture, they should be either momentary or be banned entirely.)
(v) Scenes in which the infliction or acceptance of pain or
humiliation is associated with sexual pleasure
(These should be eliminated.)
(vi) Scenes which children might copy with injury to them-
selves or others
(Children are imitative and curious. The technique of hanging, or experiments with fire, or tying and locking up, or submerging in water, can easily be tried by a child.) (vii) Scenes in which easily acquired and dangerous weapons
are used
(It is a simple fact that guns and swords are not easily come by, while knives, bottles, bars and bricks are. It is not good that children with a tendency to violence should see them in frequent use.)
(viii) Scenes in which the less usual methods of inflicting injury
are employed
(This includes rabbit punches, suffocation, the sabotage of vehicles, and dangerous booby traps.)
In case of doubt omit the scene. The risk is not one that should properly be taken.
Sex and Nudity
14. The censor is subject to fairly constant pressure from film distributors seeking screening permits for films featuring erotic displays of sex and nudity. This has been prompted by the large number of foreign feature films of this type reaching the Hong Kong market and more recently by the attempts of Hong Kong film makers to emulate their overseas counterparts with local films of similar type designed for domestic showings as well as for export. This is not
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considered a desirable development in the field of public entertain- ment in Hong Kong. It has caused strong public reaction and has presented the censor with a difficult task in his efforts to reflect the general level of current moral standards in a swiftly changing situa- tion. What is considered to be contrary to the public interest in one age may not be so in another. This point is particularly rele- vant to sex: earlier standards of what was considered acceptable for public presentation have changed, though in any community there will always be pressure from a conservative group that does not recognise this. Within this situation the censor is obliged to try to judge whether a particular film or episode will cause deep shock or disgust in the mind of the average member of the audience or will have a corrupting effect. There is normally no objection to the portrayal of nudity when the scene is handled with restraint and is important to the story. However, erotic displays such as the filming of sexual organs and sexual deviations, perversions and abnormalities which emphasise nothing but sex are quite a different matter. Sex acts in detail, including associated sound effects, are likely to be banned and cut as are scenes depicting the exposure of private parts and the fondling of naked bodies.
15. Once again the integrity of the film producer becomes the prime factor. Is he simply pandering to baser tastes to make money or is the sex sequence a discreet presentation within the context of a worthwhile, dramatic story?
Drunkenness and Drug Addiction
16. The portrayal of, and reference to, drunkenness and addiction to drugs or narcotice should be limited to the needs of the plot and characterisation, and not presented as desirable, The censor will pay special attention to the portrayal of any scene which could be construed to be glamourising or encouraging drug taking especially among young people or which might give the impression that the effect of drugs is pleasant and desirable.
Racialism
17. It is undesirable to show films that would exploit feelings of racialism or emphasize animosity towards any particular race,
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