For Discussion
on 24 March 1987
CONFIDENTIAL
XCC (87)55 29.
Copy No...
HK
MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
IVED IN ·
FA 304
- 2 APR 1987
INTRODUCTION
DESK OFFICL
INDEX
RY
aken
7/4
to
The purpose of this memorandum is to seek Members advice on whether certain government documents relating the film classification proposal should be made available to the Legislative Council Ad Hoc Group on Film Classification and Censorship.
BACKGROUND
2
On 3 March 1987, having considered memorandum XCC(87)34, Council advised and the Acting Governor ordered, inter alia, that the option of introducing a Film Censorship Bill should not be pursued and that the OMELCO Standing Panel on Public Relations should be consulted on the option of a film classification system from within the existing legal framework.
3
Following this advice, a meeting with the Standing Panel was arranged for 18 March and a paper setting out the non-legislative paper was issued on 11 March to
to all OMELCO Members for consideration. On 17 March, a front page story carried in the Asian Wall Street Journal described, on the basis of (leaked) government documents, the background to the present proposal. The newspaper report also quoted from these documents certain issues. such as the vires of the existing legislation and the question of political censorship. This has given rise to considerable public
controversy.
4
On 18 March, Members were verbally informed of the latest development. The Administration was then authorised to make available a copy of the Executive Council memorandum XCC (87)34 to members of the Standing Panel at a meeting on the same day on the understanding that this was to be an exceptional arrangement and that retention for use of this confidential paper would not be allowed. In the event, two meetings between the Administration and the Standing Panel were held on 18 and 20 March during which there was a frank exchange of views. The Administration was given to understand that the OMELCO in-house was generally in favour of a legislative approach. A new LegCo Ad Hoc Group was set
study film classification
with and censorship,
to
up first meeting set for this Wednesday, 25 March.
its
CONFIDENTIAL
78