MAV 05 '97 15:36 TIBCOOU) HK GOVT
(c) The vires of the Film Censorship Regulations are
in doubt. Although section 7(1)(h) provides for
the censoring of films on such principles as may
be prescribed in the regulations', in fact no
such principles have ever been formally
prescribed although they have been in operation,
Legal
and widely publicised, for many years.
advice is that the vires of these regulations may
therefore be challenged in court.
Film censorship and its principles
5.
Film censorship has been practised in Hong Kong
since 1953 and has been accepted by the public as a
Government responsibility. At present, the principles and
criteria for approving or disapproving a film are codified in a 'note of guidance' issued in 1973 for the reference
of the film industry and the public.
6.
These principles and criteria cover a wide range
of matters, from sex and violence, to race and religion, to contempt of the Government of Hong Kong and harm to
good relations with other territories.
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