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requires that all film material intended for broadcasting shall be subject to the scrutiny and approval by a panel of censors established under the Film Censorship Regulations. Thus banning a film for exhibition in a cinema will result in
its ban. on television. In view of the pervasive influence of television the absence of censorship restrictions on good relations grounds in the press and the other forms of media should not lead
to an argument against the necessity of similar restrictions on film and television, as implied by Professor Barendt, on whose opinion Mr. Martin Lee in part relied when moving his resolution
in this Council.
Sir, in my view, once the Legislative Council is satisfied that a certain piece of legislation is necessary for attaining specified social goals and is not incompatible with an international covenant, he should assess the law with the greatest of the community, not sectarian interests in mind.
I had an opportunity to view one of the films mentioned by Mr. Martin Lee. Whethe the contents of the film, "The Coldest Winter in Beijing" would be construed as provocative and offensive to the country to which the film refers is a matter for that country to judge. Perceptions and reactions are quite subjective, Sir. The censors must act cautiously and prudently when accepting a film of this sensitive
nature in order not to prejudice our good relations with other
countries. However, if a film distributor is aggrieved with
the decisions of the censors, he can resort to the provision in the Film Censorship Regulations which provides for appeals to a board of review. On these grounds, Sir, I oppose the resolution moved by Mr. Martin Lee.
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MR. STEPHEN CHEONG: Sir, the Film Censorship Regulations
31 1987 were introduced into this Council under very unfortunate
circumstances. If they were introduced prior to the Sino/
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