BACKGROUND
On 24 March 1987
after considering memorandum
XCC (87)55 (copy at Annex B) the Council advised and the Governor ordered
3
B
4
up
to
(a)
that the recommendation at paragraph 6 of the memorandum should be accepted;
(b)
that the papers at Annexes A and B to the memorandum should also be
be disclosed under the same conditions as those applying to the Executive Council memorandum; and
(c) that the documents at Annex C to the
memorandum should not be disclosed.
the
Following Council's advice, the official documents requested were released to Members of the Legislative Council Ad Hoc Group (hereunder the Group) set
on study film classification and censorship conditions prescribed above. At the
the meeting with the Group on 25 March, the Administration also agreed that the draft Film Censorship Bill attached
Bill attached to the confidential memorandum could be separately made available for study by Members of the Group outside the OMELCO Office.
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The Group was in favour of the legislative approach and emphasised the need to allow sufficient time for wider public consultation on the proposals before a Bill is introduced into the Legislative Council. In making these recommendations, the Group was also conscious of the importance of speedy legislative action given the known legal deficiencies of existing legislation and Government's vulnerability to court action. Thus the Group is anxious to see the Film Censorship Bill enacted within the current legislative session.
PROPOSALS
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The Group, therefore, proposed that the draft Bill at Annex A be gazetted 3 April 1987 for public information and comment. The consultation period will extend for a period of six weeks, closing on 15 May. During this period the Group will continue its discussions with the Administration on the draft Bill in the light of further studies and any public comments received. The Group has pledged to finalise its views on the draft Bill and present its recommendations to the Administration by 22 May.
Council's approval will then be sought on 2 June for the introduction of the Bill into the Legislative Council for enactment within the current Legislative
Council session.