GF 323
CONFIDENTIAL
機密
Summary of other changes in the revised Film Censorship Bill 1987
Annex D
Clause 2 - Interpretation. A more comprehensive list of definition of terms has been provided. The Bill provides for the regulation of the public exhibition of films. A more specific definition of 'exhibition' has been provided together with a clarification of who will be held responsible for such exhibitions. The new definition will exclude the 'previewing' of films by certain categories of persons such as distributors and exhibitors etc. to reflect the present practice of the film industry. A 'film' has been so defined as to include a 'sound-track' and it has been made clear that the Bill is concerned only with films and advertising material intended for exhibition in Hong Kong.
2.
Clause 3 - Film Censorship Authority. It has been amended to make it clear that the Film Censorship Authority shall be the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing. The power of the Governor to give the Authority directions has been deleted at the request of the Group.
3.
Clause 5
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Appointment of censors. The provision whereby the Authority determined the practice and procedures of a censor has been deleted.
4.
Clause 6 - Panel of advisers. This new provision formalizes the current practice of involving in the censorial process advisers drawn from the community. Authority is empowered to make such appointments.
5.
The
Clause 8 Films to be submitted to the Authority before exhibition. This has been amended to permit a distributor to seek more than one classification for a film to avoid the need for re-submission should its original request be turned down. This will also provide the flexibility in the event that a distributor intends to screen, say, two different versions of the same film. The requirement to submit and explain pre-submission excisions has been dispensed with as impracticable. In addition, the requirement for the payment of a deposit has also been deleted in accordance with the wishes of the film industry representatives.
6.
Clause 9
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The
Authority may exempt films from examination. This has been amended to require the Authority to deal with a film within 7 days of its submission. The revised clause also sets out the conditions which may be applied to an exempted film. power of the Authority to revoke an exemption has been circumscribed by specifying that the only grounds for revocation are breaches of specified conditions or if he considers that the censorship criteria require the film to be examined.
CONFIDENTIAL
機密