Clause 10
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 18 May 1988
1453
That clause 10(3) be amended by adding after paragraph (c) the following—
'(d) Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(which deals with the principle of freedom of expression).'.
Question on the amendment put and agreed to.
Question on Clause 10, as amended, put and agreed to.
Clause 19
MR. YEUNG: Sir, I move that clause 19(2) be amended as set out in the paper circulated under my name to Members. This amendment will prevent the Chief Secretary from being seen to have the power to 'direct' the board of review, upon request by an aggrieved person, to reconsider the suitability for public exhibition of a film. The amended wording will enable the Chief Secretary to 'refer' to the board requests from the public for a censorship decision to be reviewed.
The amendment will not affect the channel through which members of the public may lodge complaints against a film, nor will it impair the role served by the Chief Secretary as a filtering mechanism to handle frivolous complaints. The change in wording is only intended to highlight the board's status as an independent appeal body free from any interference by the Administration.
With these remarks, Sir, I beg to move.
Proposed amendment
Clause 19
That clause 19(2) be amended by deleting 'direct the Board to review' and substituting the following-
'refer to the Board'.
Question on the amendment proposed, put and agreed to.
Question on clause 19, as amended, proposed, put and agreed to.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: I have received notification from Mr. Martin LEE that he wishes to withdraw his notice to propose the inclusion of a new clause 31A. We therefore proceed direct to the schedule.
Schedule was agreed to.
Council then resumed.