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FROM: A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 6 June 1989
Mr McLaren
PS/Lord Glenarthur
CC:
Private Secretary
нко 306/2
Mr Gillmore
FED
HONG KONG: FILM CENSORSHIP: THE COLDEST WINTER IN PEKING
Problem
1. A film produced in Taiwan, which has been banned three times
before in Hong Kong, has been re-submitted to the Hong Kong authorities for a licence to be shown in the territory.
PA
29
A
The Hong
Kong authorities have concluded that the film should not be banned
on this occasion.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that we endorse Hong Kong's decision. Peking and
FED concur.
Background
B
с
3. The film in question, "The Coldest Winter in Peking" is the
second contentious film to be submitted for a permit under Hong
Kong's new film censorship Legislation. The first was another
Taiwanese propaganda film, "If I were for real", which has only
recently been released in Hong Kong. "The Coldest Winter in Peking"
depicts events during and shortly after the Cultural Revolution. It
was banned those times previously in Hong Kong under the old censorship legislation on the grounds that its showing would damage
relations with other territories. J But the Political Adviser in Hong
The content of the film is contentious mainly because it portrays Ik wistince in
China after 1976 of
mirement.
an
underground