COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
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The annual cinema attendance totalled about 61 million, the same as the figure for 1983. Related to the population, the high attendance figures demonstrate that cinema- going remains a popular leisure activity, second only to watching television. The price of admission to the majority of the cinemas was increased during the year by about 18 per cent, the same percentage as the increase in 1983.
The number of locally produced films was 109 (including five co-productions), compared with 118 in 1983. While imported films continued to be popular, good-quality local films remained the favourites with the majority of the audience. The biggest box-office successes for the year were Aces Go Places III, Our Man From Bond Street which grossed $29.2 million, Kid From Shaolin ($22.2 million), A Family Affair ($22.1 million), and Wheels On Meals ($21.4 million). The trend of making locally produced films in Cantonese rather than Mandarin continued during 1984. Although action films and comedies dominated the scene, a number of films concerned with local problems also proved popular.
All films intended for public exhibition in Hong Kong must be submitted to the Panel of Film Censors which is part of the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority. Censorship standards are drawn from ascertained community views and a panel compris- ing 90 members of the public assists the film censors in reflecting community views. During the year, 728 films were submitted for censorship (including films intended for cine clubs. and cultural organisations). Of the total number submitted, 525 were approved without excisions, 191 were approved after excisions and 12 were banned. These figures do not include films intended for television use.
Printing and Publishing
The international status of Hong Kong's printing industry has grown steadily in recent years, and expansion of the industry continued during 1984. There are now over 3 000 printing companies employing about 30 000 people, and over 200 publishing houses.
The territory's electronics industry is contributing to the plant and equipment not only of the more sophisticated printing companies but also of publishers who are becoming increasingly involved in data and word processing systems for editorial production and stock control. The sales and marketing of data and word processors is now handled by more than 100 companies which offer over 200 systems.
The quality and competitive price of Hong Kong printing has attracted many orders from overseas for such items as books, advertising materials, company annual reports and product catalogues. A number of overseas publishers have set up offices or regional headquarters in the territory, producing a wide range of publications which are sold both locally and overseas.
The majority of publications printed for export - mainly books and pamphlets – go to the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. Hong Kong does not manufacture paper and has to import all its requirements.
Postal Services
Hong Kong maintains an efficient and reliable postal service even though there has been a substantial increase in the number of postal articles handled annually. This increase has averaged over eight per cent a year over the past 10 years. In most areas of Hong Kong, there are two mail deliveries each weekday. The Post Office aims to deliver most local mail not later than one working day after the date of posting and to despatch airmail overseas within 24 hours. In the case of airmail postings made at the four main