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COMMUNICATIONS AND THE MEDIA
previous year and 83 in 1980. The new cinemas are, however, generally smaller and located mainly in the New Territories where there has been a rapid growth in population.
While imported films continued to be popular, good quality local films remained the favourite with most cinema patrons.
The number of locally-produced films was 110 (including eight co-productions with other territories), compared with 100 (including 13 co-productions) in 1986. The trend towards making locally-produced films in Cantonese rather than Mandarin continued. Although action films and comedies were dominant, a number of so-called 'hero films' also proved popular. The biggest box-office successes for the year included Armour of God which grossed $35 million; Project A II ($31 million); Prison on Fire ($30 million); It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World ($27 million) and An Autumn's Tale ($25 million).
All films intended for public exhibition in Hong Kong must be submitted to the Film Censorship Authority, which is part of the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority. Censorship standards are drawn from ascertained community views. A panel comprising about 120 members of the public assists the film censors by reflecting community views. During the year, 783 films were submitted for censorship (including films intended for cine-clubs and cultural organisations). Of the total number submitted, 544 were approved without excisions, 235 were approved after excisions and four were banned. These figures do not include films intended for television use.
In 1988 a new Film Censorship Bill will be considered by the Legislative Council. The bill proposes the establishment of a three-tier classification for films, i.e. those approved for exhibition to persons of any age, those to be advertised as 'not suitable for children', and those restricted to persons who have attained the age of 18.
Printing and Publishing
The international status of Hong Kong's printing industry has continued to grow steadily in recent years, based upon a reputation for quality and economy. As a leading centre for printing and publishing, the territory's growth has led to the establishment of over 3 610 printing factories, employing around 34 190 people, and more than 200 publishing houses, including many from overseas which have set up offices or regional headquarters here. Continued growth of the industry during the year can be attributed to the confidence of employers in the future of Hong Kong, and to the relative depreciation of the Hong Kong dollar against most other currencies which has enabled Hong Kong printers to obtain more orders from overseas. Hong Kong printers are still investing substantially in advanced machinery and equipment and are taking a more positive step in developing the United States market.
The industry constitutes seven per cent of all manufacturing establishments and four per cent of employment in the manufacturing sector. Most of the printing factories (77 per cent) are engaged in general jobbing work, and most of the remainder deal with related work, such as typesetting and bookbinding. There are also 33 newspaper printers.
Use of the latest technology, especially computerised equipment, has enabled the industry to become highly specialised. The local electronics industry contributes to the plant and equipment of the more sophisticated printing companies and also the publishers, who are becoming increasingly involved in the use of data and word-processing systems for editorial production and stock control.
The sales and marketing of data and word-processing systems are now handled by more than 100 companies offering over 200 systems. The output data can be converted or interfaced with typesetting equipment at realistic cost to provide publishers with the