HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
395
and criticism from the public and the mass media. At the concerts, some singers went all out for the so-called avant-garde art. In fact, they put on pornographic shows and disseminated the undesirable ideology. The dialogues and actions were all indecent and obscene and not suitable for children and all members of a family. However, facing this new trend, we appear to be not sensitive enough to make response and adjustment. As the Council is responsible for the hiring of venues, we have to face any criticism on the contents of performances by the community arising from the misuse of our venues. The most ridiculous thing is that some members of the audience even asked the Urban Services Department about the department to which they should reflect their views. The answer they got is that no one knows which department is responsible for monitoring this situation. In fact, there is no department responsible for handling complaints against the contents of concerts lodged by the public.
I had approached various government departments and checked the laws to see whether there was any department monitoring or legislation governing the contents of the vocal concerts or whether there was any channel for members of the public to lodge their complaints. However, I came to the conclusion that there was none. In the past, under the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance, the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority required the presenters of public entertainment programmes to apply for a ‘Places of Public Entertainment Permit' before the concerts were held. As far as I know, although the permit application form required the provision of information on the contents of the entertainment programmes, it only served to find out whether the contents of the performances involved politics, but was not aimed at checking whether there was any element of indecency. When the Human Rights Bill was discussed at the Legislative Council meeting in 1995, the requirement for the above-mentioned permit was dropped as it involved freedom of speech. As a consequence, the onus for approving venues has entirely been passed onto the Urban Services Department. However, the 1994 revised application form, which is used for approving venues, only requires the applicant to disclose the personal particulars of the organizers and performers, the intention of the singers and the requirements of administration and public safety, but obviates the need to indicate whether there is any presence of elements at the concerts that are not suitable for children and young people. I am worried that these concerts with elements of pornography will develop into a trend, which may give rise to a situation where other singers will follow suit and give daring and glaring performances.
My worry is not without warrant. The reason is that recently, while a singer was singing in a singing session of a carnival held in a public housing estate, he unexpectedly performed sexy dancing with dancers. This singer also said to the press that in the musical circle of the 70's, the singers' charm lied with their singing skills and in the 80's their attraction was the idol image they established, but in the 90's, they tended to use their figure as a promotional
Page 351 of 498
Page 351 of 498
Page 351 of 498