COMMUNIST
ACTIVITIES
IN THE HONGKONG
31
FILM INDUSTRY.
The Hong Kong film industry has shown two new
î
trends in response to the abrupt turn of events as a
result of the Korean war. (1) The pro-Communist elements
have recently decided to adopt so-called cover-up' tactics
to cope with unexpected rigorous censorship in the various South-East Asian countries. (2) Prolonged slump has
given rise to the formation of many so-called 'one-film
companies', i.e. film-producing companies with barely enough
money to produce one film whose success or failure decides
the company's life span
COVER-UP TACTICS.
•
Under the guidance of the Communist cultural
directors in Hong Kong, the pro-Communist film producers
and directors have adopted the following methods to 'feel'
the censors abroad:
1.
2.
Two Different Versions.
Most of the recently released pro-Communist
films have two different versions:
(a) the uncut version with outspoken pro-Communist
scenes and dialogue is sent to China;
(b) the overseas version, with such scenes and
dialogue deleted or replaced with seemingly
harmless counterparts, intended for release in
Hong Kong and South-East Asian regions in general.
:
The Flower Street', a recent Great Wall production,
is a case in point.
The Filter-through' Tactics.
These are: to avoid using obviously pro-
Communist themes but to convey pro-Communist ideas
or inspire pro-Communist feelings under the guise
of seemingly harmless scenes and dialogue.
/Examples....