FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1976
CONTROL ON FILM CENSORSHIP TO BE TIGHTENED
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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO TIGHTEN THE CONTROL ON FILM CENSORSHIP BY CLOSING THE LOOP-HOLES IN THE EXISTING LAW.
UNDER AN AMENDING BILL PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE, MORE FILM MATERIAL WILL BE SUBJECT TO CENSORSHIP.
THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, WHICH ALSO PROVIDES FOR HEAVIER PENALTIES FOR CONTRAVENTION OF THE ORDINANCE, WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.
IF ENACTED, THE PENALTIES WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT MAXIMUM FINE OF $2,000 TO $10,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TELEVISION AND FILMS AUTHORITY SAID TODAY THE PRESENT FINE, WHICH HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE 1953, WAS UNREALISTIC. IT WAS TOO LOW IN RELATION TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENCES AND THE PROFITS TO BE MADE BY CONTRAVENING THE LAW.
HE POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, FILM TRAILERS AND EXCERPTS AND DISPLAY MATERIAL WOULD BE SUBJECT TO CENSORSHIP.
+ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE, THE EXISTING LAW IS AMBIGUOUS ON THIS POINT,+ HE EXPLAINED. THE AMENDMENTS WILL MAKE THE INTENTIONS OF THE LAW CLEARER.+
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THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED THAT DURING RECENT MONTHS,
THE COMMISSIONER HAD REVIEWED THE STANDARDS OF FILM CENSORSHIP, RELATED LEGISLATION AND THE STAFFING AND ORGANISATION OF THE PANEL OF FILM CENSORS.
THIS REVIEW, HE ADDED, HAD RESULTED IN A BASIC CHANGE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S APPROACH TO THIS WORK AND THE PANEL OF CENSORS HAD BEEN RE-FORMED WITH YOUNGER STAFF BETTER ABLE TO REFLECT GENERAL ATTITUDES TO STANDARDS OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT IN HONG KONG,
IT HAD ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR MORE PUBLIC ADVICE IN THE DAY TO DAY BUSINESS OF FILM CENSORSHIP, STRICTER CONTROL OVER SHOWING CENSORED FILMS TO THE PUBLIC AND BETTER CONTINUITY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FILM BOARD OF REVIEW.
AFTER THE BILL WAS PASSED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, REGULATIONS WOULD BE MADE TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS TO ACCORD WITH THE NEW PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
ONE OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD BE TO APPOINT THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND FILMS AS FILM CENSORSHIP AUTHORITY WITH OVERALL ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL MATTERS RELATING TO FILM CENSORSHIP.
/THE COMMISSIONER,