WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1976.
9
STIFFER LAW FOR ADMISSION OF
CINEMA-GOERS SUGGESTED
*****
THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH TODAY URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING LAWS TO RESTRICT ENTRY TO SPECIFIED FILMS TO PERSONS OVER A PARTICULAR AGE.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS KO SAID SHE APPRECIATED THAT SUCH LEGISLATION MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE, PARTICULARLY AS THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CRIME WAS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE.
BUT SHE ADDED THAT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE INCREASING CRIME RATE WAS THE READY AVAILABILITY OF FILMS WHICH MADE CRIME AND VIOLENCE APPEAR THE NORM.
+PERHAPS ONE OF THE ANSWERS TO THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM MAY BE FOR CINEMA OPERATORS TO RESTRICT THEIR SALES OF ADVANCE BOOKINGS OR TO MAKE OTHER MANAGERIAL CHANGES,+ SHE SAID.
MISS KO REALISED THAT THIS MIGHT NOT BE WELCOMED BY CINEMA OPERATORS. BUT IN THE LIGHT OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM WHEREBY SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WERE ATTENDING UNSUITABLE MOVIES, SHE THOUGHT IT WELL WORTH THE BURDEN.
REFERRING TO INDECENT FILM ADVERTISEMENTS APPEARING IN NEWSPAPERS, MISS KO EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THEY WOULD BE DEALT WITH MORE FIRMLY UNDER THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE.
IN REPLY TO THE POINT ABOUT RESTRICTING ADMISSION OF VIEWERS ACCORDING TO THEIR AGE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI, SAID THE PROBLEM OF ENFORCEMENT WAS A DIFFICULT ONE.
+THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND FILMS HAS RECENTLY DISCUSSED WITH THE INDUSTRY THE POSSIBILITY OF CINEMA MANAGEMENTS TAKING UP ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES BUT THE RESPONSE HAS NOT BEEN ENCOURAGING,+ HE SAID.
THIS ISSUE, HE ADDED, HAD BEEN KEPT UNDER REVIEW SINCE IT WAS LAST RAISED IN THE COUNCIL IN 1971.
MR. LI DOUBTED IF A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION COULD BE FOUND UNTIL THE PROBLEMS RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT HAD BEEN RESOLVED.
AS REGARDS THE QUESTIONS OF OBJECTIONABLE MATERIALS APPEARING IN NEWSPAPERS, HE POINTED OUT THAT ALL FILM ADVERTISEMENTS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS, WERE SUBJECT TO CENSORSHIP.
OTHER FILM PUBLICITY MATERIAL PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS AND ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINES WAS ALSO MONITORED, MR. LI SAID.
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