SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
PUBLIC SURVEY SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM *****
ADMISSION TO CINEMAS IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE RESTRICTED BY LAW TO PREVENT YOUNG PERSONS FROM VIEWING CERTAIN TYPES OF FILMS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS OF A NEW PUBLIC SURVEY DESIGNED TO ASSESS PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES TO CINEMA VIEWING, CENSORSHIP STANDARDS AND CLASSIFICATION OF FILMS.
THE SURVEY WHICH COVERED A SAMPLE OF 1 000 CHINESE VIEWERS IN A CROSS-SECTION OF AGE AND INCOMES GROUPS, WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY AND CONDUCTED BY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, A COMPANY SPECIALISING IN PUBLIC OPINION AND CONSUMER RESEARCH,
THE SURVEY SHOWS THAT VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY IN HONG KONG (95 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION) CONSIDERS FILM CENSORSHIP IS IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT AFTER TELEVISION, CINEMA-GOING IS THE NEXT MOST POPULAR LEISURE ACTIVITY IN HONG KONG.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE QUESTIONED IN THE SURVEY FELT THAT PRESENT CENSORSHIP STANDARDS AND CONTROL WERE NOT ADEQUATE.
THESE FEELINGS OF INADEQUACIES IN THE PRESENT CENSORSHIP SYSTEM WERE FOR THE MOST PART ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RESTRICTION ON CINEMA ADMISSION BY AGE. THE PRESENT ADVISORY +NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN+ CLASSIFICATION IS NOT SERVING ITS PURPOSE AN OPINION EXPRESSED BY 86 PER CENT OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS. THREE OF EVERY FOUR PEOPLE QUESTIONED BELIEVE THAT FILMS RATED FOR ADULTS ONLY+ SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE SEEN BY PERSONS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.
PRESENT CONTROL OF TRIAD LANGUAGE AND THEMES IN THE CINEMA APPEAR TO BE BROADLY ACCEPTABLE TO MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION, WHEREAS THERE IS STILL MAJORITY DISSATISFACTION IN RESPECT OF THE STANDARDS OF SEX AND VIOLENCE IN FILMS.
JUST OVER HALF OF THOSE QUESTIONED ALSO SUGGEST THE TIGHTENING UP OF CONTROLS ON FILM PUBLICITY, PARTICULARLY PHOTO DISPLAYS, POSTERS AND HOARDINGS OUTSIDE CINÉMAS.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING, MR NIGEL WATT, IN PRESENTING THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY TODAY (SATURDAY) SAID THAT HE WELCOMED THE SURVEY AND THE CLEAR INDICATION THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN THAT PEOPLE WANTED A STATUTORY FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.
MR WATT SAID THAT THE DETAILED FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY REQUIRED FURTHER STUDY AND HE WOULD BE CLOSELY EXAMINING, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, THE NEED AND VIABILITY OF A LEGAL FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WHICH COULD RESTRICT ENTRY TO CINEMAS BY AGE.
IN THE INTERIM, THE PANEL OF FILM CENSORS WOULD BE LOOKING EVEN MORE CRITICALLY THAN THEY HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AT THE TYPE OF PUBLICITY MATERIAL WHICH SHOULD BE PERMITTED IN CINEMAS, AND AT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT OR VIOLENT FILMS DESIGNED FOR ADULT AUDIENCES.
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