17
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1984
ISSUE OF OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS EXPLAINED
****
THE FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER A PUBLICATION IS OBJECTIONABLE OR NOT RESTS WITH THE COURTS, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON IAN MACPHERSON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RITA FAN, MR MACPHERSON SAID, THE ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATION IS TO DETECT CASES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF OBJECTIONABLE' AND TO BRING THEM TO THE COURTS.+
AN OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATION IS DEFINED IN THE LAW AS ONE +WHICH CONSISTS OF OR CONTAINS MATTER OF AN INDECENT, OBSCENE OR REVOLTING NATURE+.
THERE IS NO PROVISION IN THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE TO BAN A PUBLICATION, HE SAID.
OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS SOLD IN HONG KONG ARE DETECTED
IN A NUMBER OF WAYS:
*
*
THE POLICE VICE SQUADS MAINTAIN REGULAR SURVEILLANCE IN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE KNOWN TO BE ON SALE PUBLICLY.
THE COPYRIGHT DIVISION OF THE CUSTOMS INVESTIGATION BUREAU MAY TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE OWNER OR IMPORTER OF ANY OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS THAT ARE FOUND ON ROUTINE SEARCHES AT VARIOUS ENTRY POINTS INTO HONG KONG.
* STAFF OF HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH CARRY OUT REGULAR SPOT
CHECKS AT KNOWN POTENTIAL OUTLETS.
HE ADDED THAT OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS MIGHT ALSO COME TO NOTICE THROUGH COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
+ IF A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC COMES ACROSS A PUBLICATION WHICH HE CONSIDERS TO BE OBJECTIONABLE, HE MAY EITHER DRAW IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DUTY OFFICER AT THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR TO THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, OR TO THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, HE SAID.
LEGAL ADVICE WILL THEN BE SOUGHT AS TO WHETHER ACTION AGAINST THE VENDOR IS APPROPRIATE.
ON CONVICTION, HE ADDED, SUCH PUBLICATIONS WILL BE FORFEITED TO THE CROWN.