WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1987
5
POLITICAL FILM CENSORSHIP INFRINGES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, LEE
HION BY THE
1987 MADE
MARTIN
THE UNDER
LEE
A
FILM
AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY), WAS MOVED REGULATIONS ORDINANCE.
MOTION
ΤΟ
THE AMEND
CENSORSHIP PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT
ΤΟ DELETE REGULATION
AS
TO
OF
3A(VII), SO THE MOTION SOUGHT REVOKE THE POWER OF THE CENSOR TO REFUSE TO APPROVE THE EXHIBITION
THE FILM IN A A FILM WHEN HE IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE SHOWING OF PUBLIC PLACE "WOULD DAMAGE GOOD RELATIONS WITH OTHER TERRITORIES"
+
ΤΟ MOVE THIS MR LEE EXPLAINED WHY HE CONSIDERED IT NECESSARY
INTERIM MEASURE WHILE THE MOTION TO DELETE WHAT HAD BEEN CALLED AN FILM CENSORSHIP BILL 1987 WAS STILL BEING CONSIDERED BY THE PUBLIC.
"FIRST, THIS
AS IT CONCERNS A IS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE
EXPRESSION. I THEREFORE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM, NAMELY, THE FREEDOM OF
ONE DAY TOO FEEL THAT THE LOSS OF SUCH A FREEDOM EVEN FOR ONE DAY IS MANY," HE SAID.
SECONDLY,
LEE SAID
HE
EARLIER INDICATED MR ADMINISTRATION THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT A COMPROMISE
THAT WAS IF THE INTERIM MEASURE,
ADMINISTRATION WOULD RESTRICT THE GOOD RELATIONS CLAUSE TO THE THREE EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED FOR CIVIL AND POLITICAL IN ARTICLE 19 OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON
AND COMMONWEALTH RIGHTS
RELIED UPON AND IN JUSTIFYING THE EXISTENCE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION.
BY THE
FOREIGN
OFFICE
HAD
ΤΟ THE AS AN
AGREE
TO
MR LEE'S PROPOSAL WAS TO ADD A PROVISO WHICH READ:
ΤΟ
"PROVIDED THAT THE CENSOR SHALL NOT BAN THEREOF UNLESS HE IS THEREOF:
SATISFIED
THAT
REGULATION
3A(VII)
A
THE
FILM OR ANY PART FILM OR ANY PART
(T)
INFRINGES THE RIGHTS OR REPUTATIONS OF PUBLIC FIGURES IN OTHER COUNTRIES; OR
OTHERS INCLUDING
(II)
OR IS THREATENS
LIKELY SECURITY OF HONG KONG".
то
THREATEN
THE
TERRITORIAL
"THIS AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE TAKEN
OF CARE
TWO OF THE THREE
CRITERIA GIVEN BY THE FCo.
"AS FOR THE THIRD CRITERION, PROTECTION OF PUBLIC ORDER,
REGULATION 3A, SEPARATELY DEALT WITH UNDER PARAGRAPH (VIII) OF IS: 'ENCOURAGE PUBLIC DISORDER'
IT IS THAT
MR LEE SAID THAT THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES INFORMATION HAD TOLD THE AD HOC GROUP THAT SUCH AN AMENDMENT WOULD
IT WOULD MEAN
THE THAT UNACCEPTABLE TO THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE
IN A COURT BANNING OF SUCH A FILM WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT TO DEFEND
THE ADMINISTRATION OF LAW IN HONG KONG; AND MORE IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE
BE LIMITED TO THE WOULD NOT LIKE ITS POWER OF CENSORSHIP NARROW AREAS SET OUT IN HIS PROVISO.
AND
BE
ΤΟ
VERY
THE MAINTAINED