11
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1987
POLITICAL CENSORSHIP WILL BE VIEWED WITH SUSPICION
J
ANY STEP WHICH MOVES TOWARDS "POLITICAL CENSORSHIP" WHETHER REAL OR IMAGINARY, WILL BE VIEWED WITH SUSPICION BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY AT THIS SENSITIVE TIME, THE HON DESMOND LEE YU-TAI SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING ON THE MOTION BY THE HON MARTIN LEE ON FILM CENSORSHIP REGULATIONS, MR LEE SAID, "WE WANT CREATIVE WORK FREELY EXPRESSED AND WHICH
NOT INHIBITED BY
RESTRICTIONS."
IS
MR LEE SAID SOME PEOPLE WERE MINDFUL ABOUT POSSIBLE
FROM CHINA.
WHICH IS EXCESSIVE
REACTIONS
"I ACCEPT THAT WE SHOULD IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING WITH THE MAINLAND. BUT WE MUST PRESENT THE TRUE POSITION OF HONG KONG ΤΟ THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE HONG KONG PEOPLE AND HOW WE OPERATE THE PLACE.
++
HE SAID IT WAS WRONG TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THE CHINESE LEADERS WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE AND HEAR AND THEN DO AND SAY THINGS TO PLEASE THEM.
"SUCH ACTION IS 'MEASURING A GENTLEMEN'S STOMACH WITH A SMALL MAN'S HEART'. CHINESE LEADERS HAVE REPEATEDLY STATED THAT PEOPLE CAN CRITICISE THE COMMUNIST PARTY.
"WHY SHOULD WE NOT BE FORTHCOMING WITH HONEST VIEWS AND PRESENT THE TRUTH TO THESE LEADERS? WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO EXERCISE SELF CENSORSHIP?"
MR LEE SAID HE WOULD PREFER ΤΟ SEE AN ABSENCE OF ADVANCE CENSORSHIP OF PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER FORMS OF EXPRESSION INCLUDING MOVIE FILMS.
"ANY FORM OF CONTROL SHOULD BE EXERCISED THROUGH MEASURES WHICH ARE IMPOSED BY LAW AFTER THE EVENT.
PUNITIVE
"IN ORDER TO OBVIATE THE RISK OF BEING PUNISHED, THE PUBLISHER OR PRODUCER MAY, IF HE SO WISHES. SUBMIT THE PUBLICATION OR PRODUCTION FOR ADVANCE SCRUTINY OR CLASSIFICATION ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS."
HE SAID THIS PRINCIPLE WAS USED IN THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLE ORDINANCE AND SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THE LEGISLATION ON FILM CENSORSHIP.
MR LEE SAID THE PRESENT REGULATIONS WERE INTENDED AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE AND THE BILL FOR FILM CENSORSHIP WAS STILL IN ITS CONSULTATION PERIOD.
"THIS IS