WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1988
SASI GIVES ASSURANCE ON FILM CENSORSHIP BILL
THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO, GAVE AN ASSURANCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY} THAT THE FILM CENSORSHIP BILL 1988 WAS NOT INCOMPATIBLE WITH ARTICLE 19 OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS.
WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR TSAO THANKED MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED THE BILL AND, IN PARTICULAR, PAID TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF THE AD HOC GROUP CHAIRED BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN.
REPRESENTATIVES
MR TSAO NOTED THE PRACTICAL CONCERNS RAISED BY OF THE FILM INDUSTRY AND CINEMA OPERATORS IN RELATION TO THE BILL ITS PRESENT FORM.
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HE SAID THE ORIGINAL BILL CONTAINED PROVISION FOR THE BXISTING PRACTICE WHEREBY FILM DISTRIBUTORS SUBMITTED ADVERTISING MATERIALS FOR FILMS TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING.
"IT WAS CONSIDERED SUBSEQUENTLY THAT THERE WAS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR FILM ADVERTISING MATERIAL ΤΟ BE DEALT WITH DIFFERENTLY FROM ANY OTHER PRINTED ADVERTISING MATTER, AND SO THIS PROVISION WAS REMOVED FROM THE BILL, HE SAID.
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ON THE NEED TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT STANDARDS SUCH ADVERTISEMENTS, MR TSAO SAID THAT BESIDES THE ONLY THE POLICE, THE CUSTOMS AND THE TELEVISION LICENSING AUTHORITY HAD BEEN DELEGATED AUTHORITY ARTICLES TO THE OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL,
IN DEALING WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND ENTERTAINMENT ΤΟ REFER SUSPECT
"THE POLICE AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE HAVE AGREED THAT THEY WILL MAKE ALL THEIR REFERRALS (BOTH THOSE RELATING TO FILMS AND THOSE RELATING TO OTHER PUBLICATIONS) THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, THEREBY ENSURING A CONSISTENT APPROACH AT THE INITIAL ENFORCEMENT
LEVEL. RE
SAID.
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MR TSAO ALSO REFERRED TO THE CONCERN OVER POSSIBLE PROBLEMS ARISING OUT OF THE NATURE OF WORK AND LACK OF CAREER STRUCTURE FOR THE FILM INSPECTORS, WHO NUMBERED FIVE. ALL SUCH PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE ANTICIPATED, HE SAID.
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ON THE IDEA OF SECONDING OFFICERS FROM DISCIPLINED SERVICES CARRY OUT INSPECTION DUTIES, MR TSAO SAID TO USE HIGHLY TRAINED ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO PERFORM INSPECTION DUTIES IN SUCH A RESTRICTED AREA MIGHT NOT REPRESENT VALUE FOR MONEY.
TURNING TO