V
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1988
HE ALSO REFERRED TO CONCERN EXPRESSED BY THE FILM INDUSTRY ON THE ABOLITION OF THE EXISTING CENSORSHIP MECHANISM FOR ADVERTISING MATERIAL RELATED TO FILMS WITH THE INTENTION THAT INDIVIDUAL FILM PRODUCERS SHOULD BEAR THEIR OWN RISKS FOR PROSECUTION UNDER THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES ORDINANCE.
AFTER CLARIFICATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THE AD HOC GROUP WAS SATISFIED THAT THE EXISTING STANDARDS GOVERNING ADVERTISING MATERIAL RELATED TO FILMS WOULD NOT CHANGE.
"
'EXISTING STANDARDS WILL BE MAINTAINED BY WAY OF A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WHICH ENSURES THAT THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING ACTS AS THE ONLY AUTHORITY FOR REFERRALS OF FILM ADVERTISEMENTS TO BE MADE TO THE OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL, HE SAID.
"
MR YEUNG ALSO NOTED THAT CINEMA OPERATORS WERE CONCERNED THAT THEY WOULD BE CHARGED WITH ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES ΤΟ ENSURE THAT UNDER-AGED PEOPLE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE THOSE FILMS WHICH WERE LIMITED TO AN AUDIENCE THAT WAS AGED OVER 18.
+1
WHILE THERE WAS A DEFENCE IN THE BILL FOR CINEMA OPERATORS SHOULD THEY BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAD TAKEN 'REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS" ΤΟ PREVENT UNDER-AGED PROPLE FROM ENTERING THEIR PREMISES, THE AD HOC GROUP WAS SYMPATHETIC
TO THE FILM INDUSTRY'S CONCERN.
"AS A COMPROMISE, THEREFORE, AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION THAT A SET OF GUIDELINES LISTING WHAT CONSTITUTES 'REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS' WILL BE WORKED OUT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE INDUSTRY BEFORE THE SYSTEM IS PUT INTO OPERATION," HE SAID.
MR YEUNG ALSO NOTED THAT THE BILL HAD SET TWO RECORDS. IT WAS THE FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION, AS FAR AS HE WAS AWARE, WHICH HAD BEEN PRECEDED BY TWO WHITE BILLS, AND IT WAS THE FIRST BILL WHICH NECESSITATED A TOTAL OF 37 MEETINGS BY A LEGISLATIVF COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP BEFORE THE GROUP COULD REACH FULL AGREEMENT.
•
1
1
16