}
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1991
A BALANCED POLICY IN PORNOGRAPHIC PUBLICATIONS CONTROL
THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY AND LEGISLATION IN THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES AIM TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND INFORMATION AND THE NEED TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ANY POSSIBLE CORRUPTING INFLUENCE OF SUCH ARTICLES.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, JAMES SO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR
SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON CONTROL OF PORNOGRAPHIC PUBLICATIONS, MR SO SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO SOUGHT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF
CHANGING STANDARDS OF PROPRIETY IN THE COMMUNITY BY MEANS CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.
THE
OF A
AND
PEOPLE
AND
HE ALSO EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE OF PARENTS
IN PROVIDING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT FOR EDUCATORS GUIDING THEM TOWARDS WHOLESOME ACTIVITIES.
YOUNG
"THE
EXISTING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IS DESIGNed to CLEAR YARDSTICK FOR THE EXERCISE OF THE NECESSARY GUIDANCE," HE SAID.
PROVIDE A AND CONTROL
MR SO SAID THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES ORDINANCE (CAP. 390), ENACTED IN 1987, HAD TWO DISTINCT ELEMENTS.
PROVIDES
"FIRSTLY, INSTEAD OF IMPOSING A STRICT CENSORSHIP, IT FOR THE
ARTICLES CLASSIFICATION OF ALL OBSCENE AND INDECENT OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL INTO THREE CLASSES.
BY
AN
"CLASS I ARTICLES ARE THOSE FOR GENERAL CONSUMPTION AND MAY PUBLISHED WITHOUT RESTRICTION.
BE
TO
"CLASS II ARE THOSE WHICH ARE INDECENT BUT, SUBJECT RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR DISPLAY, SALE AND ACCESS, MAY BE SOLD TO PERSONS OVER 18 YEARS OLD. THESE RESTRICTIONS INCLUDE PUTTING THE ARTICLE IN 18 A WRAPPER AND CARRYING A WARNING AGAINST ITS SALE TO PERSONS UNDER YEARS.
"CLASS III ARTICLES ARE THOSE WHICH ARE OBSCENE AND ARE
BANNED
ALTOGETHER.
"IN
THIS WAY, THE ORDINANCE SEVERELY RESTRICTS THE INDECENT MATERIALS BY YOUNG PEOPLE, WHILE STILL ALLOWING
ΤΟ OBTAIN FREEDOM
THEM.
A IT ALSO PROVIDES PARENTAL CONTROL AND GUIDANCE TO BE EXERCISED,
17
то ACCESS ADULTS THE FOR CLEAR YARDSTICK HE SAID.
"OBSCENITY"
AND
SECONDLY, MR SO POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS THE OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL, NOT THE
WHICH DEFINED "INDECENCY"
ORDINANCE,
OR
"THE TRIBUNAL IS MADE UP OF A PRESIDING MAGISTRATE WITH TWO MORE MEMBERS DRAWN FROM A PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS APPOINTED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE FROM PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
"AS SUCH