THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1993
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INDUSTRY BRIEFED ON FILM CENSORSHIP ORDINANCE
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OFFICIALS OF THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY (TELA) HAVE MET REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE FILM AND VIDEO INDUSTRY TO DISCUSS THE OPERATION OF THE FILM CENSORSHIP (AMENDMENT} ORDINANCE, WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 14, NEXT YEAR, AFTER A GRACE PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS TO ALLOW THE FILM AND VIDEO INDUSTRY SUFFICIENT TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW STATUTORY REQUIRMENTS.
MEMBERS OF THE MOTION PICTURES INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND THE HONG KONG VIDEO INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING FILM AND VIDEO DISTRIBUTORS AND VIDEO SHOP OPERATORS ATTENDED THE BRIEFING WHICH WAS HELD YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY).
ORDINANCE, CENSORSHIP
A SPOKESMAN FOR TELA SAID: "UNDER THE AMENDMENT WHEN A FILM IS APPROVED FOR EXHIBITION BY THE FILM AUTHORITY, THE FILM IS DEEMED TO BE APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE FORM OF VIDEOTAPE AND LASERDISC.
3 FILM
"PUBLICATION OF A VIDEOTAPE OR LASERDISC OF A CATEGORY TO A MINOR IS AN OFFENCE AND THE MAXIMUM PENALTY ON CONVICTION 13 A FINE OF $200,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR 12 MONTHS.
"A CIRCULAR LETTER HAS BEEN ISSUED BY TELA TO ALL FILM DISTRIBUTORS AND VIDEO SHOP, OPERATORS EXPLAINING THE PROVISIONS IN THE NEW LEGISLATION."
TO PUBLICISE THIS NEW SCHEME FOR CONTROLLING VIDEOTAPES AND LASERDICS, A TELEVISION ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST (API) WILL ALSO BE SCREENED.
"LEAFLETS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOOLS AND POSTERS WILL BE GIVEN TO ALL VIDEO SHOPS FOR DISPLAY.
"GUIDELINES ON PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN BY VIDEO SHOP OPERATORS TO AVOID VIOLATION OF THE LEGISLATION WILL ALSO BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL VIDEO SHOPS AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE HONG KONG VIDEO INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, ++ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
HE EMPHASISED THAT STRICT ENFORCEMENT ACTION CONTRAVENTION OF
AMENDMENT ORDINANCE WILL START
THE
AGAINST ANY PROMPTLY ON
JANUARY 14, 1994.
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