WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1993
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PUBLIC URGED TO REPORT OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES
THE GOVERNMENT HAS CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO REPORT ANY ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES ORDINANCE (COIAO) EITHER TO THE POLICE OR TO THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY (TELA) THROUGH ITS HOTLINE, 594 5836.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS PEGGY LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PUBLICISE THIS NUMBER ON TELEVISION AND RADIO.
THE MOVE IS PART OF ITS PUBLICITY EFFORTS TO REMIND THE TRADE TO EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE AS WELL AS TO APPEAL TO TEACHERS AND PARENTS TO GUIDE AND EDUCATE YOUNG PERSONS TO STAY AWAY FROM INDECENT COMIC BOOKS AND MAGAZINES,
OTHER MEASURES TAKEN INCLUDE THE ISSUE OF TWO CIRCULAR LETTERS ΤΟ ALL NEWSPAPER STALLS REMINDING THEM OF THE LAW AND PROVIDING THEM WITH A LIST OF COMIC BOOKS AND MAGAZINES WHICH HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED AS INDECENT OR OBSCENE, PRODUCTION OF A TELEVISION PROGRAMME AND TV/RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT IN PUBLIC INTEREST, PRESS CONFERENCES AFTER MAJOR POLICE OPERATIONS AND PRESS INTERVIEWS FOR THE MEDIA.
SCHOOLS.
IN ADDITION, A LEAFLET IS BEING PRINTED FOR DISTRIBUTION то
MR SO ALSO INFORMED THE COUNCIL THAT IN VIEW OF THE PUBLIC CONCERN, THE POLICE AND TELA HAD CONDUCTED 17 JOINT OPERATIONS ON SUSPECTED OBSCENE ARTICLES BETWEEN OCTOBER 1 AND DECEMBER 8 THIS YEAR.
THESE HAD RESULTED IN 15,000 VIDEO TAPES, 100 LASER DISCS AND COPIES OF PRINTED MATTERS BEING SEIZED AND 10 PERSONS BEING PROSECUTED FOR PUBLISHING INDECENT ARTICLES TO UNDERAGE PERSONS.
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DURING THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1991 TO OCTOBER 1993, THE POLICE, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT AND TELA HAD TAKEN OUT 988 PROSECUTIONS ON CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE COIAO.
A TOTAL OF 806 CONVICTIONS HAD BEEN OBTAINED AND THE PENALTIES IMPOSED RANGED FROM $500 TO $60,000 AND PRISON SENTENCES OF ONE TO 18 MONTHS.
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