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Mr President, I would now like to highlight the important clauses of the Bill.
To implement the refinement to the existing Category II classification, Clause 6 of the Bill enables film censors to classify Category II films as either "Not suitable for children below 12 and parental guidance is recommended" or "Not suitable for persons below 18". Same as the existing Category II, these two sub-categories are advisory in nature. The purpose is simply to provide more information in the form of age advice to movie-goers. I should add that in terms of the standards to be applied, we are not changing the goal posts.
In the light of the overwhelming public support for tightening control on the public display and publication of posters of Category III films, Clause 15 of the Bill makes it a compulsory requirement that advertising materials of Category III films must be submitted to TELA for approval prior to public display or distribution. The reason for the control to apply to all advertising materials of Category III films is to ensure that the use of excessively offensive material for film promotion will not be permitted, whether in the form of film posters, newspaper advertisement, stills, billboards or handbills. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for one year.
To cater for the situation where publicity for a film needs to start prior to obtaining a classification, Clause 15 introduces an arrangement whereby advertising materials of all films intended for exhibition can be submitted to TELA for examination on a voluntary basis.
We are also proposing other minor changes to the Film Censorship Ordinance. These changes include the following:-
(a)
(b)
(c)
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To cater for the common situation whereby alterations and additions such as sub-titles and soundtracks are made to an approved film when it is published as videotapes or laserdiscs, TELA is empowered under Clause 9 to examine videotapes and laserdiscs which contain alterations to the version approved and to give an appropriate classification;
In line with the expansion in scope of the Film Censorship Ordinance, Clause 17, 18 and 19 expand the terms of reference of the Board of Review so that the Board can in future review TELA's decisions not only in respect of films, but also their advertising materials and packaging; and
The number of non-official members of the Board of Review will be increased from six to eight to allow for greater community participation.