XN000022-1973-05-02 — Page 2

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Wednesday, May 2, 1973

STRICTER STANDARDS OF CENSORSHIP FOR SCREEN VIOLENCE

The Commissioner for Television and Films, Mr. N.J.V. Watt,

today presented to the public new standards to be applied in film censorship,

with particular reference to violence on the screen.

These standards are contained in guidance notes, published in both English and Chinese. They have a threefold purpose to guide

censors in fulfilling their statutory duties, to assist film producers and

distributors in making and selecting films suitable for Hong Kong audiences, and to inform the general public of the principles on which censorship

is based.

In presenting this publication, Mr. Watt said there had been

a tightening up on the interpretation by the censors of standards

relating to violence and incitement to crime. He expressed the hope that,

by being provided with a definition of these standards, people in the

film industry would have a clearer idea of what would, and would not,

be considered acceptable in Hong Kong.

Copies of the publication, together with an explanatory letter,

will be sent within the next few days to every film producer, distributor

and theatre manager in Hong Kong.

Mr. Watt said he would welcome comments from them, and from

members of the public, since it was his intention to keep censorhsip

standards under regular review.

/He pointed