XN000022-1975-11-06 — Page 12

-

11

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1975

FILM CLASSIFICATIONS TO BE REVISED

X X X X X X

THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A NEW CLASSIFICATION FOR FILMS CONSIDERED UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN EXCEPT WHERE THEY ARE SEEN IN. THE COMPANY OF AN ADULT,

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. DENIS BRAY. SAID HE BELIEVED AN EXTENDED ADVISORY SYSTEM SUCH AS THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL TO CINEMA AUDIENCES GENERALLY AND PARENTS IN PARTICULAR.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE MOVE WAS BEING CONSIDERED BECAUSE ABOUT HALF THE FILMS CLASSIFIED AS 'UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN' WOULD NOT BE UNSUITABLE FOR THEM PROVIDED THE CHILDREN SAW THEM IN THE COMPANY OF ADULTS WHO COULD TELL THEM ABOUT SEQUENCES WHICH THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE FIND DISTURBING.

MR. BRAY ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS, IN THE PAST, REJECTED FOR PRACTICAL REASONS AND PROBLEMS OF ENFORCEMENT, PROHIBITING THE ADMISSION OF CHILDREN WHEN ADULT FILMS ARE BEING SHOWN.

+ IT IS THEREFORE THOUGHT RIGHT THAT PARENTS SHOULD REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR DECIDING WHAT THEIR CHILDREN MAY OR MAY NOT SEE ON THE SCREEN.+

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS ALSO DISCLOSED THAT AMENDMENTS ARE BEING PREPARED TO THE FILM CENSORSHIP REGULATIONS WHICH WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE, OTHER THAN THE CENSORS, TO BE PRESENT AT CENSORSHIP SESSIONS AND INCREASE THE FILM BOARD OF REVIEW TO INCLUDE TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

DEALING WITH THE TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD, MR. BRAY SAID THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP HAD ONLY RECENTLY BEEN INCREASED FROM TWO TO THREE MEMBERS AND IT WAS FELT THAT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR CHANGES AT THE PRESENT.

HE ALSO DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR A CHANGE IN CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE BOARD OR THE MAJOR ALTERATIONS TO THE TELEVISION ORDINANCE WHICH THIS WOULD REQUIRE.

ON THE USE OF HONG KONG'S RESERVOIRS FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, MR. BRAY SAID THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT HAD ACCEPTED, WITH EXTREME RELUCTANCE, THAT SUCH USE OF THE RESERVOIRS WOULD LEAD TO COSTLY CAPITAL WORKS TO MAINTAIN THE PRESENT HIGH STANDARD OF PURITY OF THE WATER SUPPLY.

+WE COULD NOT JUSTIFY THIS SORT OF SPENDING WHEN SMALLER SUMS SPENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WOULD BE FAR MORE WORTHWHILE.+

/HE EXPLAINED