XN000022-1977-05-19 — Page 8

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1977

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PUBLIC FILM CENSORSHIP ADVISORY GROUP SUPPORTS CURRENT FILM CENSORSHIP DECISIONS

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THE MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC MEMBERS OF THE FILM CENSORSHIP ADVISORY GROUP WHO HAVE BEEN SITTING WITH THE PANEL OF FILM CENSORS FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS SUPPORTS THE DECISIONS OF THE PANEL.

STATING THIS TODAY. THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND FILMS SAID THAT THIS WAS A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT BASED ON A STUDY OF THE ADVICE RECEIVED BY HIM FROM MEMBERS OF THE GROUP DURING THAT PERIOD.

HE SAID THAT AFTER THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE ADVISORY GROUP'S WORK, ONLY THIS MOST GENERAL CONCLUSION COULD BE DRAWN. HOWEVER, QUARTERLY CHECKS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE CARRIED OUT AND POSSIBLY BY THE END OF THE FIRST YEAR'S OPERATION, MORE SPECIFIC TRENDS MIGHT BE APPARENT AS A RESULT OF THE PUBLIC ADVICE BEING GIVEN.

THE FILM CENSORSHIP ADVISORY GROUP STARTED WORK ON FEBRUARY 1 THIS YEAR, AFTER 96 PERSONS HAD BEEN ENROLLED AS VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE PART IN THIS EXPERIMENTAL ADVISORY SERVICE. WITH THE HELP OF THE TEN CITY DISTRICT OFFICES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE GROUP WAS MADE AS REPRESENTATIVE AS POSSIBLE AND MEMBERS INCLUDED BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, DRAWN FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF DISTRICTS, BACKGROUNDS AND OCCUPATIONS.

AT EACH FILM VIEWING SESSION ORGANISED BY THE PANEL OF FILM CENSORS, THE COMMISSIONER INVITES THREE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP TO ATTEND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS ATTENDING FILM SHOWS ABOUT TWICE A MONTH - AFTER WHICH THE MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO RECORD THEIR GENERAL COMMENTS IN WRITING AS TO WHETHER THE FILM SHOULD BE PASSED, PASSED WITH CUTS, OR BANNED, AND WHETHER IT IS SUITABLE OR UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. ADVICE IS GIVEN BY GROUP MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE IR BECOMING AWARE OF THE PANEL'S OWN DECISION.

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DURING THE THREE MONTHS FEBRUARY TO APRIL, 135 FILMS WERE SCREENED BY THE PANEL AND A TOTAL OF 244 REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY GROUP WERE RECEIVED IN RESPECT OF THESE FILMS.

OF THE 135 FILMS SCREENED, 92 WERE CONSIDERED BY THE PANEL TO BE UNSUITABLE FOR CHILDREN AND WERE PASSED BY THE PANEL ON CONDITION THAT THEY WERE SO ADVERTISED. EIGHTY PER CENT OF THE PUBLIC MEMBERS PRESENT AT THE SCREENINGS AGREED WITH THE PANEL'S VIEWS. FORTY THREE FILMS WERE CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES AND NINETY SIX PER CENT OF THE PUBLIC MEMBERS PRESENT SUPPORTED THIS DECISION.

SIXTY SEVEN OF THE FILMS PASSED DURING THE PERIOD WERE PASSED WITH CUTS AND MORE THAN HALF OF THE PUBLIC MEMBERS PRESENT ON THESE VIEWINGS SHARED THE GENERAL VIEWS OF THE PANEL IN RESPECT OF THE NEED FOR SUCH CUTS.

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