XN000022-1978-10-18 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1978

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EFFECTIVE CONTROL EXERCISED OVER SMUT PUBLICATIONS

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THE GOVERNMENT IS GENERALLY SATISFIED THAT EFFECTIVE CONTROL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED OVER THE PUBLICATION OF OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE.

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES STATED THIS IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. DAVIES SAID THERE HAVE BEEN SEIZURES OF 2,529 BOOKS AND MAGAZINES, 1,495 PHOTOGRAPHS AND SLIDES AND 431 FILMS BY THE POLICE SO FAR THIS YEAR.

IN ADDITION, HE SAID, 93 CHARGES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UNDER THE ORDINANCE THIS YEAR, COMPARED WITH 86 AND 92 IN 1976 AND 1977 RESPECTIVELY.

+THE POLICE ARE KEEPING THE SITUATION UNDER REVIEW. THE ASSESSMENT IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERIORATION GENERALLY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS,+ MR. DAVIES SAID.

HOWEVER, MR. DAVIES STRESSED THAT THERE IS NO GROUND FOR COMPLACENCY OR ANY REDUCTION IN THE COUNTER ACTION.

+ THE GOVERNMENT'S TASK CONTINUES TO BE TO MONITOR AND RESPOND TO THE CONSTANTLY CHANGING ACTIVITIES AND TACTICS OF THOSE PUBLISHING MATERIAL WHICH MAY BE OBJECTIONABLE, MR, DAVIES SAID.

HE SAID THAT CONTROL OPERATIONS HAVE CONTINUED TO CONCENTRATE PARTICULARLY ON PUBLICATIONS CONTAINING HARDCORE PORNOGRAPHY AND DEPICTING ACTS OF EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE AND CRUELTY.

+THE PUBLICITY RESULTING FROM THE ENACTMENT OF THE ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSEQUENT IMPLEMENTATION APPEARS TO HAVE HAD A DETERRENT EFFECT ON PUBLISHERS AND ALSO IMPORTERS,+ HE SAID.