XN000022-1984-05-30 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1994

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POLICE TO LOOK INTO PRIVATE LOCATION FILMING

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THE POLICE WILL SHORTLY BE LIAISING WITH FILM COMPANIES WITH A VIEW TO EXTENDING THE CODE OF PRACTICE ON LOCATION FILMING TO ALL PRIVATE PLACES TO WHICH THE PUBLIC HAS SIGNIFICANT ACCESS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THIS DECISION FOLLOWS A RECENT INCIDENT AT DIAMOND HILL MTR STATION WHEN SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING A REAL-LIFE EMERGENCY DURING A FILMING SEQUENCE, MR JEAFFRESON SAID IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN.

MR JEAFFRESON EXPLAINED THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR FILM, TELEVISION OR ADVERTISING COMPANIES TO OBTAIN APPROVAL FOR FILMING IN PUBLIC PLACES IN HONG KONG.

HOWEVER, WHERE COMPANIES NEED TO FILM ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, INCLUDING MTR STATIONS AND TRAINS, AND THE OCEAN PARK, THEY USUALLY MAKE ARRANGEMENTS DIRECT WITH THE OWNERS.

*THE CODE OF PRACTICE DOES NOT INCLUDE A REQUIREMENT TO NOTIFY THE POLICE IN SUCH CASES, ALTHOUGH THE PROCEDURE HAS SOMETIMES BEEN FOLLOWED WHEN THE COMPANIES OR THE OWNERS HAVE CONSIDERED IT NECESSARY, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.

MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT OVER THE YEARS THE POLICE AND THE FILM COMPANIES HAD ESTABLISHED A WRITTEN CODE OF PRACTICE WHICH THESE COMPANIES, WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, FOLLOWED.

THE PROCEDURES WORK AS FOLLOWS:

* THE COMPANIES GIVE THE POLICE AT LEAST FIVE DAYS' NOTICE

OF THE IR INTENTIONS.

*

THE POLICE ADVISE ON LEGAL REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SAFETY, PUBLIC ORDER, PRIVATE PROPERTY, INCONVENIENCE AND OBSTRUCTION TO THE PUBLIC: ON THE SUITABILITY OF THE LOCATION AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSAL AND ON SUCH SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AS THE WEARING OF UNIFORMS, THE USE OF VEHICLES AND OF EXPLOSIVES AND FIREARMS. THE POLICE WILL SUGGEST CHANGES WHEN THEY CONSIDER ANY ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSALS TO BE AGAINST PUBLIC INTEREST.

MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT IN MOST CASES, THE POLICE ALSO TAKE MEASURES TO PREVENT PUBLIC PANIC WHEN STAGED GUN BATTLES OR CAR CHASES ARE BEING FILMED.

HE EXPLAINED THAT FILM COMPANIES ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM THE LAW AND IN CASES WHERE POLICE ADVICE IS NOT HEEDED AND OFFENCES RESULT, THE OFFENDERS ARE PROSECUTED.

THE POLICE RECEIVE ABOUT 600 REQUESTS INVOLVING FILMING A MONTH, AND SO FAR THIS YEAR, ONLY ONE PROSECUTION HAS BEEN NECESSARY.

MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT ANYONE SUFFERING FROM INJURIES AS A RESULT OF SUCH FILMING CAN TAKE CIVIL ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE CAUSED THEM.

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