XN000022-1985-04-30 — Page 2

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1985

PORNOGRAPHY CONTROL DILEMMA NOTED

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EXISTING CONTROLS ON OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS WERE NOT NECESSARILY EITHER THE BEST OR THE MOST EFFECTIVE, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR PÉTER TSAO, SAID TODAY.

WEAKNESSES INCLUDED LIMITED MANPOWER RESOURCES FOR ENFORCEMENT, PROBLEMS OF INTERPRETATION, NEWS STANDS BEING SCATTERED ALL OVER THE TERRITORY AND A LENGTHY PROSECUTION PROCESS, MR TSAO SAID AT THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING ON THE SUBJECT +THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA+,

+BY ALL MEANS LET US HAVE A PROTECTIVE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK.

+BUT LET US NOT SUBSTITUTE THE HEAVY HAND OF LAW FOR THE FREE EXERCISE OF OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES. HOWEVER MUCH WE MAY DESIRE THE ELIMINATION OF PORNOGRAPHY, WE MUST BEWARE OF ESTABLISHING A MACHINERY FOR ITS CONTROL WHICH IS LIABLE TO ABUSE, MR TSAO SAID.

MR TSAO SAID THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA WAS OBVIOUSLY A CONTENTJOUS SUBJECT. THE SETTING OF STANDARDS WOULD ALWAYS BE A MATTER OF SUBJECTIVE JUDGEMENT WITH SOME PEOPLE ARGUING THAT EVEN MODEST CONSTRAINTS WERE AN INFRINGEMENT OF PERSONAL LIBERTY AND ARTISTIC LICENCE, WHILE OTHERS INVOKED TRADITIONAL MORALITY AND LEVELLED ACCUSATIONS OF ENCOURAGED PERMISSIVENESS AND PROMISCUITY,

+THE FUNDAMENTAL DILEMMA IS THE SAME, HE SAID. +HOW TO ESTABLISH CONTROLS WHICH ALLOW MAXIMUM FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND YET MINIMISE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ABUSE AND, THEREFORE, HARM. +

THERE WAS ALSO THE PROBLEM, PERHAPS UNIQUE TO HONG KONG, OF ENSURING THAT EXPATRIATE MAGISTRATES CORRECTLY INTERPRETED CONTEMPORARY CHINESE COMMUNITY STANDARDS.

ANOTHER MAJOR AREA OF CONCERN WAS THE LENGTHY PROSECUTION PROCESS. MANY MONTHS COULD LAPSE BETWEEN A DECISION TO PROSECUTE AND A JUDGEMENT THAT A PUBLICATION MUST CEASE.

/+IN THE