XN000022-1987-07-08 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1987

5

POLITICAL FILM CENSORSHIP INFRINGES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, LEE

HION BY THE

1987 MADE

MARTIN

THE UNDER

LEE

A

FILM

AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY), WAS MOVED REGULATIONS ORDINANCE.

MOTION

ΤΟ

THE AMEND

CENSORSHIP PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT

ΤΟ DELETE REGULATION

AS

TO

OF

3A(VII), SO THE MOTION SOUGHT REVOKE THE POWER OF THE CENSOR TO REFUSE TO APPROVE THE EXHIBITION

THE FILM IN A A FILM WHEN HE IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE SHOWING OF PUBLIC PLACE "WOULD DAMAGE GOOD RELATIONS WITH OTHER TERRITORIES"

+

ΤΟ MOVE THIS MR LEE EXPLAINED WHY HE CONSIDERED IT NECESSARY

INTERIM MEASURE WHILE THE MOTION TO DELETE WHAT HAD BEEN CALLED AN FILM CENSORSHIP BILL 1987 WAS STILL BEING CONSIDERED BY THE PUBLIC.

"FIRST, THIS

AS IT CONCERNS A IS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE

EXPRESSION. I THEREFORE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM, NAMELY, THE FREEDOM OF

ONE DAY TOO FEEL THAT THE LOSS OF SUCH A FREEDOM EVEN FOR ONE DAY IS MANY," HE SAID.

SECONDLY,

LEE SAID

HE

EARLIER INDICATED MR ADMINISTRATION THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT A COMPROMISE

THAT WAS IF THE INTERIM MEASURE,

ADMINISTRATION WOULD RESTRICT THE GOOD RELATIONS CLAUSE TO THE THREE EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED FOR CIVIL AND POLITICAL IN ARTICLE 19 OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON

AND COMMONWEALTH RIGHTS

RELIED UPON AND IN JUSTIFYING THE EXISTENCE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION.

BY THE

FOREIGN

OFFICE

HAD

ΤΟ THE AS AN

AGREE

TO

MR LEE'S PROPOSAL WAS TO ADD A PROVISO WHICH READ:

ΤΟ

"PROVIDED THAT THE CENSOR SHALL NOT BAN THEREOF UNLESS HE IS THEREOF:

SATISFIED

THAT

REGULATION

3A(VII)

A

THE

FILM OR ANY PART FILM OR ANY PART

(T)

INFRINGES THE RIGHTS OR REPUTATIONS OF PUBLIC FIGURES IN OTHER COUNTRIES; OR

OTHERS INCLUDING

(II)

OR IS THREATENS

LIKELY SECURITY OF HONG KONG".

то

THREATEN

THE

TERRITORIAL

"THIS AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE TAKEN

OF CARE

TWO OF THE THREE

CRITERIA GIVEN BY THE FCo.

"AS FOR THE THIRD CRITERION, PROTECTION OF PUBLIC ORDER,

REGULATION 3A, SEPARATELY DEALT WITH UNDER PARAGRAPH (VIII) OF IS: 'ENCOURAGE PUBLIC DISORDER'

IT IS THAT

MR LEE SAID THAT THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES INFORMATION HAD TOLD THE AD HOC GROUP THAT SUCH AN AMENDMENT WOULD

IT WOULD MEAN

THE THAT UNACCEPTABLE TO THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE

IN A COURT BANNING OF SUCH A FILM WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT TO DEFEND

THE ADMINISTRATION OF LAW IN HONG KONG; AND MORE IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE

BE LIMITED TO THE WOULD NOT LIKE ITS POWER OF CENSORSHIP NARROW AREAS SET OUT IN HIS PROVISO.

AND

BE

ΤΟ

VERY

THE MAINTAINED