XN000022-1991-11-14 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1991

GOVT TO STEP UP CONTROL OF

PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEOTAPES AND PUBLICATIONS

*

FILMS WHICH ARE INTENDED FOR SALE AND RENTING RATHER THAN THE SIMPLY FOR EXHIBITION WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME CONTROLS UNDER CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES ORDINANCE, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR ALAN WONG CHI-KONG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

MR WONG SAID AT PRESENT, FILMS, INCLUDING VIDEOTAPES AND LASER ORDINANCE DISCS, THAT HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED UNDER THE FILM CENSORSHIP

UNDER THE ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE CONTROLS

OF CONTROL

OBSCENE INDECENT ARTICLES ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 390.

AND

"AS A RESULT, THE SALE OR RENTING OF CATEGORY III FILMS, WHICH

TO UNDER THE FILM CENSORSHIP ORDINANCE MAY ONLY BE EXHIBITED

PERSONS AGED 18 AND ABOVE, CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE EASILY TO MINORS,

11 HE SAID.

12)

ΤΟ

AGREED THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER INTRODUCE THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES (AMENDMENT} BILL 1991 INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

TO BE GAZETTED ON NOVEMBER THE BILL, WHICH IS DUE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 4 THIS YEAR, PLUG THIS LOOPHOLE AFTER ITS ENACTMENT,

22 AND

WILL

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE ABOUT FILMS IN CIRCULATION ON THE MARKET AT PRESENT.

400

CATEGORY III

VIDEO

MR WONG SAID OWNERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF THESE VIDEO

PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS WOULD BE GIVEN A GRACE

FOR THEM ΤΟ VOLUNTARY SUBMISSIONS TO THE OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL CLASSIFICATION.

FILMS

MAKE

FOR

"THE AMENDMENT LEGISLATION WILL COME INTO FORCE AFTER THE DECIDED BY THE GOVERNOR EXPIRY OF THE GRACE PERIOD ON A DATE TO BE WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE.

FOR ARTICLES

"THE GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK THE CO-OPERATION OF THE INDUSTRY THE SUBMISSION OF THE VIDEO FILMS IN QUESTION TO THE OBSCENE TRIBUNAL IN BATCHES," HE SAID.

THE WARNING OF OBSCENE AND DISPLAY ON AN

THE AMENDMENT BILL WILL ALSO AMEND THE WORDING OF NOTICE STIPULATED UNDER SECTION 24(1) OF THE CONTROL INDECENT ARTICLES ORDINANCE, WHICH PUBLISHERS HAVE TO INDECENT ARTICLE OR ON A WRAPPER ENCLOSING THAT ARTICLE.

NOTICE GIVES THE WRONG TO PERSONS UNDER

WARNING **THE PRESENT WORDING OF THE IMPRESSION THAT ONLY THE SALE OF INDECENT ARTICLES THE AGE OF 18 IS PROHIBITED, BUT NOT THE DISTRIBUTION, RENTING, HIRING, GIVING, LENDING, SHOWING, PLAYING THAT ARTICLE, MR WONG SAID.

H

CIRCULATION,

OR PROJECTING OF

/"THE AMENDED