XN000022-1992-07-15 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1992

14

FILMS, VIDEOTAPES AND LASER DISCS TO

BE CLASSIFIED BY FILM CENSORSHIP AUTHORITY

*

THE

ADMINISTRATION HAS ACCEPTED A PROPOSAL REQUIRING FILMS, VIDEOTAPES AND LASER DISCS BE CLASSIFIED BY THE FILM CENSORSHIP AUTHORITY UNDER THE FILM CENSORSHIP ORDINANCE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THEY ARE TO BE SHOWN.

THE PROPOSAL WAS MADE BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP ON THE CONTROL

OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES SO, SAID BOTH THE AD HOC GROUP AND THE ADMINISTRATION AGREED THAT PERSONS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND NOT BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO INDECENT OR OBSCENE FILMS VIDEOTAPES AND LASER DISCS, WHICH WAS THE SPIRIT AND OBJECTIVE OF THE AMENDMENT BILL.

1

MR SO SAID THE AMENDMENT BILL ORIGINALLY PROPOSED THAT FILMS WHICH HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR EXHIBITION UNDER THE FILM CENSORSHIP ORDINANCE SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES ORDINANCE IF THEY WERE PUBLISHED OTHER THAN BY WAY OF EXHIBITION IN CINEMAS.

"THIS MEANS THAT, AFTER AMENDMENT OF THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES ORDINANCE, A FILM BEING PUBLISHED IN THE FORM OF VIDEOTAPE OR LASER DISC, ONCE CLASSIFIED BY THE OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL AS INDECENT, CAN ONLY BE SOLD OR HIRED TO A PERSON OVER 18, AND A WARNING NOTICE TO THAT EFFECT MUST BE DISPLAYED ON THE ARTICLE IN QUESTION.

FILM CLASSIFIED AS OBSCENE WILL BE PROHIBITED PUBLICATION IN WHATEVER FORM,“ MR SO SAID.

FROM

MR SO SAID HOWEVER, THE GROUP DID NOT TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF VIEWING THE ARTICLE IN A CINEMA AND AT HOME, WHICH UNDERLINED THE MEANS PROPOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE OF THE AMENDMENT BILL.

THAT

AFTER WIDE-RANGING CONSULTATION, THE ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERED THERE WERE MERITS IN THE GROUP'S PROPOSAL OF PLACING THE CLASSIFICATION OF SUCH ARTICLES UNDER ONE AUTHORITY, HE SAID.

"BESIDES ENSURING UNIFORMITY OF STANDARDS AND TREATMENT, THIS WILL ALSO AVOID CONFUSION AND DELAY TO THE INDUSTRY AND THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE A MUCH CLEARER IDEA OF THE CLASSIFICATION OF SUCH ARTICLES, HE SAID.

ACCEPTING THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTROL THE ACCESS OF SUCH ARTICLES IN THE HOME BY YOUNG PERSONS UNDER 18 SHOULD FALL ON PARENTS, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED TO PLACE THE CLASSIFICATION OF FILMS, VIDEOTAPES AND LASER DISCS UNDER THE FILM CENSORSHIP AUTHORITY.

/"THIS WOULD