TNAG-1687-FCO40-2337-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 158

MAR 18 '87 01:11 GIS HK

/L/F/353

DIS

F.1

1 Overseas Offioss (London Office, attn: Paul Brown, please pass on

• oopy of the following statement to the FCO)

7, 1987

The following was issued to the media at 2310 hours (HK time) today

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS:

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING THE BEST WAY TO INTRODUCE FILM CLASSIFICATION. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO WIDESPREAD CONCERN AMONGST THE COMMUNITY THAT IMPRESSIONABLE YOUNG PEOPLE EXPOSED TO SCENES OF VIOLENCE AND SEX IN THE CINEMA MAY LEAD THEM TO ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR.

THE PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM AIMS TO ALLOW ADULT+ FILMS TO BE SEEN BY ADULT FILM-60ERS WHILST PROTECTING CHILDREN AND MINORS FROM THEM.

THE ADMINISTRATION WILL MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE OMELCO STANDING PANEL ON PUBLIC RELATIONS TOMORROW ON THIS PROPOSAL

WILL DISCUSS WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS SYSTEM,

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT FILMS ARE CENSORED SY THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY (TELA) UNDER THE FILM CENSORSHIP STANDARDS PUBLISHED IN MAY 1973. THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT. UNDER THESE STANDARDS, THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES ARE THAT FILMS SHOULDI-

A. OBSERVE ORDINARY GOOD TASTE AND COMMON SENSE-

B. HAVE RESPECT FOR THE OPINIONS OF THE PUBLIC-

C. HAVE RESPECT FOR LAW AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS,

IN AMPLIFICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES, A FILM OR ANY PARTICULAR PART OF A FILM, TRAILER OR ADVERTISEMENT, WILL NOT BE BANNED BY THE CENSOR, UNLESS IN HIS CONSIDERED OPINION THERE IS A LIKELIHOOD THAT ITS SHOWING IN A PUBLIC PLACE WOULDI-

A. CAUSE DEEP SHOCK OR DISQUST-

CORRUPT MORALS OR ENCOURAGE CRIME, PARTICULARLY CRIMES OF VIOLENCE, OR ENCOURAGE THE UNLAWFUL TAKING OF DRUGS-

C. PROVOKE HATRED BETWEEN PERSONS IN HONG KONG OF DIFFERING

RACE, COLOUR, CLASS, NATIONALITY, CREED OR SECTIONAL INTEREST-

D. UNWARRANTABLY OFFEND RELIGIOUS BODIES OR REPUTABLE

LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

E. BRING THE IMPARTIAL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN HONG KONG

INTO DISREPUTE-

F. PROVOKE HATRED OR CONTEMPT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG-

G. DAMAGE GOOD RELATIONS WITH OTHER TERRITORIES-

H. ENCOURAGE PUBLIC DISORDER,

2'd

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