TNAG-1688-FCO40-2338-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 212

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20.

SASI accepted both suggestions and added that the

grounds adopted should be "morality, education, public order or

seditious intent". SASI considered that "religion should be left

out because of its controversial nature".

21.

These proposals now have been encompassed within clause

9 of the Bill (copy attached). The Bill adopts the NZ test and specifies particular matters that the censor must consider when determing whether a particular film is or is not likely to be harmful to the public good'. In addition to the grounds initially specified by SASI the Bill requires a censor when considering a particular film also to consider :-

(a) the effect of a film on its likely

audience;

(b) its scientific, literary, or artistic

merit, and its social or cultural

importance;

(c)

whether it denigrates any particular

class on the basis of colour, race, creed

or ethnic or national origins or sex;

(d) whether the film incites hatred or

(e)

contempt of the system of government of HK or brings the administration of justice into disrepute; and

the circumstances in which it is intended

to exhibit the film.

22.

These additional criteria are partly a re-statement of the principles expounded in the existing Quidelines and partly statements of general principle adopted from the NZ legislation.

CONFIDENTIAL

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