TNAG-1688-FCO40-2338-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 214

(d)

1

∞

It was necessary, whether by fresh Regulations or a new Ordinance, to

re-establish the film censorship scheme on a valid legal footing. This was the primary justification for the inclusion of

the censorship system proposal in the

Bill.

(e) It was not essential for the operation of

the classification scheme that guidelines

for censorship be specified by

legislation. A system, akin to the

(£)

present system, whereby the censors were

provided, in theory, with an unfettered discretion which, in practice, was

exercised in accordance with directions

issued by the Administration, was a viable

alternative. The justification for specifying guidelines in the legislation would be to reduce the potential for abuse

of the censor's presently unfettered

powers.

The primary grounds for censorship were

sex and violence. In the view of several

persons attending the meeting the other grounds stated in Clause 9 of the Bill

were either superfluous, unnecessary or would be confined in practice to a very

limited number of cases. In addition,

some of those at the meeting took the view that there may be occasions in which it was necessary for the Government to ban

CONFIDENTIAL

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