TNAG-1688-FCO40-2338-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 217

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(vii) to counsel disobedience to the law.

Likewise the Control of Publications Consolidation Ordinance and objectionable Publications Ordinance provide controls over the display of violent, pornographic and political publications including films.

?

(i)

Of course, whilst the Government has these powers, it would not want to exercise them and especially would not want to institute sedition prosecutions except in the last resort. The control of political films by these means would be politically unacceptable.

Also when a censor bans or cuts a film the Government is somewhat insulated from that decision because, as the censor is (in theory, at least,) an independent agent the Government is not responsible for his actions. The use of other powers would directly embroil the Government in the controversy making it liable to explain and justify the decision.

In the present political climate any statement of censorship principles in the Bill, other than on grounds of sex or violence, could be highly controversial and any suggestion that the Government should be empowered to ban films on political or quasi-political grounds might be opposed by UMELCO and the public. The

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