TNAG-1688-FCO40-2338-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 85

A

HUD SOY. RECEIVEC

GINANV

INDEA

-7 APR 1987

CONFIDENTIAL

! REF STRY

Auton Taken

FROM:

DATE:

тики

Whale Shaugh & say.

Is HKJA rps

in

тим

his?

R.

PS/Mr/Renton

Ments.

Cc:

Mr Hum, HIST

CO Hum

Thanks

Hong Kong Department

25 March 1987

Private Secretary

Mr Gillmore

Mr Masefield, FED

Mr Meyer, News Dept

Mr Fifoot, Deputy Legal

Adviser

разор PA 301/1

HONG KONG: FILM CENSORSHIP

1.

Mr Renton has asked, in connection with a report in the

Financial Times of 19 March, for background on the recent

controversy in Hong Kong over film censorship.

B

Existing Censorship Provisions

2.-

Since 1953 the Hong Kong Government has practised film

censorship under the Film Censorship Regulations, made under the

Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance, Chapter 172 of the laws of

Hong Kong. The present guidelines under which the Hong Kong

Government Board of Censors operates were published in 1973. They cover the censorship of a film not only on the grounds that it is (for example) morally unacceptable or racially offensive, but also on the grounds that it might "damage good relations with other

territories".

3. Out of some 8,400 films considered by the censors since 1973, 20

have been censored under this particular guideline. Most of these

were Taiwanese films critical of the PRC Government. The Hong Kong

Government's power to censor films has not been publicly challenged

during this time, although certain individual bannings have been

criticised locally.

4. Last year the Hong Kong Government decided to review its film

censorship arrangements for two reasons:

(a) the existing censorship provisions do not give any legal force

CONFIDENTIAL