LEGAL DEPT
(iv) Scenes in which pleasure is taken in the infliction of pain
or humiliation upon others
(Children should know that bullies are a fact of life, but great care must be taken to see that they despise them and are not induced to admire them. When such scenes reach the level of deliberate torture, they should be either momentary or be banned entirely.)
(v) Scenes in which the infliction or acceptance of pain or
humiliation is associated with sexual pleasure
(These should be eliminated.)
(vi) Scenes which children might copy with injury to them-
selves or others
(Children are imitative and curious. The technique of hanging, or experiments with fire, or tying and locking up, or submerging in water, can easily be tried by a child.) (vii) Scenes in which easily acquired and dangerous weapons
are used
(It is a simple fact that guns and swords are not easily come by, while knives, bottles, bars and bricks are. It is not good that children with a tendency to violence should see them in frequent use.)
(viii) Scenes in which the less usual methods of inflicting injury
are employed
(This includes rabbit punches, suffocation, the sabotage of vehicles, and dangerous booby traps.)
In case of doubt omit the scene. The risk is not one that should properly be taken.
Sex and Nudity
14. The censor is subject to fairly constant pressure from film distributors seeking screening permits for films featuring erotic displays of sex and nudity. This has been prompted by the large number of foreign feature films of this type reaching the Hong Kong market and more recently by the attempts of Hong Kong film makers to emulate their overseas counterparts with local films of similar type designed for domestic showings as well as for export. This is not
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considereca desirable development in the field of public ent ta ment in Hing Kong. It has caused strong public reaction ail has presented he censor with a difficult task in his efforts to refect the general level of current moral standards in a swiftly changingitua- tion. What is considered to be contrary to the public inters in one age my not be so in another. This point is particularly ele- vant to sex earlier standards of what was considered acceptale for public preentation have changed, though in any community here will alway be pressure from a conservative group that does ret
Within this situation the censor is obliged tory recognise nis.
to judge whether a particular film or episode will cause deepsock or disgust in the mind of the average member of the audiencror will have acorrupting effect. There is normally no objectio to the portrajal of nudity when the scene is handled with restriht and is importat to the story. However, erotic displays such as the filming of sexual organs and sexual deviations, perversions ar abnormaliies which emphasise nothing but sex are quite a dferent matter. Sex acts in detail, including associated sound effecs, are likely to be banned and cut as are scenes depicting the exposre of private pats and the fondling of naked bodies.
15. Once again the integrity of the film producer becomes the prime lactor. Is he simply pandering to baser tastes to make money or is the sex sequence a discreet presentation within fe context ofa worthwhile, dramatic story?
Drunkenness and Drug Addiction
16. "he portrayal of, and reference to, drunkenness ar addiction o drugs or narcotice should be limited to the need of the plot and caracterisation, and not presented as desirable. Te censor wil pay special attention to the portrayal of any scere which could be onstrued to be glamourising or encouraging drug tiling especially among young people or which might give the impresion that the effect of drugs is pleasant and desirable.
Racialism
17. It is undesirable to show films that would exploit telings of racialise or emphasize animosity towards any particular r«e,
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435 P07/24
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