TNAG-1689-FCO40-2339-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 5

SECRET

90

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

布政司署

香港下亞厘畢道

DIEU

OUR REF.: SCR 192/65

*YOUR REF.:

Clinton Leeks, Esq.,

HUD

Hong Kong DepartmentRECEIVED THE REGISTRY

FCO

Dear

}

7 May 1987

Aw hayden

Lagdan 15/5 2.PA 2014,

+

30

2 0 MAY 1987

Gau

REC

--ICER

لال

We way

be five that the

this film at least

Ecodones not contravene

Action Taken

Mek

21/5

གཉན་

sts.

Film Censorship: "Men without a Promised Land"

any 1, obbyntion Ce 14/5.

се

As you know a summons was issued on 1 April 1987 by the Supreme Court claiming a declaration that a ban of the above film was unlawful and claiming damages (our telno 1428 refers). The Attorney General has now been served with legal papers by the Seasonal Film Corporation. I enclose a memorandum from AGC which gives more details. The AG was then instructed to defend the civil proceedings on 21 April 1987.

It appears that the Corporation may be getting cold feet. Meanwhile Government is looking at the possibility of striking the case out on the grounds that it constitutes an abuse of process. If Government were successful the

case would not be heard in court.

For background, the film (synopsis enclosed) was banned twice in 1980 for containing scenes of excessive violence, sadism and sex and for being likely to offend Vietnamese refugees, voluntary agencies and the UNHCR. In January 1981 the film was resubmitted. Representatives from the Political Adviser's Office, Security Branch and Sham Shui Po Transit Centre saw the film and recommended that it be banned once again.

The Corporation appealed to the Board of Review in April 1981 but the board upheld the censor's decision. Nothing more was heard until the summons was issued last month.

I hope the above puts you in the picture (sorry about the pun!).

¿jews

ever

tie Shepherd

(Ms Anne Shepherd)

Assistant Political Adviser II

SECRET

!