TNAG-1690-FCO40-2340-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 105

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political censorship to publications, broadcast, and drama in order not to damage our good relations with other territories,

and to do this we have to ban the showing of some films. This

has been a practice in Hong Kong for some time. And so I feel

that when one is considering abandoning such practice to

strive for more freedom, Hong Kong's realistic situation must

be borne in mind. Hong Kong is a trading centre. We need to maintain a very good relationship with other countries so as to foster trade. Therefore we must avoid getting ourselves involved in controversy involving political thoughts. And because of this if there are films which play up the negative aspects of another country those films should be banned. Hong Kong has a very dense population which should work together

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in full co-operation. What we need is stability. We have no intention of becoming victims of political struggle.

If we shall are to ban political censorship yes it's true we gain the applause from people in the film industry as well as the general public. However, the deletion of the provision might enable some people to make use of films to achieve political and economic goals. And this move might cause Hong Kong to be

a forum for political struggle between foreign influences and it might also place Hong Kong in a political turmoil, and thereby damaging our good relations with other countries and thereby affecting our trade and economy. So, is it really

worth it, we need to think it over.

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During the fifteen years between April 1973 and March 1987 a total of 9,887 films have been shown in Hong Kong. During the same period only 21 films were banned on the basis of political ground, and 18 films were banned on the basis of damaging good relations with other territories. The ratio is in fact two to one thousand. Under such circumstances would the members of the public be really willing to sacrifice the possibility of damaging Hong Kong's economic prosperity and stability in exchange for a little bit of freedom. sure people would make a sensible decision ultimately.

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