TNAG-1690-FCO40-2340-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 123

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differing views Members have expressed this afternoon on

how much weight should be given to the factors involved.

I hope that what I have to say may help other Members come

to a decision which is in the best

best interest of the

community as a whole.

l

When considering the need for the censorship of

films, the Administration starts from the position that we

should maintain freedom of expression as far as possible

and that any exception to that principle must be proven to

be for the overall benefit of the people of Hong Kong. If

any restriction is to be imposed, it must be the minimum

necessary to safeguard the common good.

Let me first address the question,therefore, as

to whether there is a need to have any censorship based on

Regulation 3A (7). As my friend the Attorney General has

indicated pointed out that Hong Kong, in common with most other

territories, has a natural desire to live peaceably with

its neighbours and to diminish the scope for any hostility

or international recriminations. Furthermore we have

taken the view that because Hong Kong's whole economy and

the livelihood of its people is uniquely dependent upon

its ability to

to trade, our relations with om trading

a

partners must not be put at risk. For both these reasons,

we do not see why we should risk damage to Hong Kong's

relations with other territories by allowing it to be used

as a place where political films, critical of either our