TNAG-1690-FCO40-2340-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 124

le.

3 -

Sir,

LI

neighbours or of our trading partners, should be shown.

should emphasise that generally we take the decisions not

to show such films on our own initiative, based on our

judgement of the likelihood of the film causing serious

But we do not simply, as Mr. Martin LEE has offence to other territories. Only rarely do we respond suggested, second guess the reaction of other territories. Over the years, diplomatic to diplomatic_protests,although____the

although the fact that some

protests have been made over the years from countries, both

such protects

inside and outside the region./are a clear indication that

exception is taken to propaganda films being shown in Hong

Kong and that there is indeed a need to protect our

relations with other territories by not permitting such

films to be shown here.

the

I turn now to question as to what extent the

freedom of expression might be curtailed by the retention of Regulation 3A (7), I believe the figures speak for themselves. Over the past. 14 years, about 10,000 films have been submitted for censorship. A total of 15 films,

nine

only one or two a year,

two a year, from different countries have

been banned.

*