1987-07-09 09:33 COMMS. OFFICE (GOV'T HSE)
852 5 845 0995
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view of the position of the Hong Kong Government and has readily
conceded that there is a lot to be said for the case I have
presented. I mention that, not in any way to suggest that Dr.
Barendt's view is to be discounted or that he is not himself
convinced of his point of view. But it shows that these are
matters on which even experts in the field are forced to
acknowledge the difficulties of a cut and dried judgment, given
the very few cases which have been the subject of detailed
analysis and the need in each particular case to focus on the
element of local necessity.
17.
I would also like Members to reflect on the essence of
the critics' stance. Mr. Martin Lee would seem to take up the
position that there should be no censorship of films on what he
calls "political grounds" or, putting it into the form appropriate
to this present debate, on the ground that the showing of a film could seriously prejudice or damage good relations with other
countries. He would go so far as to argue, so I follow his
position, that films that are blatantly hostile to an overseas
government or the morals or culture of another sovereign state,
must be permitted to be shown in a territory that adheres to the
International Covenants, at least up to the point when their
exhibition produces riots on the streets or a plain threat to law
and order,
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