Confidential
GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY BHC CANBERRA
TELNO 5
OF 27051OZ JUNE 87
INFO PRIORITY FCO
ние зак
RECEIVED
RY
3 0 JUN 1987
CFICER
PA
TOP COPY
Q DIST ?
KY
Laken
YOUR TELNO 001 OF 20 MAY: FILM CENSORSHIP
BELATEDLY, WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN TUR IN WHICH YOU ADVISED THAT THE PROVISION IN THE AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS (CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS) REGULATIONS REFERRING TO OFFENSIVE TO PEOPLE OF FRIENDLY NATIONS OR TO THE PEOPLE OF A PART OF THE QUEEN'S DOMINIONS' HAD BEEN REPEALED IN 1983.
2. WE HAVE SINCE PROMULGATED THE FILM CENSORSHIP REGULATIONS 1987 WHICH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING PROVISION: '' THE CENSOR SHALL NOT.... ... REFUSE TO APPROVE NT (A FILM) FOR EXHIBITION... UNLESS, IN THE CONSIDERED OPINION OF THE CENSOR, THERE IS LIKELIHOOD THAT WTS SHOWING IN A PUBLIC PLACE WOULD...... DAMAGE GOOD RELATIONS WITH OTHER TERRITORIES'', THE NEW REGULATIONS ARE NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND WILL REMAIN ON OUR STATUTE BOOK IF THE COUNCIL DOES NOT DISAPPROVE OR AMEND BY 8 JULY 1987. HOWEVER, A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR WHO IS A Q.C. BY PROFESSION HAS GIVEN NOTICE TO MOVE A MOTION TO DELETE THE WORDS 'DAMAGE GOOD RELATIONS WDTH OTHER TERRITORIES''. IN MOVING THE MOT MON, HE IS EXPECTED TO ARGUE INTER ALMA, THAT THIS PROVISION CONFLICTS WITH ARTICLE 19 OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CAVAL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS. AS PART OF THAT AGRUMENT, HE MIGHT CITE THE REPEAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN LEGISLATION #BN SUPPORT.
3. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATE FUL IF YOU COULD ADVISE US OF THE REASON FOR THE AUSTRALIAN DECISION TO EXCISE THAT PART OF THE CENSORSHIP CRTER NA FROM THE CUSTOMS (CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS) REGULATIONS IN 1983, AND WHETHER THE AMENDMENT WAS IN ANYWAY RELATED TO THE QUESTION OF COMPATIBILITY OF THE LAW WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENANT.
WILSON
YYYY
HMLNAN 4920
LIMITED
HKD
UND
INFO D
FED
WED
MR MCLAREN.
SPO
SAD
HCAD
SAMD
NEWS D
Confidential
256
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.