-DRAFT SPEECH BY HON YEUNG PO HAN, OBE, CRM, IR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 18.5.1988
Film Censorship Bill 1988
Second Reading of Bi
-11
сар
сар
طبعة
сер
la
le
MR. YEUNG:
Sir,
ૐ
R
Although the Film Censorship Bill 1988 was read for the
first time in this Council on 9 March 1988, its history dates back
to March 1987 when a Legislative Council ad hoc group was set up to examine a white bill published by the Government to invite public views on the proposed three-tier film classification system and various measures to regularize control on the film industry.
Our task appeared to be straightforward at first. But, as things turned out, the group found itself facing an increasingly complex
assignment. I am most grateful to my colleagues in the group for the time and dedication they have devoted in the past 14 months to scrutinize this bill, the Administration for its receptive attitude to suggestions made by the group, as well as the film
industry for putting forward its invaluable views.
Given the complexity of the bill, it will not be possible for me to deal with every aspect on which the group had focussed. I shall therefore attempt to concentrate only on the
major areas. My colleagues speaking this afternoon will no doubt
elaborate further on the remaining points.
The first major area concerns the censor's power to ban
or excise a film on the ground that its exhibition would seriously damage Hong Kong's "good relations with other territories".
Concern has been expressed that to retain this power would
infringe upon freedom of expression and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It took a long time before
consensus emerged on this issue. I am now happy to say that an amendment will be made to provide for express statutory recognition of the principle of expression enshrined in Article le 19 of the Covenant. I shall deal with this aspect in detail in my speech moving the amendment at Committee $tage.
(T)
زان
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.