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In order to ensure that the Board of Review can function effectively as an appeal channel for film producers aggrieved by a censorship decision, the group, has also looked carefully into the membership of the Board. Specifically, the group feels strongly that the Board should be chaired by a non-official to nighlight its independent role. This will, to a certain degree, enhance the safeguards available in the bill to prevent abuse of power by the censor. The Administration is receptive to our proposal and a
suitable provision has been made in the bill.
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The bill provides for the Chief Secretary to direct the Board of Review upon the request of an aggrieved person to refconsider a censorship decision. The group is concerned that the word "direct" might give a false impression of there being undue interference by the Administration in the poard's proceedings. Sharing the group's concern, the Administration has agreed to refine the wording of relevant provisions in the bill so that the Chief Secretary will only be empowered to refer" requests from aggrieved parties to the Board. An amendment will be moved at Committee etage in accordance with this agreement.
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There is one issue on which I would like to allay the
film industry's anxiety. Concern has been expressed by the industry on the abolition of the existing censorship mechanism for advertising material related to films, with the intention that individual film producers should bear their own risks for prosecution under the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles
Ordinance. The industry is worried that the new arrangement, which represents a departure from existing practice, would result in a tighter control on advertising material related to films and cause operational problems. After seeking clarification with the Administration, the group is satisfied that the existing standards governing advertising material related to films will not change. Although it is the Administration's intention to remove the inconsistency whereby censorship principles drawn up having regard to the impact of films on the audience are applied without
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