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Mr. YEUNG and Miss CHOW both refer to the need for guidelines for cinema operators when dealing with category films.
The Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing has already drafted a set of administrative guidelines to cinema operators. The operators, in permitting people to gain admittance to their cinemas, are entitled to take steps to see that their legal duties are discharged. These steps include requiring persons whom they suspect of being underage to show proof of their age, and excluding them if they are 10 underage. Clearly, the effort required to do this is more
than is required under the present legislation, but cinema operators are by no means obliged to show category films. They are free to carry on operating with category I and category films as at present. I forsee that certain cinemas may become specialised in cateogry films in future. Others, who do not welcome this liberalisation, can continue to
operate under the status quo.
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Mrs. CHOW has sought an assurance that the current standards of censorship would not be tightened in order to accommodate category 3 films in the future. I have been assured by the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing
that the current standards have not been tightened. For the future, and if the bill is passed into law, films currently classified as suitable for general exhibition would be Those currently classified as not suitable category I.
for children/ would be category F. Any films which go beyond category 2 but nevertheless can be approved for restricted exhibition to adults will be classified as category 3.
31 Sir, I believe that it is common ground that underfage persons 32 caught in cinemas watching category 3 films should not be 33 deemed to have committed an offence. Members have suggested 34 that such young persons should be properly identified and 35 that letters should be sent to their parents to serve as
a deterrent. This step will be implemented.
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