TNAG-1990-FCO40-2823-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 22

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2908

OF 04103OZ SEPTEMBER 89

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

INFO ROUTINE PARIS

HKD 306/2

48

101406

MDHIAN 4200

05

Q DIST?

COPY

PEKING TELNO 1602 AND YOUR TELNO 1787: FILM CENSORSHIP:

'LES CHINOIS A PARISS''

WE REMAIN OF THE VIEW THAT WE SHOULD NOT (NOT) BAN THIS FILM. TO BAN A TAIWANESE PROPAGANDA FILM IS ONE THING, TO BAN A SECOND RATE FRENCH COMEDY IS ANOTHER AND WOULD, IN THE VERY LEAST, LAY US OPEN TO PUBLIC RIDICULE. IN THE LIKELY EVENT THAT A CHALLENGE WAS MADE TO THE BAN

IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW WE COULD DEFEND OURSELVES.

2. WERE WE TO DECIDE TO DELAY A DECISION ON THE FILM, THE DISTRIBUTOR WOULD BE QUITE LIKELY TO PUBLICISE THIS FACT IN ORDER TO IMPROVE WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE LOW BOX OFFICE TAKINGS. WE

CONSIDER THAT SUCH PUBLICITY WOULD MAKE THE FILM MORE ''CONTROVERSIAL'' AND HENCE PROVOKE A CHINESE REACTION.

3. THE DISTRIBUTOR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SHOW THE FILM UNTIL HE HAD SECURED A CINEMA. THIS IS LIKELY TO TAKE A MONTH OR POSSIBLY TWO, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE PRE-RELEASE PUBLICITY WOULD ISSUE A WEEK OR SO

BEFORE THAT TIME.

4. WE, THEREFORE, CONTINUE TO SEE NO ADVANTAGE IN DELAYING A DECISION FOR THE TWO FURTHER WEEKS PERMITTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

28

MINIMAL

HKD

WED

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DISTRIBUTION

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CONFIDENTIAL