TNAG-1990-FCO40-2823-Broadcasting-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 26

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

HKD 306/2

нко

445

057447

MDHIAN 3323

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2842

OF 25100OZ AUGUST 89

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, PARIS

38

OUR TELNO 2755: FILM CENSORSHIP

''LES CHINOIS A PARIS'

AS FORESHADOWED IN TUR, THE TOP SUN FILM PRODUCTION HOUSE, WHO HAVE NO TAIWANESE LINKS, HAVE SOUGHT PERMISSION FOR THE RELEASE OF THE

ABOVE FILM.

2. THE FILM, MADE IN 1974, BEGINS WITH CHINESE FORCES OCCUPYING PARIS. THEY ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE A COMMUNIST LIFESTYLE: CARS ARE REPLACED BY RICKSHAWS, BROTHELS ARE CLOSED, THE GENDARMES ARE STOPPED FROM BEATING UP SUSPECTS, WHO ARE INSTEAD SENT FOR RE-EDUCATION. AN INEVITABLE, IF INCOMPETENT, RESISTANCE TO THIS FORMS, FORCING THE MILITARY COMMANDER TO RE-OPEN THE BARS AND BORDELLOS. HOWEVER, THE RETURNEES FROM THE RE-EDUCATION CAMPS TRY TO DISRUPT THIS DEPARTURE FROM COMMUNIST ORTHODOXY. THE CHINESE ALLOW THEIR TROOPS TO

VISIT THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT TO DETER THE ZEALOTS. TWO WEEKS'S LATER AN EXHAUSTED CHINESE ARMY IS FORCED TO EVACUATE FRANCE WONDERING HOW FRENCHMEN HAVE SURVIVED 2,000 YEARS OF SUCH LIVING.

3. THE PLA ARE PORTRAYED MUCH MORE FAVOURABLEY THAN THE FRENCH. THEY

DO NOT USE VIOLENCE OR INDEED CARRY WEAPONS. THEY DO NOT USE VIOLENCE

OR INDEED CARRY WEAPONS. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE CONTENT OF THE

FILM THAT THE CHINESE COULD FIND OBJECTIONABLE. WE SUSPECT THAT

THEIR EARLIER COMPLAINT WAS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF THE PLA AS AN INVADING FORCE. INCIDENTALLY, WE SHARE THE QUAI'S ASSESSMENT THAT

THIS IS NOT A VERY FUNNY FILM. THE BEST PUN IS THE CHINESE TITLE OF

''JIARU ZHE SHI ZHENDE''. THE FILM IS LESS OBJECTIONABLE THAN ANY OF

THOSE FILMS RECENTLY PASSED.

4. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF PEKING, WE PROPOSE TO TELL THE CENSOR THAT THERE IS NO POLITICAL OBJECTION TO THE RELEASE OF THE FILM. WE WILL, HOWEVER, STEER THE PRODUCERS AWAY FROM ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVE CHINESE TITLES TO THE FILM WHICH TRANSLATES AS ''THE COMMUNIST BANDITS IN PARIS''. UNDER THE LEGISLATION WE HAVE TO GIVE

A RESPONSE BY 12 SEPTEMBER. WE WILL ASSUME YOU AGREE WITH OUR PROPOSED COURSE OF ACTION UNLESS WE HEAR FROM YOU BY 8 SEPTEMBER.

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CONFIDENTIAL