CONFIDENTIAL
D
051060
MDHIAN 0876
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 02120OZ FCO TELNO 370
OF 02110OZ FEBRUARY 89
нко 30612
TOP COPY
Q DIST >
INFO DESKBY 03010OZ PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
YRTELNO 304 AND PEKING TELNO 126: FILM CENSORSHIP: IF I WERE FOR REAL
1. WE HAVE LOOKED CAREFULLY AT THE POSSIBILITY OF AVOIDING THE FILM BEING SHOWN DURING ZHOU NAN'S VISIT. WE BELIEVE THAT A NUMBER OF EXHIBITORS WILL BE KEEN TO SHOW THE FILM AND THAT SEVERAL OF THEM COULD MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS WITHIN ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF PERMISSION BEING GRANTED TO THE DISTRIBUTOR. UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION THE COMMISSIONER IS REQUIRED TO GIVE A REPLY TO THE DISTRIBUTOR ON THIS PARTICULAR FILM BY 7 FEBRUARY, WHICH IN EFFECT MEANS 4 FEBRUARY BECAUSE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR. THAT WOULD GIVE TIME FOR THE FILM TO BE EXHIBITED BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH AND THERE IS THUS A CLEAR RISK OF IT COINCIDING WITH ZHOU NAN'S VISIT.
2. WE SEE NO POSSIBILITY OF DISSUADING THE DISTRIBUTOR OR EXHIBITORS TO DELAY SHOWING THE FILM. THE DISTRIBUTOR IS A KMT SUPPORTER AND
ATTEMPTS TO PUT PRESSURE ON HIM OR CINEMA OWNERS WOULD BE COUNTER- PRODUCTIVE. MOREOVER THEY WOULD BECOME KNOWN AND CAUSE VERY BAD
PUBLICITY.
3. THERE IS AN OPTION OF DELAYING A REPLY TO THE DISTRIBUTOR FOR A FURTHER TWO WEEKS, IE 21 FEBRUARY. THIS CAN BE DONE UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION ON THE AUTHORISATION OF THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION CALTHOUGH LEGCO WERE TOLD THAT THE ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE USED VERY SPARINGLY). THAT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR EXHIBITORS TO SHOW THE FILM WHILE ZHOU NAN IS HERE (ALTHOUGH IT COULD NOT BE RULED OUT). HOWEVER IT WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD BE TELLING THE CHINESE ABOUT OUR DECISION AND PROBABLY HAVING A ROW ABOUT IT VERY SHORTLY BEFORE ZHOÙ NAN'S VISIT. SUBJECT TO SIR A DONALD'S VIEWS, I WOULD NOT EXPECT THE CHINESE TO GO SO FAR AS TO CANCEL THE VISIT BUT I THINK THAT THE ATMOSPHERE WOULD BE CONSIDERABLY SOURER THAN IF WE HAD GOT OUR ARGUMENT WITH THEM OVER WELL IN ADVANCE. MOREOVER, WE WOULD RISK PUTTING OURSELVES IN A WEAK POSITION IF WE NOTIFIED THE CHINESE ON 21 FEBRUARY AND THE FILM HAD NOT (NOT) BEEN EXHIBITED BY THE TIME OF ZHOU NAN'S VISIT. THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK THAT THEY COULD PRESSURISE US INTO BANNING IT
AFTER ALL.
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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